Derby

Derby is situated on the River Derwent just 14 miles from Nottingham. With a population of approximately 250,000 it is home to the first factory in the world - Lombe's Mill and arguably the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Derby was also an important strategic home for the British Railways Industry.

Derby today is known for its transport manufacturing with its Rolls-Royce aircraft engines, Toyota Cars at Burnaston and the last remaining train manufacturer Derby Carriage and Wagon Works or Derby Litchurch Lane Works as it is now called.

Historically Derby suffered in the same way as Nottingham with its notorious slum housing estates, the majority of which were cleared during the 1930's. The city of Derby today has a vibrant town centre as the Gateway to the Peak District and as the UK's most central city it has good access to the rest of the UK via road or rail.

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Chesterfield

Chesterfield is situated just 24 miles from Derby to the North where the rivers Rother and its tributary the Hipper meet. The first thing that greets visitors and which stands out as a landmark is the Church with its crooked spire dating back to the 14th century.

Chesterfield is a market town with some striking archaeology. The town still holds a market three days a week ( Mon, Fri and Sat ) and this is one of the largest open air markets in Britain.  Until the 1980's coal mining was the main economy of the town. There is virtually no trace of coal mining left and many companies in Chesterfield have either downsized, closed or moved away. The biggest employer in the town is now The Royal Mail with its admin department based here.

Chesterfield is a pleasant enough town to walk through and experience on a weekend but it lacks the investment needed to transform it. With some impressive but neglected Tudor style buildings along its main streets visitors will notice the peeling paint and rotten window frames in many of the buildings. Mainly chain stores and charity shops the town has the infrastructure to be much more and to develop as a tourist attraction.

This historic town is certainly worth a visit and is an ideal stop over or rest stop for anyone visiting the nearby Peak District.

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Staveley

The town of Staveley in the Borough of Chesterfield is situated on the banks of the River Rother near Eckington and Barlborough. Formerly a mining town with several old and now disused mining pits it is also known for its Staveley Works Foundry and Staveley Chemicals. These days industry has all but dried up and the town is becoming increasingly reliant on tourism and the surrounding districts for its employment and income.

A long term project to open the old Chesterfield Canal from Chesterfield to Kiveton resulted in the opening of Staveley Town Basin in 2012. This provides much needed development in Staveley and will ultimately result in a renovated canalside with moorings and public access for leisure pursuits and events.

Staveley Hall which at the time of writing in 2015 is going through a major refurbishment and renovation. It is an important Grade II listed building which dates back to 1604 when it was owned by the Frecheville family whose records date back to Norman times.

The town of Staveley is compact but well laid out with some pleasant streets and surrounding countryside. The Market Square is host to Staveley Market which is held in 
the Market Place on Tuesday and Friday mornings. 

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Ashbourne

Ashbourne is a market town near the Peak District in Derbyshire. A market still takes place here every Thursday and Saturday throughout the year. There are many interesting historical buildings in Ashbourne this small market town certainly delivers in terms of its tourist appeal.

With a host of good places to eat and drink and many independent shops it is a good place to spend some time if you are visiting the Peak District. 

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Calke Abbey

Calke Abbey was handed over to the National Trust in 1985. The building is Grade I listed structure built on the site of an Augustine Priory from the 12th century. Calke Abbey, a stately home rather than an Abbey, was built between 1701 and 1704. It was owned for many generations by the Harpur family and is now open to the public. The first thing that you notice when you visit is that many of the rooms have a decaying and neglected look about them. This is a deliberate intention since the National Trust wish to preserve the state in which the house was handed over to them because it tells a very interesting story.

The last Baronet of Calke Abbey was a certain Sir Vauncey Harpur Crewe died in 1924 after devoting his life to the collection of natural history specimens. Visitors walk around the house with its peeling paint and abandoned areas which all go to show how houses such as this struggled in the 20th century as a result of high death duties and taxes apart from the expense of the upkeep of estates like this. The collections housed at Calke Abbey are as extensive as they are diverse. Crammed into every room are cases of birds eggs, insects, butterflies, rocks and completely random items that show the eccentricity of the family that lived here.

Calke Abbey is one of the most interesting National Trust properties in the country. The grounds of the estate are a joy to walk round and from time to time there are exhibitions and days when volunteers dress up in period costumes and the whole effect captures the spirit of a bygone era.

Calke Abbey, Derby, DE73 7LE. Tel: 01332 863 822

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Denby Factory Outlet

Denby Factory Outlet shops is a retail complex in the village of Denby from where Denby Potteries get their name. They have a very large factory shop on the site. There are many other retailers based in the complex and it is a popular shopping destination.

For more photos of the factory outlet click here

Matlock Bath

Matlock Bath, just 1.8 miles from Matlock is in Derbyshire and situated by the River Derwent.  Hot springs were discovered here in 1698 and during Victorian times it was a popular destination recommended by the likes of Josiah Wedgwood.

Tourism is as important today as it was in the Victorian era. There is plenty to do around Matlock Bath. One of the main attractions are the Heights of Abrahim, an old mine open to the public and cable cars to take people up the cliff edge of the High Tor. Nearby there is the theme park Gulliver's Kingdom and the Peak District Mining Museum.

Every year in the autumn Matlock Bath is host to the "Venetian Nights" with spectacular riverside illuminations and illuminated boats which attract large numbers of tourists. Many motorcyclists flock to the village at weekends and during the holidays and there are a number of good places to eat and drink.

For photos of Matlock Bath click here 

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Derwent Reservoir

Derwent Reservoir is one of three reservoirs in the Derwent Valley in Derbyshire. Just 10 miles from Glossop and Sheffield the River Derwent provides the water source. The three large reservoirs serve the water needs of Derbyshire. 

It was completed in 1914 with solid masonry and the large stones that made up the walls of the dam were transported by rail to the site. The reservoir was used by the RAF during the Second World War to practice low level flying in preparation for the Dam Buster raids. 

The reservoir and most of the land around it are owned by Severn Trent Water.

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Cromford

Cromford is a pretty picturesque village just two miles from Matlock in Derbyshire. It is known for its textile history and the fact that there is an important mill here known as the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site.

Located on the River Derwent it is one of the main sites of importance during the development of the Industrial Revolution.

For photos of Cromford click here and for Derwent Valley Mills click here

Chatsworth House

Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is the home of the Duke of Devonshire and has been the family seat since 1549. Set in magnificent landscaped gardens with open fields and a river for a backdrop there are few places that can compare in terms of grandeur.

Located on the banks of the River Derwent this impressive estate with its woodland and hills has an impressive number of buildings on the estate. The Hunting Tower is a particularly impressive structure. 

Chatsworth is an extremely popular destination and one of the UK's most visited historic houses. Set in the Peak District  you could easily spend a day here looking around the buildings and exploring the 1000 acre parkland.

For photos of Chatsworth House & Gardens click here

Castleton

Castleton is a very popular village in the Peak District. It is situated in Hope Valley on Peakshole Water which is a tributary of the River Noe. With it's picturesque buildings, good restaurants, pubs and tea rooms,  it can get very busy during the summer months.

Mentioned in the Domesday book there is thought to have been an old leper's colony near Speedwell Cavern ( one of the four local caves ). Once a lead mining town the main industry today is the Cement Works near hope or tourism related services which bring valuable income into the local economy.

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Carsington Water

Carsington Water is a large reservoir which gets its water from the River Derwent. It  is a visitor attraction in its own right and there are a host of leisure activities available including; walking, cycling, fishing, bird watching, boating and windsurfing. During the year the reservoir is host to a number of events including the Festival of the Peak.

For photos of Carsington Water click here

Buxton

Buxton in Derbyshire is a popular spa town in the Peak District. It is famous for its mineral water.  There has been a settlement here since Roman times but during the 18th century the town expanded as the spa waters were reputed to have healing properties. This was a popular Victorian destination and many of the properties in the town were built during this period.

Situated on the River Wye, Buxton is a popular tourist destination with a host of good restaurants, retail outlets and bars. There are many cultural events and the town is the main centre in the Peak District for tourists staying overnight. 

Buxton is an attractive town with good parks and plenty to see and do in the local area. On the southern edge of the town there is an extensive limestone cavern called Poole's Cavern where more than 300 metres of chambers are open to the public. The large cavern was carved out over time by the current of the River Wye.

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Belper

The town of Belper in the valley of the River Derwent in Derbyshire  dates back to Norman times. Just eight miles from Derby Belper is known for its iron working history, in particular nail making. 

During the late eighteenth century Belper was one of the first mill towns and the East Mill which was built in 1913 is a prominent landmark in the town. Belper is a small but attractive town to visit. The River Gardens near the East Mill are a good place to stroll through and relax. 

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Bakewell

Bakewell is situated in the Peak District on the river Wye. It is an old established market town in the centre of the Peak District. The famous 'Bakewell Pudding' comes from the town. 

There have been settlements here since the iron age and Bakewell is mentioned in the Domesday book as being named Badequella which later became Beadeca's Well and then subsequently Bakewell. The nearest main town is Derby just 21 miles away.

Situated in the heart of the Peak District, Bakewell is a popular tourist destination. With beautiful surrounding countryside, the river, and plenty of independent shops and good restaurants it is easy to see why Bakewell gets so many visitors.

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