Further Afield
The cities of Sheffield and Manchester are within easy reach of Edale via train. Sheffield is also easy to drive to, it takes 40 minutes to get to the city centre with its restaurants and theatres. Both cities offer great days out with high class museums, galleries and excellent shopping.
Chatsworth
The home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire is one of the area’s greatest attractions. To see all there is at Chatsworth takes a full day or more. The house and gardens are open all year round.
Chatsworth’s gardens are beautifully landscaped and dotted with pieces of modern art. For family friendly days there is the cascade, worth a picnic-paddle; the tricky maze and the farm at which kids can pet small animals. The grounds are wonderful for walking in and we like the nearby farm shop for luxury treats.
Each Christmas special effort is put in to decorating Chatsworth House and if you are about that time of year it is worth seeing. They also put on a Christmas fair with stalls and food. Please see the leaflet in the hall for dates or check on the Chatsworth website.
www.Chatsworth.org
Hardwick Hall
Bess of Hardwick built this grand house, described as an Elizabethan masterpiece, in the 1500s. It is now owned by the National Trust. The estate is open year round although the house is closed over the Winter months. There are often special events on so it is worth checking the website.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick-hall
Chatsworth
The home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire is one of the area’s greatest attractions. To see all there is at Chatsworth takes a full day or more. The house and gardens are open all year round.
Chatsworth’s gardens are beautifully landscaped and dotted with pieces of modern art. For family friendly days there is the cascade, worth a picnic-paddle; the tricky maze and the farm at which kids can pet small animals. The grounds are wonderful for walking in and we like the nearby farm shop for luxury treats.
Each Christmas special effort is put in to decorating Chatsworth House and if you are about that time of year it is worth seeing. They also put on a Christmas fair with stalls and food. Please see the leaflet in the hall for dates or check on the Chatsworth website.
www.Chatsworth.org
Hardwick Hall
Bess of Hardwick built this grand house, described as an Elizabethan masterpiece, in the 1500s. It is now owned by the National Trust. The estate is open year round although the house is closed over the Winter months. There are often special events on so it is worth checking the website.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick-hall
Haddon Hall
This beautiful manor house dates from the 12th century and overlooks the River Wye. It is often used as a film location and was has been seen in three versions of ‘Jane Eyre’, as well as ‘Elizabeth’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘The Princess Bride’, where the Hall became Prince Humperdinck’s castle. The Hall has a good restaurant, or alternatively the Peacock at Rowsley is a fabulous country hotel with fine dining just down the road.
http://www.haddonhall.co.uk
http://thepeacockatrowsley.com
This beautiful manor house dates from the 12th century and overlooks the River Wye. It is often used as a film location and was has been seen in three versions of ‘Jane Eyre’, as well as ‘Elizabeth’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘The Princess Bride’, where the Hall became Prince Humperdinck’s castle. The Hall has a good restaurant, or alternatively the Peacock at Rowsley is a fabulous country hotel with fine dining just down the road.
http://www.haddonhall.co.uk
http://thepeacockatrowsley.com
The Monsal Trail
Following the path of the old Midland Railway line between Chee Dale and Bakewell, the Monsal Trail is now an easy cycling and walking route. You can hire bikes at Hassop Station, where there is also a good café to start of end your day at. From there it is a 15km round trip to Bakewell. If you book in advance (not necessary for ordinary bikes) there are electric bikes and a tandem for hire.
http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/trails/monsaltrail
http://www.hassopstation.co.uk/cycle-hire/
Lyme Park
Lyme Park is a large country house and estate in Disley, Cheshire. It’s about a 40-minute drive from Edale towards Manchester on the A6. The beautiful house is the largest in Cheshire and may be recognized as ‘Pemberley’ from the 1995 BBC version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Predjudice. Run by the National Trust there’s a good playground and a quiz/trail for children. There are also child friendly events organized throughout the summer so it’s worth looking at the website before planning your trip.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme
Buxton
A half hour from Edale this spa town is undergoing a revival. From the Buxton Summer Fete to live concerts, a literary and arts festival and food fairs there is always something going on. The Opera House was restored in 2001 and is one of Britain’s leading provincial theatres. Look for leaflets on the hall table for what’s on during your stay. Buxton Thermal mineral water is still bottled in the town and it is these waters that led the Dukes of Devonshire to build the original spa here in the late 18th century. Buxton’s grand Crescent is currently undergoing extensive restoration to restore it to its formal glory as a spa and health resort once again. The hope is that Buxton can regain its position as the premier spa town of the North.
http://www.visitbuxton.co.uk
http://www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk
http://buxtoncrescent.com
Poole’s Cavern, Buxton Country Park
Poole’s Cavern is a two million year old natural limestone cave. It is named after a man who lived in the cave as an outlaw, using it as a base to rob travellers in the 15th century. It has been a tourist attraction since the 17th century, although was once described by the ‘Treasure Island’ author Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) as “another of the wonderless wonders of the Peak.”
http://poolescavern.co.uk
Go Ape (Buxton)
Located in Buxton Country Park this adventure playground of tree top walks, zip wires, ladders and swings is a great day out for the kids.
https://goape.co.uk
Bakewell
Bakewell is a picturesque market town 40 minutes from Edale. It is located on the River Wye and an afternoon wandering around its shops and cafes is a pleasure. It’s also famous for it’s tarts, originally created by mistake in the 19th century when a cook at the Rutland Arms misunderstood a recipe.
The Annual Bakewell Show is held over two days in early August and attracts thousands of visitors. More recently the annual Eroica Cycling Festival has been held here in July and is a fabulous day out. As part of the festival there is a vintage cycling race, the longer leg of which goes through Edale and is fun to watch as many competitors turn out in fancy dress. Well Dressings, Carnival Week and an Arts Festival are all important dates in the Bakewell calendar.
The Old House Museum, behind the church almshouses, occupies one of the oldest buildings in Bakewell and dates back to 1543. It gives a fascinating glimpse into the towns past.
A nice day out is to combine a trip to Bakewell with a cycle down the Monsal Trail.
http://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/BakewellBakewell/details/?dms=3&venue=6070031
http://bakewellonline.co.uk
Following the path of the old Midland Railway line between Chee Dale and Bakewell, the Monsal Trail is now an easy cycling and walking route. You can hire bikes at Hassop Station, where there is also a good café to start of end your day at. From there it is a 15km round trip to Bakewell. If you book in advance (not necessary for ordinary bikes) there are electric bikes and a tandem for hire.
http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/trails/monsaltrail
http://www.hassopstation.co.uk/cycle-hire/
Lyme Park
Lyme Park is a large country house and estate in Disley, Cheshire. It’s about a 40-minute drive from Edale towards Manchester on the A6. The beautiful house is the largest in Cheshire and may be recognized as ‘Pemberley’ from the 1995 BBC version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Predjudice. Run by the National Trust there’s a good playground and a quiz/trail for children. There are also child friendly events organized throughout the summer so it’s worth looking at the website before planning your trip.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme
Buxton
A half hour from Edale this spa town is undergoing a revival. From the Buxton Summer Fete to live concerts, a literary and arts festival and food fairs there is always something going on. The Opera House was restored in 2001 and is one of Britain’s leading provincial theatres. Look for leaflets on the hall table for what’s on during your stay. Buxton Thermal mineral water is still bottled in the town and it is these waters that led the Dukes of Devonshire to build the original spa here in the late 18th century. Buxton’s grand Crescent is currently undergoing extensive restoration to restore it to its formal glory as a spa and health resort once again. The hope is that Buxton can regain its position as the premier spa town of the North.
http://www.visitbuxton.co.uk
http://www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk
http://buxtoncrescent.com
Poole’s Cavern, Buxton Country Park
Poole’s Cavern is a two million year old natural limestone cave. It is named after a man who lived in the cave as an outlaw, using it as a base to rob travellers in the 15th century. It has been a tourist attraction since the 17th century, although was once described by the ‘Treasure Island’ author Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) as “another of the wonderless wonders of the Peak.”
http://poolescavern.co.uk
Go Ape (Buxton)
Located in Buxton Country Park this adventure playground of tree top walks, zip wires, ladders and swings is a great day out for the kids.
https://goape.co.uk
Bakewell
Bakewell is a picturesque market town 40 minutes from Edale. It is located on the River Wye and an afternoon wandering around its shops and cafes is a pleasure. It’s also famous for it’s tarts, originally created by mistake in the 19th century when a cook at the Rutland Arms misunderstood a recipe.
The Annual Bakewell Show is held over two days in early August and attracts thousands of visitors. More recently the annual Eroica Cycling Festival has been held here in July and is a fabulous day out. As part of the festival there is a vintage cycling race, the longer leg of which goes through Edale and is fun to watch as many competitors turn out in fancy dress. Well Dressings, Carnival Week and an Arts Festival are all important dates in the Bakewell calendar.
The Old House Museum, behind the church almshouses, occupies one of the oldest buildings in Bakewell and dates back to 1543. It gives a fascinating glimpse into the towns past.
A nice day out is to combine a trip to Bakewell with a cycle down the Monsal Trail.
http://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/BakewellBakewell/details/?dms=3&venue=6070031
http://bakewellonline.co.uk
