The Derbyshire Travel Guide outlines major attractions, entertainment, places of interest for visitors and contains useful tourist information for travellers. The county is located in the East Midlands. The county located in the East Midlands has a varied landscape characterised by tranquil dales, some lovely countryside plenty of history and historical attractions including historic houses and a large number of National Trust properties. The countryside is certainly welcoming in Derbyshire the sight of the meadows strewn with wild flowers is a wonderful one. Part of the Peak District is located in the county, the best known tourist attraction in the region offers a world of possibilities for visitors to experience.
Overview and Attractions
Britain’s first-ever national park, the Peak District National Park, which offers terrain that is ideal for the passing tourist, walkers, horse riders and activity enthusiasts. The park covers around 500 square miles and is blessed with great wildlife and flora. Whilst Castleton is famous for its fabulous caves, Eyam is one of the best preserved villages in the Peaks known as the ‘plague village’ after its population went into voluntary quarantine in 1665 as the Black Death came to the region. Buxton is an old long established spa town with one of the country’s finest Georgian crescents.
Visiting the beautiful Dovedale and the Manifold Valley you can see unspoiled villages and the environment where you can relax and simply just get away from it all. The High Peak, in the north, is characterised by its rugged millstone grit with heather moorlands. Kinder Scout is the highest point while Mam Tor known as the ‘shivering mountain’ is the Dark Peak and the start of the Pennine Way. The higher land is a playground for climbers and cavers, and the sports enthusiasts such as hang-gliding, paragliding and microliting have taken to the area too. Shining Tor and Stanage Edge are among the most popular places for these pursuits.
Water sports fans find the lakes in the Peaks to their liking and create great conditions for sailing, canoeing, kayaking and windsurfing. The Derbyshire Dales are located to the south and include the White Peak and the Hope Valley, a varied landscape of gorges, caves, cliffs and manor houses among others.
Chatsworth House is located near Bakewell and is the most famous stately home in the region. The house is known as the Palace of the Peak; it was built in the late 17th century and is the home of the Duke & Duchess of Devonshire. The grounds were landscaped by the acclaimed Capability Brown back in 1760. For visitors there is range of things to see and enjoy here, the house contains a number of interesting displays and there are a number of rooms to see with plenty of historical artefacts.
The most impressive rooms at Chatsworth are the state rooms with their impressive design and ornate decoration. There is the garden with a range of flowers, plants, trees and shrubs creating a wonderful relaxing atmosphere. There is also one of the finest private art collection in Europe built up by generations of the Cavendish family. The park is around 1,000 acres in size and provides some stunning scenery.
Derby Cathedral is a stunning medieval tower, it is among the best known attractions in Derby attracting many visitors. It boasts one of the highest church towers in the UK, contains the oldest ring of ten bells in the world and is open to visitors on selected days throughout the year. It is best to check prior to visiting to avoid disappointment. The cathedral itself is characterised by being light and airy with elegant features including the wrought iron screen by Robert Bakewell and the Cavendish brasses. When visiting Derby city this is a must see attraction for visitors.
St Mary’s Bridge Chapel is one of Derby's best known attractions. This historic building is among the few remaining of such chapels in the UK and records of its existence go back to the beginning of the 14th century. In yesteryear travellers leaving Derby would call at the Chapel to pray before setting out on a journey into the countryside that could be hazardous. The Chapel has been subject to many changes over the centuries, having been a Presbyterian meeting room, a couple of cottages, a prison and a carpenter's workshop at various times in its long history.
Of note are the stained glass windows, the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham and the Ronald Pope altar. In 1588, the Padley Martyrs spent their last night there before being hanged, drawn and quartered. Their remains were then displayed at the Chapel entrance as a warning to others. The Chapel was in ruins back in the 1920s, but in 1930 it was restored, since 1932 the Chapel has been in regular use as a place of worship.
Managed by the National Trust, Calke Abbey is a house that reminds you of its glory days where from the 1920s onwards its splendour and grandeur began to diminish. Visitors can view the collections of paintings, birds, ornaments and family photos sit amongst peeling wallpaper and paint. Calke Abbey reflects the fate that befell on hundreds of country houses earlier in the 20th century. There is a silver display and the Chinese silk bed that was kept in a box for many years. There is the route of 18th century servants along the brewhouse tunnel to the house cellars. There are gardens to explore here and glass houses and a 19th century ice house. Set in over 600 acres of parkland, it is an ideal spot to enjoy walks, relax and have a picnic.
A visit to Beehive Farm Woodland Lakes allows visitors to explore the beauty of the young woodland landscape through walking or horseback using the trails that have been laid out. Following the trails, you can enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the fishing lakes, Botany Bay and Jubilee and find some peaceful picnic areas that are surrounded by wild flowers. The farm is open year round, with the walking trails joining with the local network of footpaths to allow some further exploration of the National Forest area; this makes Beehive a great place to have as your base.
Derby Live is a multipurpose venue situated on the Market Place in the centre of Derby. Derby Live has an on-going year round programme of Arts and Entertainment, the wide array of entertainment on offer ranges from an orchestral season, rock and pop events, comedy, entertainment for the whole family like the celebrity pantomime & annual ice-show, dance and children's shows. There is space for a range of events including conferences, corporate presentations, trade exhibitions, dinner dances and special occasions such as weddings. Seen as a leading entertainment venue in Derby, its good quality arts programme means there is likely to be some good entertainment awaiting visitors.
For a great dining experience visitors may wish to try The Kestral restaurant. It allows diners to enjoy eating in a friendly environment with live music and excellent food. The restaurant has a wide selection of starters and mains with specials available. There is an area that features the works of local artists and pictures can be bought if you like them. Bar meals are available and there are a wide range of beers wines and spirits on sale too.
There are a number of music nights held here that range from Rock and Pop to Acoustic Celtic Music, ballads and contemporary music. The facility also caters for business meetings in their conference room. In addition there is a beer garden to particularly enjoy in the summer and facilities such as pool tables.
The Barracuda Bar is in the heart of Derby city centre at The Strand. The bar has large screen TVs that show all the major sporting events throughout the year, a must for sports fans. It provides a great atmosphere in which to watch the big game. The menu serves an excellent range of starters, mains and deserts including authentic South African options in this South African themed bar. The venue is popular for hosting party occasions.
Derbyshire does not enjoy the highest profile among visitors and unfortunately as a result is sometimes missed by tourists. However for those tourists that do visit the county there are plenty of visitor attractions in the region to explore, such as the well known Peak District, there is also Derby cathedral and Calke Abbey. There is plenty of history in the county shown by the fact there are plenty of National Trust properties that preserve the history and heritage of the area. The county is known for its elements of both town and country and being located in the East Midlands it has good transport links for visitors from both the North and South of the UK.
Disclaimer: The information given in on this website is given in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. If there are any discrepancies in no way do we intend to mislead. Important travel details and arrangements should be confirmed and verified with the relevant authorities.