... and just wondered if anybody had any nice ideas of places to visit? We're not going until June and I will do my usual googling but I like it when peeps tell me about the not so well known treasures they've discovered (bit like the tv series Secret Britain ... lovely) We'll be staying in town/village called Swadlincote(!)
Saddad is your man Sam. He lives there and will probably be able to give you some info.
We camped there when the kids were younger but thet were walking holidays.
Lots of us live in Derbyshire.
First thing is to get onto the Open Gardens scheme and see what open gardens there are at the weekends.
What do you like to do on your hols?
and How far are you prepared to go for a day out?
Also, Swad is not too far from Leicestershire or Nottinghamshire - you can get to alot of places in an hour from there due to the M1/M50/M42; but somewhere like Chatsworth would be nearly 2 hours from you but still in Derbyshire - so give us an idea of the above and perhaps we can make some suggestions.
Sorry AJ. I only knew abou Saddad ;D
Loads of lovely places like the Manifold valley, but we really know the more northerly bit of Derbyshire.
Belper is a nice but not touristy town. Lots of industrial history down there, but like others say if you give us an idea what you like to do.
Don't go to Matlock bath unless you like lots of bikers and black leather!!! ;) ;) ;)
Dorothy Clive garden is lovely-not in Derbyshire but driving distance
Arbor Low and Nine Ladies near Birchover. Also at Birchover is Rowter rocks- all carved into the rocks by a vicar , you just wander round the woods trying to find them.
Kedleston Hall - only seen on telly but used for wildlife films.
Derby Silk Mill- again not seen but on my list!
Google Derwent Valley Mills project if you like history of fabrics etc.
Guided tours of villages like Cromford and Belper.
Tissington village -preety but popular.
If you want to drive further north to Peak District let me know
Saddad will give you ideas for the area you are in.
Anne x
You are within easy reach of everything... Alton Towers... Kedleston Hall... Tutbury Castle... any preferences? If you are NT members you could get your annual subs back in a week... Calke Abbey, Hardwick Hall... what sort of things do you want to do? Small children love Markeaton Park if the council haven't closed down all the bits by then... :)
Snap
Sorry don't know much about nice places to visit in Derbyshire. But i will be attending Derby real ale festival 26 feb :P :P :P
That's only the Winter Fest Lottieman... the real one is in July probably the week ending Saturday 9th if you want to pencil that in too! ;D
Bike ride along the old railway track??? Starts near Ashbourne.
That corner of the County is a bit out on a limb if you are searching by county... as it sticks into Leciestershire/Staffordshire and Warwickshire. It's in the new "National Forest" and the CONKERS and EUREKA sites are worth visiting. You aren't far from the National Memorial Arboretum... There's the Bass Brewing Museum in Burton... There's usually an excellent Maize Maze outside Burton...
There's lots to do... a week? a fortnight? a month? how long do you have... ;D
That all sounds very interesting Samantha, i shall let dad, know :P :P ;D.
Oops, yes I was a big vague, wasn't I? That'll teach me to post when I'm half asleep :P Thanks all for taking the time to reply. We're staying here http://www.hoseasons.co.uk/cottages/AY29?SCODE=AY29 for a week and it looks lovely and peaceful (I really hope it's just as it appears and not just the way the photos have been taken, lol)
It'll be just myself and my husband and we like to do pretty much anything when away but we're not party animals, LOL! We like bird watching, walking, picnics, history, gardens, parks, boat trips, steam trains, caves and such and also towns n villages with little local shops, etc. We might (only might) even have bikes by the time we go. I'm really disappointed that Chatsworth House is such a long drive away. I don't know why, but I thought it was nearer. My geography is awful. I feel like a having a really silly/fun day too so we'll probably give Alton Towers a go ;D One thing my husband said he'd like to do given that it looks surrounded by forest and countryside is get up for a dawn chorus (good luck with that, I said. ;D ;))
The holiday had to be booked on a Monday to Monday basis so we've also got the Sat/Sun to spend two nights in different places on the way up.
Thanks again :)
Quote from: rosebud on February 15, 2011, 12:11:24
That all sounds very interesting Samantha, i shall let dad, know :P :P ;D.
Erm...did I tell you that we've changed the dates? :P
I just put up a long post about Calke/Staunton Harold/Kedleston... but it ate it..
Ashby De La Zouch has good shops and a Castle...
;D You can come and visit me..'stone throw' away..but on Nottinghamshire side..and while you are here..bring your spade and fork with you..I'll have spare gloves ;)..Shall I get barbeque on? ;)
You're not too far from Attenborough Nature Reserve for bird watching,
http://www.attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk/
Midland Railway Centre
http://www.midlandrailwaycentre.co.uk/
Tamworth Snowdome if you fancy skiing
Uttoxeter races with events thrown in if you fancy a flutter.
Look at Staffordshire too.
Cannock chase
Shugborough - not quite as pictureskew as Chatsworth but still lots to see and the grounds are lovely
Calke Abbey has a restored fruit and veg garden if you need an allotment fix :) and a house full of stuffed birds
Rosliston forestry park has some nice walks
'Heart of the country' at Swinfen has various crafty shops.
The butcher at Yoxall is worth travelling for.
Harlaston has open gardens on 19th June, I'm told. Alrewas w/e of 25th June. Yoxall w/e of 2nd July
Sally
At one time you could have visited the American Adventure....buts its closed down :-\.....joking apart....lots to do and see and it looks like most have been mentio
if you like Caves you can always give the Blue John mines a go. If I remember right there's one that involves a boat..... but this is going back a wee while when I was a kid, and lots of our school trips seemed to involve the B J mines :-X (I loved 'em :).
Found a link (i think) http://www.bluejohn-cavern.co.uk/
Happy hols ;D
That's well up in the Peak District... quite a hike from Swad... Swad has a dfry ski-slope with tobogganing if you like that sort of thing. When I said Eureka I was getting mixed up (That's in Halifax) with Snibston Discovery Park, but there's the Space Centre in Leicester... :)
I rather like Melbourne Hall gardens. They go back to the time of Queen Anne and have not been mucked about too much.
Also near Melbourne is the Hardinge Arms at King's Newton where the Newton Wonder apple was found allegedly growing through the thatched roof of an outhouse. It's next to a cycleway converted from an abandoned light railway (translate: no hills, no cars, good wildlife)
If you do want 'a silly fun day' at Alton Towers we live in the village and get local residents' passes, and I could let you have a couple of tickets. You would have to pay car parking, but entrance is free.
I haven't sent for the tickets yet. They will be open during half-term, but the season proper doesn't start until 26th March. The tickets are valid for the season, with the exception of special events, which are posted on their website.
It's a pity you feel you will be too far away from Chatsworth, because it is well worth a visit. As is the nearby town of Bakewell.
valmarg
If you are looking for something off the tourist trail this somewhere I have been to many times:
http://www.derbyshireuk.net/newmills.html
The local pubs are really friendly and the grub good. Canal walks are nice, it is not really a tourist place just a nice English village / town.
Chatsworth is only 14 miles form Swad!
Quote from: Fork on February 16, 2011, 20:11:05
Chatsworth is only 14 miles form Swad!
I think you've got your numbers the wrong way round Fork. I would say Chatsworth was nearer 41 miles from Swad. ;D
SamLouise, you really will be south Derbyshire, a bit off the Peak District. It's not too far away for you to see. One place no one seems to have mentioned is Lichfield. It has a wonderful 12/13th centuary cathedral. The three spires.
On a cooking note the blue and white cornishware pots are made nearby, and I think they have a museum, but I shall have to check.
valmarg
Thank you so much for all of the suggestions. My husband and I have been googling them and checking distances ;D Happy to say that Chatsworth isn't too far after all. We're going to have trouble narrowing down the list for just seven days, there's so much to choose from.
Valmarg, your offer re Alton Towers is really kind, thank you very much. Ok to be in touch nearer the time? (maybe meet up for a cup of tea and piece of cake? ;) :D)
There will be absolutely no problem with the Alton Towers tickets. We need to apply for them, but until the council tax bill comes thudding through the letter box, we supposedly have no proof of residency. :o ??? They don't want the tickets to go astray. ;D ;D
If you have decided Chatsworth is not TOO far away, and if your stay covers either 25th June, or 23rd July, you could also attend the Bakewell Farmers' Market, and perhaps meet up with pumpkinlover as well.
Anyway, plenty of time to finalise arrangements for the cup of tea and slice of cake. ;D
valmarg
Don't forget Dovedale.
You could always come for a meaner around our site in Derby itself if you would like to, I'm sure either me or David (Saddad) would make ourselves available.
I'm surprised you aren't offering the shed as aholiday let Deb... ;D
Ohh..well..if Chatsworth is not too far..you've got Buxton and Bakewell to see then as well...
Chatsworth on its own will take you a day..easily..there is the gardens, house, farm yard to see and walk along the river edge amongst the sheep and maybe have a picknic as well..there is tables dotted along the walk if you don't fancy sitting on ground...and you can have fun in water too..pull the skirt up and have a bit of walk in cooling..soothing water..mmm ;D..It is nice if it is baking day.
Yes..Bakewell show is good..all maner of farm animals and pets in parade..floral marquees and plant sale....food..tiples...treats..clothes..cars..anything and everything what one may acquire..
BTW...Bakewell tart bought from Bakewell is better in Matlock ;)..'the original' ones are sickly sweet and really greasy ;) And Matlock is not bad..some of the bikers are really nice ;) :-X Matlock is like seaside resort but in inland and in deep valley.
On a cooking note the blue and white cornishware pots are made nearby, and I think they have a museum, but I shall have to check.
valmarg
I think I've made a right mess of posting this, but here goes.
The Cornishware Coffee Shop, Sharpes Pottery museum, West Street, Swadlincote. I'm not sure whether its just a coffee shop, in the refurbished museum. The brochure I found it in is a bit out of date.
Anyway, the company that produces the cornishware is T G Green, I think at Gresley. If you are interested, just google tggreen, and you will get information.
valmarg
...and Denby pottery has visitors centre too.. ;)
and it's only about ten miles from our lotties... ;D
There is quite few of us 'in the area' Sam could do 'grand allotment tour' instead ;D
I think you might have to spend more than a week here. There are just so many attractions. ;D
You will be more than welcome, ;D
valmarg
Well, the tickets for the Towers eventually arrived this morning. If you PM your address I can send you a couple, or however many you want (within reason ;D.)
I think that will probably be best, as you have to go past the end of the drive there and back, and can turn in and call for a cup of tea and a slice of cake on the way back. ;D
I can give you more information about avoiding the main traffic run and busy times nearer the date.
Look forward to meeting up.
valmarg