[27.09.2007] Chesterfield is a very historic town and everywhere that you look there are black and white timber framed medieval buildings. One of the most historic parts of the town centre is an area called the Shambles. This part of town is characterised by narrow cobbled streets and right in the heart of these tiny lanes is where Chesterfield's oldest public house, Ye Royal Oak can be found. Even from the outside this place [more]

[24.09.2007] Stanage Edge is the name given to the largest of the Peak District's gritstone edges, it is also visually, the most impressive and has become a magnet for rock climbers who come here from all over the country to climb its sheer vertical rock faces. Stanage Edge is only a few miles from where I live so this is a place that I am very familiar with. It is a place that I visit often at the weekend and I have walked t [more]

[20.09.2007] Following the triumphs of William the Conqueror during his famous battle of 1066 the newly appointed King William set about rewarding those loyal men who had fought for his cause and several different Castles were built and given away as gifts. The Peveril family was one of the greatest beneficiaries for their support and all across Northern England there are examples of Castles connected to this prominent family. Bo [more]

[14.09.2007] Edensor is one of the prettiest little villages that I have discovered. It lies adjacent to the vast Chatsworth Estate in the heart of Derbyshire's Peak District National Park. This whole village, which is pronounced "Ensor" was relocated a couple of hundred years ago, to its present site, from a few hundred metres further down the road. This was because the then Duke of Devonshire (from Chatsworth House) complained [more]

[01.09.2007] Clumber Park is situated within an area of North Nottinghamshire known as the Dukeries. It is a vast area of peaceful woodland, open heathland and rolling farmland. It is owned by the National Trust and is an excellent place to visit for anyone wanting a day out and wishing to escape to the countryside. The park covers an area of 3,800 square acres, with a superb serpentine shaped lake at its heart; amongst its ma [more]

[13.08.2007] Ladybower reservoir is situated in the Upper Derwent Valley in an area of Peak District National Park known as the Dark Peak. This area is characterised by its high mountains and steep gritstone edges. I am fortunate enough to live less than a 20 minute drive from here, yet this has never been a place that I have taken for granted. This is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful places in England. The Ladybower [more]

[16.07.2007] Haddon Hall is an imposing English Country House situated near Bakewell, in the heart of the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire. It is probably the finest example of a fortified medieval manor house in existence, yet unlike the majority of similar houses this is not in the hands of the National Trust, but instead it is still owned and lived in by the same family that has owned it since 1567 when it became the [more]

[13.07.2007] The Castle Inn is one of several public houses that can be found in the Derbyshire town of Castleton in the Peak District National Park. It is located right in the heart of the town, at the bottom of the hillside where Peveril Castle is perched, overlooking Castleton. This location leaves the visitor in no doubt how this place derived its name and the sign outside here has a picture of a Castle on it, that somewhat r [more]

[08.07.2007] The Church of St Michael and All Angels stands high on a hillside above the Derbyshire town of Hathersage. I have passed close by to this Church on many occasions, but it is only very recently that I undertook a small detour off the main road to visit here. All over the County of Derbyshire there are many wonderful Churches and this is one of the finest examples of them all. The Church is thought to date from the [more]

[08.07.2007] Buxton is a Spa town in Derbyshire, right on the edge of the Peak District National Park. People have come here since medieval times to enjoy the healing properties of the towns natural springs, and even before then it was a Roman Spa town. It is however probably true to say that it was during the Victorian era that Buxton was really transformed into a league of its own, and the resort began to flourish. The Victo [more]