175
Above left Stone houses in the hilly market
town of Bakewell Above centre Pretty gardens
and medieval manor house of Haddon Hall
Above right Matlock Bath, perched beside
the River DerwentDRIVE 16: Around the Peak District
DAY TRIP OPTIONS
Take in stunning countryside, historic
houses and pretty towns.Through the White Peak
Explore Ashbourne 1 and then take a
long walk in the country at Dovedale
2 before driving north through
quaint Peak villages to relax in Buxton’s
elegant Georgian pavilions 3.Follow the drive route north but return via
the A515 to save time.Along the Hope Valley
Staying at Buxton 3 , drive to Edale 4
for a walk above the village, and then
visit the caves at Castleton 5. Drive on
through Hathersage 6 , with views of
Stanage Edge and finally stop at
Bakewell 9 for some food shopping.Follow the drive route but return via A6.
Great houses in the Peaks
From Bakewell 9 , buy some treats for
lunch and visit majestic Chatsworth
8 to enjoy a picnic in the park. Drive
round to the smaller but older Haddon
Hall 0 and end the day with some
family fun at Matlock Bath 0.
Take the A6 there and back.Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under £25; moderate, £25–£50; expensive, over £509 Bakewell
Derbyshire; DE45
A bustling market town at the heart of
the Peaks, Bakewell is a charming
place just to wander and window-
shop. It’s also known for good food,
with food stores in the courtyards off
the main street and plenty of tea shops
offering the local speciality, Bakewell
Pudding – it’s never called a tart in its
home town. In addition to its weekly
market, the town hosts a monthly
Farmers’ Market attracting many local
independent food producers. The Old
House Museum (Apr–Oct: open daily),
Bakewell’s oldest house, begun in
1543, has been made into a fascinating
museum of everyday life.
ª Take the A6 south. Haddon Hall is
on the left but park on the right.
0 Haddon Hall
Derbyshire; DE45 1LA
The most complete medieval and
Elizabethan manor house in England,
Haddon Hall (Apr, Oct: open Sat–Mon;
May–Sep: wopen daily; http://www.haddonhall.
co.uk) has remained virtually unaltered,
except for upkeep, since the 1600s,
and still owned by the Manners family.
Original features include massive
medieval kitchens, flagstoned
courtyards, a 12th-century chapel with
15th-century wall paintings and a Long
Gallery with exquisite wood panelling.
ª Turn right out of the car park and
continue down A6 to Matlock Bath. Pay-
and-display parking along main street.q Matlock Bath
Derbyshire; DE4
Matlock developed in the 19th century
as a spa with mass-market appeal. It is
still a popular destination, especially
Matlock Bath to the south of the main
town, where the River Derwent runs
through an impressive narrow gorge.
The main street (A6) beside the river is
lined with budget restaurants and ice-
cream and souvenir shops. The most
popular family attraction is the Heights
of Abraham (mid-Feb–Nov: open daily;
http://www.heightsofabraham.com) at the top
of the gorge – reached via a dramatic
cable car trip – with views, gardens,
playgrounds, nature trails and caverns.EAT AND DRINKHATHERSAGE
The Walnut Club moderate
Much acclaimed for its inventive, organic
cooking, this eaterie has a hip and stylish
décor and live jazz in the evenings. Open
Fri–Sun – booking is essential.
The Square, Main Road, S32 1BB; 01433
651 155; http://www.thewalnutclub.com
AROUND CHATSWORTH
Rowley’s Restaurant moderate
This stylish bar-restaurant in Baslow,
on the A619 just north of Chatworth,
serves creative modern British food of
a very high standard.
Church Street, Baslow, DE45 1RY; 01246
583 880; http://www.rowleysrestaurant.co.uk
BAKEWELL
Piédaniel’s moderate
Chef Eric Piédaniel combines his own
French skills and culinary traditions
with local produce, and his restaurant
is a beautifully calm, relaxing space.
Bath Street, DE45 1BX; 01629 812 687;
http://www.piedaniels-restaurant.com
MATLOCK BATH
The Strand Restaurant inexpensive
There is something for everyone at this
friendly, buzzing brasserie and the
midweek set menus are a bargain.
Dale Road, Matlock, DE4 3LT; 01629 584
444; http://www.thestrandrestaurant.comAbove Extravagant topiary in the grounds
of Haddon Hall