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Hey Cottage, Hayfield, UKThings to See |
| Animal Centres | Caves & Caverns | Homes & Gardens | Mills | Towns & Villages | Well Dressings |
Donkey Sanctuary
The sanctuary is the home of the Michael Elliott Trust that was founded in 1991. The donkeys that are quite accessible always prove a big hit with both children and adults alike. The Sanctuary is complete with a souvenir shop, free car park, picnic tables, ice cream and tea gardens - and panoramic view of the Dales.
The Donkey Sanctuary is located near the village of Peak Forest, about 9 miles SE of Hayfield, off A623 towards Small Dale and Wormhill.
Chatsworth Farmyard
Educational farmyard suitable for children of all ages. Several small-animal feeding sessions each day and regular milking demonstration at 3:30 p.m. The adventure Woodland Playground attached to the farmyard is one of the largest of its kind in Britain and claims to keep children amused for at least an hour!
Chatsworth is 8 miles north of Matlock off the B6012 (22 miles SW of Hayfield)
Blackbrook Zoological Park (Winkhill near Leek)
Enjoy a day with a difference at the zoological park of the Moorlands. Birds, animals, aquarium, insects, reptiles, childrens farm and pets areas, play areas, picnicing, talks, displays, shop, tea rooms and accessible for all.
Winkhill, the other side of Leek on A523, is about 27 miles S of Hayfield
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Peak Cavern (Castleton)
This cavern has been used for over 400 years. Because of its size, it hosted a rope-making industry until some thirty years ago. The subterranean river leads to five natural arches, possibly one of the most remarkable sights in any British cave.
Castleton is 11 miles SE of Hayfield on the A625.
Treak Cliff Cavern (Castleton)
One of the major Blue John mines, Treak Cliff Cavern is reached by tunnels constructed in the mid-18th century by miners to reach the rich veins of this semi-precious material. It is rich with stalactites and stalagmites.
Castleton is 11 miles SE of Hayfield on the A625.
Speedwell Cavern (Castleton)
Set at the foot of the spectacular Winnats Pass, high above the village of Castleton, Speedwell Cavern takes you on an incredible underground boat journey through the workings of a 200 year old lead mine.
Castleton is 11 miles SE of Hayfield on the A625.
Blue John Cavern (Castleton)
The Blue John Cavern is steeped in history and old mining equipment is on view inside the cavern. Guided tours are conducted through the cave system at short regular intervals. Each tour lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour during which time a series of magnificent natural water-worn caverns are seen.
Castleton is 11 miles SE of Hayfield on the A625.
Great Masson Cavern (Matlock Bath)
This is an old lead mine that leads into a natural cavern. During the tour you will pass a natural lake and many stalactite- and stalagmite- formations.
Matlock Bath is just south of Matlock on the A6, about 33 miles SE of Hayfield.
Great Rutland Cavern (Matlock Bath)
One of England's oldest show caves, Great Rutland Cavern has been open to the public since 1812. An artificial passage 240 feet long leads into a vast chamber 300 feet long and 120 feet high. Here lead is reputed to have been mined by Romans using Britons as slaves.
Matlock Bath is just south of Matlock on the A6, about 33 miles SE of Hayfield.
Heights of Abraham (Matlock Bath)
Reach the Heights of Abraham by cable-car from where one can access both the Great Masson and Great Rutland Caverns (see above). Climb Prospect Tower for a spectacular view.
Matlock Bath is just south of Matlock on the A6, about 33 miles SE of Hayfield.
Peak District Mining Museum (Matlock Bath)
At the Peak District Mining Museum, visitors will be enthralled by the many hands-on, interactive and novel opportunities to explore this splendid museum. Every nook and cranny a mine of information!
Matlock Bath is just south of Matlock on the A6, about 33 miles SE of Hayfield.
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Lyme Park
Originally a Tudor house, Lyme was transformed by the Venetian architect Leoni into an Italianate palace. The 17-acre Victorian garden is spectacular and is surrounded by 1,400 acres of moorland, woodland and parkland including an 18th-century hunting tower. Run by the National Trust.
Lyme Park is the nearest stately home to Hayfield, just 6 miles SW on the other side of New Mills at Disley.
Gamesley Fold Cottage Garden
Gamesley, Glossop
Tel: 014578 67856
This three-acre garden has been planted in keeping with the property that dates back to the mid 17th century. It has been featured on television and in numerous magazines.
Gamesley is 7 miles NNW of Hayfield.
Peveril Castle
Castleton S33 8WQ
Phone: 01433 620 61
The tower of this Norman castle is perched above the village of Castleton. Founded shortly after the Norman Conquest by one of King William's favoured knights, William Peveril, the castle is now maintained by English Heritage.
Castleton is 8 miles WNW of Hayfield on A625.
Eyam Hall
Delightful small 17th century manor house in the centre of the famous Plague Village of Eyam
Eyam is located 16 miles SE of Hayfield on the A623
The Old House Museum (Bakewell)
The Old House Museum is a typical yeoman's house of the 16th century and belonged originally to the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield.
Situated in the centre of Bakewell close to the church. Bakewell is 18 miles SE of Hayfield on the A623
Haddon Hall
A medieval manor house, the home of Lord Manners, is well worth a visit. It is situated 21 miles SE of Hayfield, two miles south of Bakewell on the River Wye.
Chatsworth House
An absolute must if you haven't been: Chatsworth, the home of the Duke of Devonshire, boasts a magnificent palace with some of the finest art treasures in Europe; a garden of 105 acres that is beautifully landscaped by some of the most famous landscape architects; and a marvellous educational farmyard and activity centre. If you visit no other stately home in the Peak District, visit this one!
Chatsworth is 8 miles north of Matlock off the B6012 (22 miles SE of Hayfield)
Tissington Hall
Built in 1609 in the reign of James I, this magnificent hall has been the home of the FitzHerberts ever since.
Situated 27 miles SSE of Hayfield, Tissington is off the A525 north of Ashbourne.
Biddulph Grange Garden
Biddulph Grange Garden is one of Britain's most unusual gardens with many surprising features; designed in the mid-19th century by James Bateman.
Biddulph Grange is 30 miles SW of Hayfield, south of Congleton. The garden is run by the National Trust.
Hardwick Hall
One of Britain's greatest and most complete Elizabethan houses, a magnificent statement of the wealth and authority of its builder, Bess of Harwick. Outstanding collection of 16th-century furniture, tapestries and portraits. This magnificent house has walled gardens surrounded by a country park. Run by National Trust.
36 miles ESE of Hayfield on the other side of Chesterfield off A617.
Sudbury Hall
A late 17th century house with magnificent interiors: in particular, the wood carvings, painted murals and the Great Staircase make this house worth the visit.
Sudbury Hall is 40 miles S of Hayfield near Uttoxeter. It is run by National Trust.
Kedleston Hall
Kedleston Hall was built by the Curzon family between 1759 and 1765 and is neo-classical mansion with Adam interiors, landscape garden and parks. The house is the finest example of a least-altered Robert Adam interior in Great Britain. It is run by the National Trust.
Kedleston is situated this side of Derby, 41 SSE of Hayfield, off A52.
Calke Abbey
Set in a stunning landscape park, this baroque mansion was built by the Harpur Crewe family between 1701 and 1704. Little restored, the interior boasts a magnificent 18th century state bed and interiors.
Calke Abbey is situated south of Derby, about 51 miles SSE of Hayfield. It is run by the National Trust.
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Brindley Mill & Museum
Brindley Water Mill was built in 1752 by James Brindley, the great canal builder. It was acquired by a charitable trust in 1970 and has since been restored as a working water mill. The mill is located in Mill Street, Leek, some 23 miles SSW of Hayfield.
Cheddleton Flint Mill
Cheddleton Flint Mill is a fine example of a water mill that ground flint for the pottery industry. The site features two water mills, a small museum, a period cottage, traditional narrow-boat and many other exhibits. The site is open to the public.
Cheddleton is 26 miles SSW of Hayfield, off A520 south of Leek.
Masson Mills (Matlock Bath)
Masson Mills is a working textile museum in the 1783 showpiece mills of Sir Richard Arkwright at Matlock Bath. The Working Textile Mill is the oldest part of Masson Mills and exhibits a comprehensive collection of authentic historic working machinery giving visitors a real experience of working conditions in 18th century textile mill.
Masson Mills is situated 29 miles SE of Hayfield on A6, half-a-mile south of Matlock Bath.
Cromford Mill (Matlock Bath)
Another Arkwright mill, Cromford Mill was the world's first successful water-powered cotton mill and earned Arkwright a place in history. The complex was bought by the Arkwright Society in 1979 and since then, work has been underway to slowly restore the mill to its former glories.
Cromford is about 29 miles SE of Hayfield on B5036 off A6 south of Matlock Bath.
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Glossop
Glossop is skirted on three sides by the Peak National Park and provides a convenient stopping place for the many thousands of tourists who visit the Park each year. The moorland setting is a haven for walkers of all abilities. The town has some fine 17th and 18th century cottages clustered around the Market Square and Cross. The church is Norman in origin.
Glossop hosts a number of festivals ranging from a Mayfest, a Folk festival in June, a Global Music festival in July, and a Victorian weekend and Jazz festival in September.
There is a tourist information centre located at The Gatehouse, Victoria Street (Tel: 01457 855920).
The Glossop Heritage Centre in Henry Street is worth a visit; it shows the history of the area over 10,000 years and of Glossop itself over the last 1,000 years. Do not miss the authentic operating Victorian kitchen and the Art Gallery. (Tel: 01457 869176)
Glossop is 10 miles N of Hayfield.
Buxton
This is the highest town in England at just over 1,000 feet above sea level and is one of the oldest spas in the country. The Romans acknowledged the value of its waters but it was the 5th Duke of Devonshire who exploited the nine springs that produces some quarter of a million gallons of warm water each day that gushes into a beautiful Italian marble basin that accentuates its pale blue colour.
Pavilion Gardens, some 23 acres of lovely grounds, surrounds the Pavilion itself which contains a large concert hall and ballroom. There is boating on the lake, putting and bowling on the lawns, and a children's playground. The miniature steam-driven railway is also very popular!
Buxton Museum has a fine display of local rocks and fossils; and intricate ornaments made from Blue John stone and Ashford marble.
The museum at Poole's Cavern houses ancient British and Roman remains found in the cavern.
The Opera House, built in 1903, is a masterpiece of theatre architecture. It offers a diverse programme of productions ranging from opera and ballet to Shakespeare and pantomime. Well worth a visit!
Buxton holds a number of fairs each year. In May there is an antiques fair. In July there is a Fringe festival; the annual carnival; a puppet festiva; and a Gilbert & Sullivan festival.
Buxton is 10 Miles S of Hayfield on the A6.
Castleton
Four of the most famous caverns in the country are to be found at Castleton although the first thing a visitor sees is the ruined Norman-built Peveril Castle that stands high above the village.
St. Edmund's Church has Norman foundations but only the fine chancel arch remained after it was rebuilt in 1837. The church has a large library, the scene of the climax of the famous Garland Ceremony, held each year on 29th May, to celebrate the restoration of King Charles II to the throne.
Dunscar Farm, near Castleton, holds an open day each May with countryside activities for all the family.
Castleton is 11 miles ESE of Hayfield.
Edale
The village and dale are quiet and unspoilt, situated in the heart of the Peak's walking terrain surrounded with rugged hills all around. The village itself has a gentler appearance than many Derbyshire hill villages.
Edale holds a country day in June with a full list of events from fell-running to home-made jams!
Edale is 11 miles E of Hayfield off A625 (turn left before Congleton).
Tideswell
One of the most ancient settlements in the Peak District, it was the site of the 'Great Courts' of the Royal Forest during the reign of Edward I. The village's industry from 14th to 19th centuries was lead mining and there are many surviving miners' cottages. The church, known as the 'Cathedral of the Peak', was built between 1320 and 1400 - and has been little altered since.
The villagel has a carnival at the end of June each year that is well worth the trip.
Tideswell is 12 miles SE of Hayfield off A623.
Flash
Flash is England's highest village at 453.8 metres (1,449 feet) above sea level.
Each June, Flash holds a Tea Pot Parade, the annual parade of the "Flash Loyal Union Society" which dates back to the 1846. When it was disbanded in 1995 it was the country's oldest mutual savings society. Today the parade consists of banners, brass band, a giant tea pot and - of course - tea, cake and children's activities.
Flash is also the home of Northfield Farm (see Horse-riding).
The village is 15 miles S of Hayfield on A53.
Ashford in the Water
Ashford is a picturesque village on the River Wye just upstream from Bakewell and has existed as a crossing point since the Iron Ages, and possibly earlier.
The church boasts 14th century tower and font but was mostly rebuild in 1870s.
Ashford is 16 miles SSE of Hayfield (take A623 through Chapel-en-Le-Frith and then right on B6465).
Longstone
The two villages of Greater and Little Longstone boasts many fine 18th century cottages built during prosperous times for the local lead-mining and shoe-making industries. Longstone Hall dating back to the 14th century was rebuilt, mostly in brick, in the mid-18th century. There is a fine viewpoint north of the village at Longstone Edge.
The Longstone villages are 18 miles SE of Hayfield (A623 then A6020).
Baslow
One of the largest villages within the Peak District, Baslow owes its importance to being close to Chatsworth House and as the starting point for the main route over the moors to Chesterfield.
The church's main aisle dates back to 1200, its tower from 13th century, but the majority of the building was heavily restored in the 19th century.
The modern village centre is close to the entrance to Chatsworth Park and is essentially a tourist area with tea-rooms and gift shops.
Baslow is 19 miles SE of Hayfield on the A623.
Hassop
The village's main feature is the imposing Hassop Hall, built by the Eyre family, which is now an expensive hotel and conference centre.
Hassop is 19 miles SE of Hayfield (A623 then A6020).
Bakewell
Bakewell is built on the banks of the River Wye in a beautiful setting and was probably occupied by Romans. The town is built almost entirely in warm, brownish stone. The church is well worth a visit. Dating back to 920, parts are Norman but most was built in 13th century and remodelled around 1840.
Warm springs provide the water for Bath House where you can swim in a constant 15 degrees centigrade, winter and summer.
The town, of course, is famous for its Bakewell Pudding and Tarts - and its carnival in July.
Bakewell is 19 miles SE of Hayfield, taking A623 and A6020.
Monyash
This village was an important centre of lead-mining from medieval times until the end of the 19th century.
Monyash is very pretty with its village green and cross that dates from 1340. It is also the starting point for walkers of Lathkill Dale; the local pub (the Bull's Head) is a well-used meeting point!
The village is 19 miles SSE of Hayfield (through Buxton take A515 then B5055).
Sheldon
A small farming hamlet high above the river Wye, Sheldon had a flourishing lead-mining industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. The most famous lead mine, The Magpie, is just ¾ mile from the village.
There are some spectacular views from just outside the village that also has an excellent pub, the Cock and Pullet.
Sheldon is 20 miles SE of Hayfield between Buxton and Bakewell (take A6 from Buxton and look for country lane to right just past the turning on left to Ashford-in-the-Water).
Rowsley
The village is divided by the A6 at the junction of the rivers Wye and Derwent. The gritstone cottages and farmhouses of the old part contrasts nicely with the more modern part, known as the "railway village", built around the former Midlands railway station, now an engineering works. The dower house of Haddon Hall, built in 1652, is now the Peacock Hotel. Caudwell's Mill, nearby, is an operating flour-mill built in 1874 and is open to the public.
Rowsley is 22 miles SE of Hayfield through Bakewell on the A6.
Beeley
One of the Chatsworth villages situated off the main road, the village consists of cottages constructed with the local grit-stone - very pretty. The village boasts a good pub: The Devonshire Arms.
Beeley is 23 miles SE of Hayfield off A623.
Leek
Leek was settled before the Romans came; a cross in the church of St. Edward's is almost certainly of Viking origin. Situated at the southern end of some of the most impressive scenery in the county, Leek is dominated by the fortress-like hills known as The Roaches, the highest of which being Hen Cloud (1,500 feet).
Leek holds an Arts festival in May
The village is 23 miles SSW of Hayfield on A53.
Matlock and Matlock Bath (The Matlocks)
Known as the area of a thousand views, Matlock, situated in the wooded Derwent valley, typifies Derbyshire scenery at its best.
Matlock Bath became renowned in the 19th century for its thermal waters that maintain a constant temperature year-round. A music festival is held each year in June in the Grand Pavilion.
Opposite the Pavilion are the famous Heights of Abraham on which stands the Victoria Prospect Tower offering 360 degree views of the whole area. Access to the Heights can be made by walking or by cable car. In the grounds are two caverns (see Caves & Caverns).
In the town of Matlock itself is Riber Castle, the most famous landmark in The Matlocks, now a zoology park. At the north end of the town is the Lido with two pools, one covered and one open-air. A walk away is the famous Wishing Stone in Lumsdale.
Matlock is 27 miles SE of Hayfield on the A6/A615.
Ashbourne
A small market town, its main street still looks much as did when King Charles I attended St Oswald's Church after his defeat at Naseby in 1645. The church with its 215-foot spire has been called 'The Cathedral of the Peak', its exterior weathered and scarred; there are clear artillery marks left by the Parliamentarians when they attacked the church in 1644.
Ashbourne holds a Highlands Gathering in July. The village is also famous for its gingerbread, the recipe for which came with 300 French prisoners from the Napoleonic Wars who were billeted here.
Ashbourne is 31 miles SSE of Hayfield on A515.
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The actual dates of each village's well dressing vary from year to year. Below is a guide as to the villages participating sorted by month. Please check locally or with the tourist authorities for the actual dates.
May
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Last updated on November 29, 2004