Visiting the Peak District

The Peak District National Park is one of the most beautiful areas of England and the oldest National Park.  It is latticed with pretty conservation villages including Cressbrook, Tideswell and Litton.

Tideswell

Tideswell is an ancient bustling village right in the heart of the peaks which dates back earlier than Roman times. It has a magnificent church, dedicated to St John the Baptist, often referred to as the Cathedral of the Peak, which was built in the 14th century and stands as a land mark for miles around.  It has a good range of shops, pubs and tearooms and is famous for its well dressings..
It’s known locally as ‘Tidza’ and the locals are known as ‘Sawyeds’, after a traditional story about a farmer whose cow got its head stuck in a gate. Legend has it that the farmer freed the beast by sawing off its head.

Enjoy a cup of tea and a home-made cake in one of the lovely tearooms then stroll along to Tideswell Dale which leads down to Litton Mill and Cressbrook. It’s a Derbyshire Wildlife Nature Reserve, noted for some beautiful rare flowers and Toadstones. Tideswell makes an ideal base for walking and climbing and is an ideal base for exploring the peak district’s attractions.

Visit www.visittideswell.co.uk for information on local events, walks, accommodation and a lot more.

Cressbrook

Said to be Derbyshire’s most picturesque village, Cressbrook perches on the hillside on the cusp of Millers Dale, Monsal Dale and Cressbrook Dale overlooking the river Wye.  It was built to supply workers for Arkwright’s Cotton mill (1779) but today the mill has closed and it forms a peaceful enclave with a fine hall and ex-mill workers cottages on its charming terraced slopes. Cressbrook Dale is a national nature reserve and a place of great natural beauty where rare wild flowers and prolific wildlife including  badgers abound.

It is a place to unwind and relax and enjoy the magnificent views. Indeed time seems to pass more slowly in Cressbrook, and this phenomena is locally referred to as ‘Cressbrook time’ which can be quite a bit behind Greenwich mean time !

Beloved by climbers the Ravens Dale crags and Rubicon Wall at Water Cum Jolly provide challenging climbs.

Litton

This hamlet lies between Cressbrook and Tideswell and features stocks on the village green. The ancient field systems which surround Litton are notable; most of the fields are long and narrow and date from the enclosures act of 1760 where strips of larger fields were allocated to families to farm.  See the dry stone walls which enclose them and the stocks on the village green.  The Red Lion pub serves good pub food..

 

Local Shopping
Local shopping is excellent in Tideswell and the local market towns of Chesterfield, Bakewell and Buxton.  About 45 minutes drive takes you to Sheffield (Meadow hall), Manchester or Derby where all the facilities of major cities are available.

Don’t load up the car with a supermarket shop for your visit, local shops are excellent, why not shop when you arrive…

There is a super award winning village shop in Litton which is owned and run by the village.

In Tideswell there are a great range of shops which specialise in fresh local produce:
The Co-op, opens 7 days a week from 8am to 10pm and stocks all the basic food and home items you’ll need during your stay.. There’s  also a greengrocers, a  bakery, a fish and chip shop, hairdressers, restaurants and  cafés,  a Chemist, a knitting/craft shop and an interesting secondhand book store.

Eateries
The Merchants Yard Tideswell. Serves brilliant cocktails and restaurant food

Sal’s italian Tideswell .  Serves pittzas and italian food. bring your own wine.

The George , Tideswell –  a  historic pub next to the Cathedral of the Peak with open fires, bar meals, good beer, and a beer garden. Dogs are welcome.
The Red Lion, Litton.  A short stroll from Cressbrook or Tideswell, Litton boasts this fantastic 17th century Freehouse as featured in the Good Pub Guide.  It’s known for good food, great beer, and dogs are warmly welcomed.  This pub is great in the summer months, as you can sit outside overlooking the village green.
The Horse and Jockey in Tideswell is a traditional country pub, with good food, good ales and a roaring open fire.  Dogs very welcome.
The Monsal Head Hotel offers the best view in England overlooking the viaduct and Monsal Dale.
Fischers in Baslow is perfect for that very special celebration meal.  Renowned for its fine food and Michelin-starred Dining Room which enjoys an outstanding reputation among connoisseurs for its gastronomy www.fischers-baslowhall.co.uk
Favourite Places to Visit

Chatsworth House and Gardens – and their award winning Farm Shop or Haddon Hall in Bakewell or Hardwick Hall

Go to Eyam Hall and Craft Centre and the Eyam Museum to see the history of the Plague village

Alton Towers for a family day out

Gulliver’s Kingdom and the Heights of Abraham at Matlock Bath
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Go Ape!  In the beautiful Buxton Country Park

Visit the Speedwell Cavern or Devil’s Arse!

Visit ancient sites, Arbor Low was built around 2500 BC and is known as ‘ The Stonehenge of the Peak’

Visit The National Tramway Museum at Crich for its collection of historic trams

Visit a well dressing in summer.  Well dressing  takes place in around 20 villages where village creates its own themed pictures on boards of puddled clay using petals, seeds and other fruits of the earth.  The finished well dressings are displayed  and blessing ceremonies are held in celebration.

Take a walk in the National Trust’s Longshaw Estate or in Chatsworth park

Enjoy a Tideswell Male Voice Choir concert
Outdoor Pursuits

Good Ideas for Walks
Walk the Trails – The Monsal trail is just  2 miles from Tideswell and is a wonderful gentle walk along a disused railway line leading from Bakewell to Buxton with great views.

There’s also the Tissington Trail from Ashbourne to Buxton and the High Peak Trail.

Walk the Dales – The spectacular limestone dales of Tideswell Dale, Tansley Dale, Ravens Dale and Cressbrook Dale are lovely walks.  Cressbrook Dale is a site of specific scientific interest renowned for it s exceptional and rare wild flowers. Lovely walks in this area can be found here www.letsgo-tideswell.co.uk/tideswell-walks-c17.html

At the top of Cressbrook Dale you will see a limestone formation called Peters Stone. It is also known as Gibberts Rock.  The bodies of those who had committed serious crimes were hung from a gibbert in a cage here to serve as a warning to others.  The last man to suffer this fate was Anthony Linguard in 1815.

Dovedale , Monsal Dale  and Lathkill Dale are still scarcely touched by man.  On their steep rocky faces are some of the rarest and most beautiful plants and insects in the Park.
A collection of walks www.peakwalking.freeserve.co.uk
For walks with your dog see the Paws on the Moors initiative

For guided walks with Sally and her dog Alfie

Fishing

For fishing ideas try Here

And for fishing on the Derbyshire Wye at Cressbrook you will need a day permit, see Cressbrook and Litton Fly Fishers

Climbing

There is renowned climbing at water cum jolly (Rubicon Wall) and Ravensdale Crags.

There is also good climbing at Stoney Middleton and Curber Edge

Cycling

Next year the Monsal Trail will open from Buxton to Bakewell for walkers and cyclists, this is a particularly scenic route.
Cycles can be ordered and delivered to the cottage www.peak-tours.com

Sailing and Watersports

Carsington Water offers  sailing and water sports also good walks and cycling trails.

For more information on the area and activities available,  contact the Tourist Information Centres; you can also book tickets for local events, find out about local bus and train services, check accessibility of facilities and request leaflets..

Peak District National Park, visitor enquiries: 01629 816558 or e mail: bakewell@peakdistrict.gov.uk

Also, visit : www.visitpeakdistrict.com to help plan your visit to the area.