Why I Love ---The Peak District by Fiona Duncan.
WHY I LOVE…. THE PEAK DISTRICT
Between Manchester and Sheffield, it’s full of contrasts, from the Dark Peak's high exposed moorlands and dramatic gritstone edges to the White Peak’s gentler plateaus, limestone dales and rivers.
Thanks to the hilly landscape, there are wonderful views such as from Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill and from the hilltops around the Upper Derwent Valley. Fishermen are well served, with some of the best dry fly fishing on the Wye, the only river in England where wild rainbow trout are found, as well as brown trout. And then there are the great houses of Chatsworth, Haddon Hall and Hardwick Hall, all pearls of their kind.
You won’t be stuck for good food and a good bed either… my favourite hotels in the Peak District are the Peacock at Rowsley and the Cavendish at Baslow, both now with excellent chefs. The former is on the estate of Haddon Hall and the latter of Chatsworth, a stroll away through meadows.
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Peacock at Rowsley Rowsley, Derbyshire 15 rooms from $263
Total relaxation - They go the extra mile to help you relax- afternoon tea on arrival, camomile tea for bed and roaring fires in the cosy bar.Country Escape - A historic country hotel in stunning surrounds, well placed for fishing, golf and walking weekends.Fishing - Access to a 7-mile stretch of fly-fishing along the Wye and Derwent where rare Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout can be caught.Local markets - Foodies flock to Bakewell's farmers market, the second largest in the UK, it boasts the cream of the local produce.
Recommended by - Mr & Mrs Smith, I Escape, Good Hotel Guide, SawdaysCheck AvailabilityA 17th-century manor first opened as a hotel in 1820, in the middle of the Peak District. Recent renovation has created a stylish mix of traditional and contemporary, with luxurious trappings and outstanding food. Come for walking and fly fishing on a seven mile stretch of river. True English charm. See More
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Cavendish Hotel Bakewell, Derbyshire 24 rooms from $275
Great walks - Chatsworth House, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and its gardens are a pleasant 20-minute walk across parklandSights nearby - Haddon Hall, a wonderful medieval, Tudor and Elizabethan house is five miles awayFishing - River fishing nearbyTraditional
Recommended by - Good Hotel Guide, Michelin TravelCheck AvailabilityPart of the Chatsworth Estate, this long and low Georgian hotel has been given a modern country house look that still retains its Georgian charms. Wonderful artworks cover the walls, there’s a choice of two dining rooms, and a sun-trap terrace for warmer days. See More
Written by Fiona Duncan
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