Derbyshire holiday cottage: Cromford

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

The Peak District National Park has some of the most stunning countryside in England. Covering 500 square miles across several counties it attracts visitors from all around the world. Derbyshire is famous for it's natural beauty, from peaks and dales, to picturesque villages, streams and rivers, lime stone villages and dry stone walls, which give the area so much character. Lucky Cottage is a Grade ll Listed 'Arkwright' Stone Cottage dating from the late 1700's, and is situated in a convenient location within Cromford, which is know as a 'World Heritage Site' and Conservation area. There are plenty of walks on your door step, including several that take you through and around the historic village. The highly popular Tissington Trail, which runs for 17 miles, is used by walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, and is close to the cottage, as are two further trails, the High Peak Trail and the Manifold Valley Trail. These three tracks are ideal for family cycling.

MATLOCK is only a 10 minute drive away, where supermarkets, banks and chemists etc. are available. The town is famous for its springs which were discovered in 1698, and the Victorian fascination with the healing benefits that the water claimed to provide, lead to the town being developed. THE ANCIENT TOWN OF BAKEWELL is a drive away, famous for its Bakewell Pudding, as is; Youlgreave which has England's smallest house at Thimble Hall, Hartington, with its famous creamery and cheese shop, Ashbourne, one of Derbyshire's finest old market towns, combining a medieval street pattern and historic buildings plus a wealth of high quality shops and a wealth of antique shops; Buxton with its magnificent architecture, an array of shops, a thriving arts scene, and of course it's world-famous spa water. There are many quaint villages to wander around such as Ashford-in-the-Water with a beautiful photographic 'sheepwash' bridge spanning the River Wye.

PLACES TO VISIT

Time and time again, my guests comment in the guest book about the ‘great location’ the cottage is in, for the many things to do and places to visit. There are a wealth of historic houses to visit, including Chatsworth and Haddon Hall. Alton Towers is close by and the children’s theme park Gulliver’s kingdom is only a 5 minutes drive away. So too is The Heights of Abraham, a cable car that allows you to see stunning views of the Peaks from above, and the spectacular underground show caves. Visit the largest natural cave entrance in the British Isles and adventure deep into the spectacular, ancient underground wonderland. See the Blue John Stone in the only place in the world, where it naturally occurs and enter the inner world of the underground cave system by boat and absorb the atmosphere as a watery silence echoes all around you. THE HEIGHTS OF ABRAHAM - Matlock - Take a look at the stunning views in a cable car TEMPLE MINE - A network of tunnels and glistening walls.

CARSINGTON WATER - Nr Ashbourne - Huge reservoir offering a wealth of water sports including, sailing, canoeing, fishing, cycling. PEVERIL CASTLE - Castleton - A Norman and Medieval castle founded in 1080 EYAM MUSEUM - Eyam - Visit the village, famous for the Bubonic Plague in 1665 and the museum dedicated to the history of the tragic event. CHATWORTH HOUSE - Nr Bakewell - One of the best stately homes in Britain. Magnificent interior, painted ceilings, state rooms. 105 acres of garden and parkland. HARDWICK HALL - Bakewell - One of the finest Elizabethan mansions in Britain

THINGS TO DO

HIGH WIRE FOREST ADVENTURE course of rope bridges. Tarzan swings and zip slides up to 40ft in the trees. BALLOONING - Hot air balloon over The Peak district and see the splendour of the National Park. HAND GLIDING - Float like a bird in the wind above the landscape. Day-taster course or beginners course. CYCLING - Cycling on one of the 6 trails set up along the former railway tracks, or 'rough it' on an extensive network of bridleways, some of which follow ancient packhorse routes over challenging moorland countryside. If this in not challenging enough then go mountain biking on the difficult and arduous routes in the Hope Valley. HORSE RIDING - Explore the Peak District National Park on horse back. Ride the old packhorse trails. ROCK CLIMBING - The Peak provides a wealth of climbing for all standards and there are so many craggs it is not possible to list them all.

ANNUAL EVENTS

***May*** INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRAILS 16 - 17 May 2009 (annual) Chatsworth House ***July*** CHESTERFIELD MEDIEVAL MARKET (annual) Chesterfield ***August*** BAKEWELL SHOW (annual) Bakewell,,,CHATSWORTH COUNTRY FAIR (annual) Chatsworth Estate,,,MATLOCK BATH ILLUMINATIONS (annual Matlock Bath) Saturday and Sundays from 30th August to Saturday 25th October (inclusive) ***December*** Christmas at Chatsworth House,,,MATLOCK VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS WEEKEND - Held on the first weekend in December, the annual switch-on of the Matlock Christmas lights is incorporated with a weekend of markets, festivities and fun for all.