Things To Do
With so much to do in the local area, we have put together some suggestions to make the most of your time with us. From countryside walks ending with a traditional pub lunch to theme parks and stately homes, there’s something for everyone.
The Boars Head is a restaurant, only a short drive from the campsite.
The Crown Inn, Marston Montgomery, serves locally sourced food that follows the seasons where possible., a very short walk from the campsite!
The Roebuck Inn, a lovely pub located in the village of Draycott-In-The Clay, which is near to both Derby and Ashbourne
The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone, for a treat and restaurant quality food.
If you are looking for a lunch time snack…
Denstone Farm Shop is a rustic cafe for drinks and light bites, plus a farm shop/deli selling local artisan produce and only a ten minute drive.
The Sudbury Courtyard is a newly opened retail shopping outlet in the heart of Sudbury village. It sits immediately next to the National Trust’s Sudbury Hall. The sweet little café is located in the courtyard and serves homemade food and cakes. Only a ten minute drive.
Cottage Kitchen Country Café, Winkill, Nr Leek, is a countryside café and farm shop. Cottage delight have a passion for gourmet foods and sell a range of luxury jams, chutneys and gifts. It’s approx half an hour drive but worth it!
Ashbourne you will find a selection of tearooms and places to eat in Ashbourne including the famous Ashbourne Gingerbread Shop & Restaurant.
Sudbury Hall and Gardens a National Trust property and Children’s Country Hoiuse.
Shugborough Estate is a National Trust property near Stafford. With a mansion house, servants’ quarters, working farm and walled garden there’s lots to do for all the family.
Chatsworth House is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, visit the house, explore the gardens, meet the animals in the farmyard, indulge in an afternoon tea or browse the shops.
Tissington Hall is an early 17th-century Jacobean mansion house, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, with a ten acre garden and arboretum.
Haddon Hall is the Duke of Rutland’s seat, this stately home has a grand Tudor hall and Elizabethan gardens.
Hardwick Hall a National Trust property, is an architecturally significant Elizabethan country house in Derbyshire, created by Bess of Hardwick in the 1500s.
Kedleston Hall is an English country house in Kedleston, Derbyshire, approximately four miles north-west of Derby, and is the seat of the Curzon family. Today it is a National Trust property.
Calke Abbey is a Grade I listed country house near Ticknall, Derbyshire, in the care of the National Trust. A great day out if you’re with kids as it is considered the Trust’s most child-friendly and fun property!
Eyam Hall is a small, but charming Jacobean-style manor house in Derbyshire, run by the National Trust with beautiful historic gardens.
Bolsover Castle offers plenty to do for all the family. The Discovery Centre has fascinating audio-visual displays and extensive grounds to explore with lots of green space for a family picnic. And with panoramic views over the Vale of Scarsdale, Bolsover has everything you need for a fun day out in Derbyshire.
Trentham Gardens Including the monkey forest and trentham shopping village.
Carsington Water Kayaking, cycling, sailing, sports, walking, fishing, catering & shops too!
Tittesworth Reservior Visitor centre & cafe
Hoar Cross Hall & Spa is a Grade II listed stately home retreat in Staffordshire that pairs period style with modern luxury and attentive service, for that little treat!
Uttoxeter Racecourse holds meetings throughout the year.
Market Towns of Leek, Ashbourne, Buxton & Bakewell
National Forest Adventure Farm offers exciting indoor fun, outdoor adventure and farm animals.
Uttoxeter Entertainment Centre with an ice rink, cinema and 8-lane tenpin bowling alley with glow lighting.
Ashbourne Leisure Centre Community sports complex with an indoor pool and exercise classes.
Peak Wildlife Park Set in the heart of the Staffordshire peak district; offers a truly unique and immersive animal experience.
Denby Visitors Centre Open all year round, Denby visitor centre is next to the working pottery, set in a cobbled courtyard with award winning home, garden, cookery and gift shops.
Barton Marina Waterfront Pub & Restaurant, Red Carpet Cinema & Cafe Bar and Thai restaurant
Peak District Mining Museum, Matlock Bath Visit a museum where you can experience and wonder at the forgotten world of a Derbyshire lead miner. For centuries, men have toiled underground in cramped and hazardous conditions to earn a meager living by extracting the mineral galena (lead ore). See the tools they used, clothes they wore, the advances in technology and the importance of this metal in our modern day lives.
Alton Towers, Alton Fantastic day out for all the family at Britain’s best theme park, just 20 minutes from Ashbourne. Take a splash in the water park, play some golf, relax in the wondrous spa or experience the thrill of some of the exhilarating rides.
National Stone Centre, Wirksworth Visit the Discovery Centre to see the ‘Story of Stone’ exhibition, browse through the best rock and mineral shop in the Midlands, or have some light refreshment in the café area.
Crich Tramway Museum, Crich, Nr Matlock Nestling high up in the heart of Derbyshire, overlooking the famous Derwent Valley, the Crich Tramway Museum is a unique place to visit.
Gullivers Kingdon, Matlock Bath A family theme park, opened in 1978, caters for families with children aged 2 to 13. There are rides, attractions, shows, restaurants and shops.
Chestnut Centre Conservation & Wildlife Park, Chapel-en-Le-frith Conservation and Wildlife Park, home to a unique collection of birds and animals and many wild birds and mammals.
Peak Rail, Matlock – Darley Dale – Rowsley Peak Rail re-opened in 1997 and now runs regular steam and diesel hauled heritage passenger trains between Matlock Riverside and Rowsley. Open most weekends throughout the year.
Go-Ape, Buxton The award-winning, high wire forest adventure course comprises rope bridges, tarzan swings and zip slides set high in the trees tops. Based at Poole’s Cavern in Buxton, the 1km course is suitable for a wide range of ages (minimum age 10, minimum height 1.40m) and offers three hours of memorable, adrenaline-fuelled fun for those looking for a unique and exhilarating outdoor adventure.
The National Space Centre in Leicester is an amazing day out for all the family.
Tutbury Castle A Medieval castle largely ruined in the Civil War. Historical re-enactments throughout the year.
Buxton Pavilion Gardens 23 acres of restored Victorian pleasure gardens with regular events, play area, café and Pavilion Arts Centre
Conkers Indoor and outdoor experiences in the heart of the National Forest. Four family-friendly discovery zones and over 100 interactive exhibits.
Carsington Water, Carsington Carsington Water is a local centre for outdoor activities – there is a sailing club active next door to the Visitor Centre, and there are many opportunities for walking and cycling around the reservoir and the surrounding villages. Cycle hire is available and there is plentiful car parking. For young children there is a children’s playground near the visitor centre.
Derwent Valley The Upper Valley of the Derwent is a deep valley surrounded by gritstone edges and dominated by three great reservoirs, constructed by the Derwent Valley Water Board primarily to provide water for Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester. A great area for walking and cycling.
High Peak Trail, Cromford Takes the line of the former Cromford and High Peak Railway between Parsley Hey and Cromford. Cycle hire is available.
High Peak Junction & Leawood Pumphouse, Cromford The junction of the Cromford Canal and the High Peak Trail in the beautiful Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. It is a haven for wildlife and is the ideal location for a stroll, heritage or nature walk.
The Monsal Trail, Bakewell The Monsal Trail is a traffic free route for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users through some of the Peak District’s most spectacular limestone dales. The trail runs along the former Midland Railway line for 8.5 miles.
Tissington Trail, Ashbourne / Tissington: The line was purchased by the Peak National Park and Derbyshire County Council in 1971 and reopened as the Tissington Trail for cyclists and walkers.
Mam Tor, Castleton A 6 ½ mile walk starting in Castleton and walking through some of the most admired and stunning parts of the Peak District. Known to be one of the best ridge walks in the country, this Peak District walk gives stunning views over Edale, Hope Valley and even the edge of Kinder Scout.
Stanton Moor, Stanton in the Peak Stanton Moor is in a fine position overlooking both the Derwent and Wye valleys. Possibly it is for this reason that it was chosen as a centre by the Bronze Age inhabitants of the area, who have left so many traces of their occupation upon the moor.
Dovedale, Thorpe near Ashbourne An easy walk to one of the most popular locations in the White Peak – the Dovedale Steppingstones. One for the whole family.
Peveril Castle, Castleton The imposing ruins of Peveril Castle stand high above the pretty village of Castleton in the heart of Derbyshire’s Peak District. Mentioned in the Domesday survey, Peveril Castle is one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses. The keep was built by Henry II in 1176. A climb to the castle at the top of the hill to enjoy the breathtaking views over the Hope Valley is a highlight of a family day out in Castleton.
Monsal Head, Monsal Head Monsal Head is a famous beauty spot with a magnificent view down Monsal Dale and up the Wye valley. The position is at a spot where the Wye, on its passage eastwards to meet the Derwent, encounters a band of harder rock and is forced to make a sharp turn southwards and carve its way through a high ridge of limestone. The view is spectacular, with the river far below, winding through a steep-sided and often rocky valley.
Stanage Edge, Hathersage The largest and most impressive of the gritstone edges. Situated on the moors north of Hathersage, and visible from miles away down in the Hope Valley, it stretches for a length of approximately six kilometres. It is a famous location for rock-climbing and a popular spot for walkers.
The Roaches, Upperhulme This walk is one of the most popular in the Peak District and a favourite for many. It runs along an elevated rocky ridge, with fascinating rock formations and wonderful views of the surrounding countrsyide and the nearby Tittesworth Reservoir.
The Manifold Way A footpath and cycle way, a favourite for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, follows the route of the disused Leek and Manifold Light Railway.