The Peak District, Derbyshire & Cheshire
With its spectacular and contrasting scenery, the Peak District is a region of outstanding natural beauty and one of Britain’s loveliest National Parks. The National Trust has been hard at work here for over 100 years and now cares for some 40,000 acres. High Peak Estate is the largest estate, over 33,000 acres of high moorland straddling the Yorkshire-Derbyshire border. Although only ten miles from the centre of Sheffield, the Longshaw Estate boasts more than 1,700 acres of open moorland, gritstone edges and ancient oak woodland, while the 4,400 acre South Peak Estate lies in the magnificent limestone hills, centred upon the well-known beauty spots of Ilam and Dovedale. On the foothills of the Peak District, Lyme Park contains an Italianate mansion and Victorian garden surrounded by a medieval deer park of almost 1,400 acres.

Hardwick Hall is ideally situated for exploring the Peak District and Sherwood Forest, while the gentler landscapes of South Derbyshire contain pretty villages, bustling market towns and the fast-growing National Forest. The area is steeped in history with ancient castles, grand houses and sites that reveal the ingenuity of our industrial past.

Calke Abbey
Known as ‘The House that Time Forgot’, Calke Abbey portrays the English country house in decline and has been virtually unaltered since the last Baronet’s death in 1924.

Crammed with fascinating possessions, including a 1734 state bed of Chinese silk and discovered still in its box in 1985! The 600 acre Calke Park includes a National Nature Reserve, so why not go on a mini-adventure to see the deer and meet a 900-year-old oak? There is plenty for the family, including a play area, Discovery Trails and Tracker Packs. You can also enjoy free access to the House and Gardens during normal opening hours when booking a cottage on the estate, and the Restaurant and Shop open 7 days a week so that you can enjoy a well-earned cream tea or lunch! Calke estate is situated within the National Forest and is an ideal base for touring and walking. Holiday Cottages guests have free access to Calke Abbey during opening hours.

National Trust places nearby: Kedleston Hall, Staunton Harold Church, Sudbury Hall and the National Trust Museum of Childhood Shop and pub: shops in Melbourne, pubs in Ticknall, Melbourne and surrounding villages. Tea-room/café/restaurant: restaurant at Calke Abbey and Melbourne. Railway station: Derby. Other attractions: Derby City, Donington Park, Melbourne Hall and Gardens. Activities: walking, birdwatching, cycling.

Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 128