Peak District Cottage in the beautiful village of Youlgreave (Youlgrave) near Bakewell, Derbyshire
What can we do there?
What can we see? What can we do?
Knoll cottage is the ideal location for a walking holiday. There are many wonderful walks of all types in the area -the footpaths are well maintained and generally clearly marked. The cottage location is also very quiet - there is no hum of traffic or the sounds of busy modern life. The main sounds are birds and sheep! This makes the cottage perfect for peaceful relaxation. Artists and writers looking for quiet or those trying to escape to experience country life will find themselves to be delighted with the cottage's situation.
There are many beautiful villages in the area - nearby Alport, Ashford-in-the-Water, Ashbourne, Birchover, Tideswell, Hartington - the area has many picturesque places.
The Peak District is stunning for its history and for its prehistory. The plague village of Eyam, where the villagers went into voluntary quarantine in the Great Plague of the 1600s, is not far from Bakewell. Little John's grave is in the churchyard at Hathersage (also thought to have been the setting of Jane Eyre for Charlotte Bronte). Some significant and interesting inventions of the early industrial revolution were made in the area - Arkwright's Mill at Cromford, for example. Many prehistoric monuments can be seen in the area including the Seven Ladies standing stones at Stanton Moor and the nearby Arbor Low. The famous antiquary, Thomas Bateman was from the next village to Youlgrave, Middleton and was responsible for a large collection of prehistoric artifacts in the museum in Sheffield.
Another attraction of the area is the large number of bookshops. One of particular note is in Cromford and this sells new and second-hand books and has an impressive collection of books on the area.
There are also great opportunities not only for walking but also for cycling. Nearby are the Tissington Trail - an old railway line used as a cyclists' trail (cycle hire is available), and the High Peak Trail.
The Peak District is a place where many artists choose to live and work. The area has many exhibitions, artists' studios, jewellery makers etc. The well-known Pots from France ceramics exhibition is held in Youlgrave each year.
There is also an annual music festival, usually held in September.
Other lively aspects of cultural life include the opera festival at Buxton, regular jazz performances in The Strand in Matlock, classical music and art exhibitions at nearby Chatsworth House... the area is brimming with culture.
The Peak Districts boasts many wonderful places to eat - eat in fine restaurants, pubs renowned for traditional atmosphere and high quality food or family pubs and restaurants. The range is wide and interesting.
There are many markets in the area. Bakewell has a traditional outdoor market on Mondays.
There are many lovely and ancient churches to see in the area as well as wonderful period houses and ruins. Chatsworth House (with its estate, farm shop, garden centre and farm) is the stately home of the Dukes of Devonshire. It is worth a day out in itself! Haddon Hall, a beautiful and atmospheric Elizabethan House is very close by and has wonderful old fashioned gardens, a church with mediaeval wall drawings and is surrounded by stunning scenery.
Some of the other attractions within striking distance include Alton Towers Theme Park, The Heights of Abraham and Gulliver's Kingdom at Matlock, Cromford Mill. The area has many garden centres and gardens to visit. In spring the beautiful Lea Gardens has a magnificent display of azaleas.