The Peak District, England

The Peak District – England

The drives of your life. Heather flecked moors, gritstone rock formations, stately homes and beautiful landscapes

I grew up going to the Peak District National Park Loop – 110 miles – on a regular basis. This is Britain’s oldest national park, and one which is not usually visited by people from overseas. It covers 555 square miles mostly in Derbyshire, but spilling into Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire

I would fly into Manchester from the U.S. and pick up a car at the airport. Don’t fly London to Manchester, take the train north. Or, take the train from London to Sheffield, and pick up a car there. If you can, have a few days in London, stay at Rubens Hotel, near Buckingham Palace. I dream of their afternoon tea. From Ashbourne, drive north on the A515, branching off through the tiny village of Thorpe for a walk along the lovely Dovedale valley. From there, take the B5056 to the magnificent Tissington Hall, then up towards Rowsley and pretty Bakewell for more architectural splendor at Haddon Hall and walks and wonders at Chatsworth House, Ashford in the Water is next, then east towards Baslow and into hathersage. Turn west to Hope and make a stunning loop around Hope Valley over the spectacular Winnats Pass, and Marn Torr hill and through the charming villages of Edale and Castleton where you can explore four caverns. From here, take the A6013 north to the serene Derwent Valley reservoirs, joining the A57 over the impressive Ashopton Viaduct the start of the spectacular Snake Pass to Glossop. Then turn south on the A624 towards Chapel en le Frith, and onto Buxton for the A515 back to Ashbourne.

What to read and watch to get you in the mood.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, the Other Boleyn Girl, the Hollywood film was shot at Haddon Hall,

Charlotte Bronte’s novel Jane Eyre was inspired by North Lees Hall, Fludd by Hilary Mantel is set in a fictional northern village, similar to Hadfield where Mantel spent her early years. Black Dog by Stephen Booth is a crime novel set in the Peak District.,

Over the years, we have stayed everywhere and here are our favorites. Fischers Baslow Hall. Book a wonderful dinner, and stay in one of the 11 bedrooms all set in five acres of lovely gardens, www. fischers-barlowhall.co.uk

Peacock at Rowsley. This 17 century riverside manor housed the crew of the 2005 film version of Pride and Prejudice. The 15 bedrooms are a mix of antique and contemporary. www.thepeacockatrowsley.com

The Rutland Arms, Bakewell. Jane Austen fans will know she stayed in one of the 32 rooms in this 19 century coaching inn while writing Pride and Prejudice. www.rutlandarmsbakewell.co.uk

Buxton Crescent Hotel, Buxton. Some of the 81 rooms have fireplaces and four posters. Excellent restaurant.www.ensanahotels,com/buxton

Our recommended pit stops.

Tissington Hall. The FitzHerbert family have owned this magnificent Jacobean country house for 400 years. Book a tour, walk the 13 mile Tissington Trail, take tea in the 11th century estate village and then stay the night at one of the cottages. www. Tissingtonhall.co.uk

Heights of Abraham, overlooking Matlock Bath, this lovely hillside park with walking trails is accessed by a thrilling cable car over a gorge. www.heightsofabraham.com

Haddon Hall. This impressive 12th century stately home is a must see for its minstrel gallery and Elizabethan walled gardens. www.haddonhall.co.uk

Buxton, Like a mini Bath,this thermal spa town has a copy of Bath’s Royal Crescent. See the Opera House, the Victorian Pavilion Gardens with its boating lake, and Poole’s Cavern, a limestone cave dating back two million years.

There are lots of good restaurants all over the peak region, but our two favorites are Fischer’s Baslow Hall. Just outside Baslow, with its lovely cottages and medieval church. This imposing manor house offers rural views and Michelin starred menus. www.fischers-barlowhall.co.uk and Herberts, Tissington. Enjoy cream teas, and the best crumpets and bacon baps in the land. Herbertstearooms.co.uk

Odds and Ends. Don’t leave the Peak District without trying the award winning ales. I always order a shandy, half ale and half lemonade. It’s known for its pancakes made with oatmeal, Bakewell pudding, pastry filled with spongecake, jam and ground almonds, and Sage Derby cheese

I feel homesick just thinking about these places. You wont be sorry if you plan to visit this district on your next visit to England.

Maureen Jones

All Horizons Travel/Frosch

825 Santa Cruz Ave

Menlo Park, CA 94025

650-961-2340 direct

www.froschvacations.com