Going to the Peak District in october

[DaphneDeloresMoorhead]

6 nights with 12yo DD. Staying potentially in Bakewell. Will have my car and bikes. Already earmarked Chatsworth, Haddon Hall, Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath Illuminations. What other interesting places might fellow MNetters recommend ? We also want to go to the reservoir with that big round "plug"

Abd yes I know it's very early but I love holiday planning 😄

You mean Ladybower Reservoir. Good walking and bike rides (bike hire)

Scarthin books is a very quirky bookshop in Wirksworth near Matlock and Carsington

Hathersage has a year round (slightly) heated outdoor pool, if that appeals. So does the New Bath Hotel in Matlock (this one is nit artificially heated, it’s geothermal).

Several show caves around Castleton. You go down Treak Cliff Cavern in a boat.

Dovedale for the steppingstones. Blue John Caverns as mentioned above near Castleton. If you both like walking views from Mam Tor walking along the ridge are amazing (the path from the main car park is all steps)

Cycle the Monsal Trail (or at least part of it). You can hire ebikes from Hassop Station.

Padley Gorge (National Trust) is a beautiful walk through woods by the river. Big moss-covered rocks make it so green and peaceful - like another world! Whenever we do this, we stop at the quirky Grindleford Station Cafe and sit outside with big mugs of builders tea and an enormous plate of handcut chips to share!

Cannon hall farm is nearby, always worth a visit if you’ve not been before.

Wrong season, but if you ever visit in summer, try the outdoor pool at Hathersage. And near Castleton, another cave tour is Speedwell Cavern where you travel underground by boat. The geology is less spectacular on this one, but gliding along on the underground boat trip is a great novelty.

@Undertheoldlindentree

Wrong season, but if you ever visit in summer, try the outdoor pool at Hathersage. And near Castleton, another cave tour is Speedwell Cavern where you travel underground by boat. The geology is less spectacular on this one, but gliding along on the underground boat trip is a great novelty.

Hathersage pool is open and heated all year!

Book a pay as you go outdoor swim session in the Spa Hotel in Matlock.

www.derwentvalleymills.org/visit/where-to-visit-in-the-derwent-valley/attractions-in-the-derwent-valley/visit-the-silk-mill/
And the walk up to black rocks from Cromford

A Bakewell Pudding in Bakewell!

Buxton. There is a Go Ale activity and Pooles Cavern. A wooded walk up hill to Solomons Temple and a cavern with gift shop and cafe at the bottom. Lovely in Autumn. Come and see the newly opened Crescent Hotel in the town centre and next to the Pavilion Gardens and Opera House.

Tissington trail with your bikes.

@Undertheoldlindentree

Wrong season, but if you ever visit in summer, try the outdoor pool at Hathersage. And near Castleton, another cave tour is Speedwell Cavern where you travel underground by boat. The geology is less spectacular on this one, but gliding along on the underground boat trip is a great novelty.

Ohh this sounds fab - we do always try to fit in some sort of boat trip every holiday 😀

@Tickledtrout

Book a pay as you go outdoor swim session in the Spa Hotel in Matlock.

www.derwentvalleymills.org/visit/where-to-visit-in-the-derwent-valley/attractions-in-the-derwent-valley/visit-the-silk-mill/
And the walk up to black rocks from Cromford

Sadly I think it's over 16s. I was going to book a night in Buxton Crescent as the spa looks incredible but Dd is too young 😢

I love Buxton and Bakewell.
Make sure you do the cavern at Buxton and the Blue John Cavern.
In Buxton the Pavilion Gardens and the Opera House are lovely. Have lunch at the Old Hall.
Tissington village is really pretty. Take walking boots so you can do a bit of the Tissington Trail.
Visit Ilam and the nearby Stepping Stone, where you can walk through to the very pretty village of Milldale.
Look out for Robin Hood leap on another circular walk from Elton / Winster.
Chatsworth Hall is lovely, I like the walk in the hill wood behind the Hall to the Hunting Tower. The little shopping area in the Courtyard is lovely at the Hall.

Monsal Trail nice for a bike ride! And you have to go to Ye Olde Bakewell Pudding Shop and get a proper Bakewell pudding (not tart).

Have a scout round pretty Ashford in the Water and up to the incredible Monsal Head view. And then down again to the river at Litton Mill. The whole of Edale, and down to Castleton from Winnetts Pass. The views from Peveril Castle. Eyam (the plague village) has a fascinating story.

There's Chatsworth Farm and the amazing playground there. There's a Guinea pig village and milking demonstrations and loads of beautiful animals to meet. My boys are too young for the house but we go to the farm every year, I believe if you book online, you get free parking as well. It's same parking as for the house.

Bakewell gets so rammed full these days, it's quite surreal going there as a local but so lovely.

Old Hall pub in Chinley with a walk down the canal.

Eccles Pike

The Longshaw Estate National Trust property is nice for walks and autumn leaves in October. There's a house but I've never been in.

It's quite near Hathersage and the pool, which is heated to quite a high temperature IIRC.

The Monsal Trail cycle route can get quite busy and I don't think it is very interesting - a straight there and back. I'd recommend cycling round Howden Reservoir, a mixture of quiet roads and stretches of easy off road. Go clockwise to get the fab downhill bit after Slippery Stones! You can either do a shorter loop starting and finishing at the bike hire place, or a longer route starting at the A57.

You can park on the A57 for free or at the Lady Bower Inn which is pay and display although you get it for free if you spend at the pub.

Ilam is gorgeous, thats my favourite of the old houses and parks around there.

Also, depending on your kids, the National Tram Museum is a good day out and more fun than it sounds!

Eyam for a historical wander.
I bet DD has been taught about Eyam in assemblies, even if not in history.
I visited with a 9 and 12 year old and they were fascinated in the museum and the signs outside each house saying who lived there and who died and survived at the time of the plague.
Particularly relevant - so maybe too close to home? - with the current pandemic.
There is also a great Caribbean restaurant there!

Caves up near castleton are good if wet, walk up kinderscout is very accessible from edale but ensure you have walking boots and good clothing as it's stumbly (an actual map is handy too as phone reception can be iffy for online ones). Buxton opera house has all kinds of shows, spa is gorgeous but £££ I normally stay in the palace instead which allows dogs and always has cheap deals on group on

@vickibee

Cannon hall farm is nearby, always worth a visit if you’ve not been before.

About an hour away if traffic is ok through/round Sheffield, or OP is up for driving over Strines.

I love Padley Gorge. Very jealous- desperate to get back!