Towns and villages

Wirksworth

Our closest tiny market town. Has a selection of Restaurants and Cafes, and a few smaller independent shops as well as a Tuesday market. Learn more …

Ashbourne

Another lovely Derbyshire market town. Larger than nearby Wirksworth with restaurants, cafes, independent retailers and more. Learn more …

Cromford

The small village of Cromford, just 5 miles away, packs quite a punch! Sir Richard Arkwright built his original Cromford Mill now part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site. The Cromford Canal was built to service Arkwright’s mills. Near the Leawood Pumping Station at High Peak Junction the High Peak Trail former railway line heads north through the Peak District. All great routes for walking and cycling today.

The Via Gellia road, likely named after Phillip Eyre Gell of Hopton Hall, was constructed to connect the Gell’s lead mines to smelters around Cromford.

The great landscape artist George Turner (1841–1910), landscape artist, was born here. You can see some of his works in Derby Museum and Art Gallery and Calke Abbey.

Today the village has a bustling heart with cafes, pubs and shops including Scarthin Books, Masson Mills shopping village (in one of Arkwright’s later mill buildings) and Taylor-Wilde chocolatier.

Hartington

Hartington, around 11 miles away, is a typical peak district village set in the Dove valley. It has a selection of cafes, pubs and shops, including a cheese shop selling a selection of local cheeses. There’s an interesting church and miles of beautiful routes for walking and cycling.

Tissington

The beautiful village of Tissington, around 6 miles away, is home to the Fitzherbert family who have occupied the Jacobean Tissington Hall for some 400 years. The tradition of Well Dressing is said to have started here and on Ascension Day the village’s five wells are dressed in a floral tribute to God for the gift of water.

The Tissington Trail, another disused railway line, runs north from the village towards Buxton, meeting the High Peak Trail at Parsley Hay.

Derby

Derby, 16 miles away, has theatres, museums, cinema shopping areas as well as a Cathedral and great sporting venues. Learn more at Visit Derby.

Derby has a mainline railway station.

Sheffield

Sheffield, around 30 miles away, also has theatres, museums, cinema shopping areas as well as a Cathedral and great sporting venues. Learn more at Visit Sheffield.