Bakewell
Set on the River Wye, the town of Bakewell is an attractive market town famous for its puddings. Cosy tea rooms serve the renowned Bakewell pudding (not tart!).

Buxton
Famous for its spa water, now bottled and sold throughout Britain, Buxton, like Bath, became particularly fashionable in the 18th century. The Georgian buildings give the town an air of faded glory. Visit the Pavilion Gardens, built in 1870, featuring an ornate iron-and-glass roof, set in 25 acres of gardens.

Buxton Opera House, Buxton
(tours operate most Saturdays)
(tel 01298 72190)
One of Frank Matcham's original Edwardian theatres featuring marble and carved cupids, presents excellent theatre, ballet and jazz performances throughout the year. The renowned summer Festival of Music and the Arts includes opera and classical concerts.

Chatsworth House, near Bakewell
(tel 01246 582204)
(open daily mid-Mar - Oct)
Ancestral home of the dukes of Devonshire and one of England's greatest country houses, known as the 'Palace of the Peak'. Highlights include the Blue Drawing Room featuring famous portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds and John Singer Sargent, Van Dyck portraits, superb furniture and landscaped gardens featuring a magnificent water cascade. Farmyard area and adventure playground for children.

Haddon Hall, near Bakewell
(tel 01629 812855)
(open daily Apr - Sep, Mon-Thu, Oct)
Featured in Franco Zeffirelli's 1996 film Jane Eyre, Haddon Hall is considered to be one of England's most romantic country houses. Originally built during the Middle Ages, it lay forgotten for many centuries until the early 20th century saw its splendid restoration. Features include tapestries, a famous 1932 painting of the house by Rex Whistler and the rose gardens.

Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath
(tel 01629 582365)
(open daily mid-Mar-Oct, weekends mid-Feb - mid-Mar)
Cable car ride across River Derwent giving superb views of the limestone gorge. The Country Park offers woodland walks, nature trails, play areas and interesting tour of an old-lead mine.

Castleton & The Caverns

The attractive town of Castleton lies within the Hope Valley, its unique geology giving rise to a number of deep caverns in the surrounding area. Superb views of the area can be enjoyed from Peveril Castle, and the High Peak's best walks are to be found around here.

Blue Johns Cavern & Mine
(tel 01433 620638)
(open daily year round)
Deep cavern over a third of a mile long and main source of the sparkling semi-precious stone Blue John.

Peak Cavern
(tel 01433 620285)
(open daily Easter - Oct & school hols., weekends Nov-Easter)
The largest natural cavern in the country, once home to a prehistoric village and rope factory. A half-mile walk along a lighted tunnel leads to the massive Great Cave.

Treak Cliff Cavern
(tel 01433 620571)
(open daily year round)
This cavern contains probably the best examples of the Blue John stone. A forty-minute walking tour takes you through this atmospheric cavern displaying amazing stalactites and stalagmites, and strange rock formations.

Peveril Castle
(tel 01433 620613)
(open daily Apr - Oct, Wed-Sun Nov - Mar)
Built by Henry 11 in the 11th century on a high crag above the town, wonderful views of Castleton and the surrounding area can be enjoyed from the old ruins.