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Chatsworth & the Peak District

Walk in Britain’s first national park
 
Contrast the dramatic beauty of Britain's first national park with the exquisite architecture of Chatsworth House on this self-guided walking holiday, with luggage transfers and entry to Chatsworth included. Staying in high-quality accommodation, you can explore heather-clad moorland, green valleys and the town of Bakewell, famed for its delicious pastries.
Chatsworth & the Peak District. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Chatsworth & the Peak District. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in the Peak District

In an area designated a national park (Britain’s first, no less) in recognition in part of its untamed landscapes, a stately home of such elegant symmetry and beautiful proportions as Chatsworth House seems incongruous. And yet the juxtaposition of its graceful architecture with the wilder landscapes that lie beyond the estate is no more surprising than the contrasts in the scenery itself, where green, fertile valleys yield to heather-clad moorland bordered by gritstone ‘edges’.
It stands to reason, then, that you can expect plenty of variety on this holiday. The walks – gentle yet scenic – explore the pretty banks of the River Derwent, open moors, three moodily magnificent ‘edges’, parkland designed by Capability Brown, and picturesque villages of gritstone cottages. To complement the walks, there’s plenty of cultural interest: the town of Bakewell, synonymous with strawberry-and-almond-filled sweet treats; the ‘plague village’ of Eyam, whose story has gained even greater resonance in recent times; and exquisite Chatsworth House itself, family seat of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Fittingly, four of your six nights are spent in accommodation owned by the Chatsworth Estate, where you’ll find high standards of comfort and service, and be presented with tickets entitling you to free entry to Chatsworth at any point during your stay.
 

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We are accepting bookings for English holidays. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence.

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
 
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Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights. Please note all bus journeys are to be paid for locally.

The itinerary below is new for 2021; any reviews dating from 2020 or earlier relate to the previous version of the holiday.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    The weather in the Peak District can be unpredictable, so pack for all weathers.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 6 6 9 12 15 19 20 20 18 14 9 7
    mm 71 57 62 59 58 58 52 62 58 60 70 73
  • Arrival in Grindleford
    Night 1: at The Maynard (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Circular route from Grindleford: 12.5km (7.5miles); 4.5hrs; 300m ascent/descent
    From Grindleford, you follow the Derwent Valley Heritage Way northwards, alongside the river, passing the David Mellor Visitor Centre and Design Museum, where you can learn about this 20th-century silversmith who not only designed internationally acclaimed cutlery, but also the humble traffic light. You then continue the short distance to Hathersage, a traditional Peak District village which was visited several times by Charlotte Brontë – it is thought that Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre was modelled on nearby North Lees Hall. Beyond the village you rise towards Higger Tor, to cross Hathersage Moor, with superb views. After descending from the moor, you return to Grindleford via an enchanting wooded gorge in which a stream tumbles over a series of rocks. In warm weather, you can pause to cool your feet in one of the small pools.
    Leaving Grindleford
    Circular route around Grindleford: 12.5km
  • Grindleford to Pilsley: 12km (7.5miles); 4.5hrs; 360m ascent/430m descent; Grindleford to Baslow: 10km (6.5miles); 3.5hrs; 280m ascent/400m descent
    Your day begins with a short bus ride to Eyam, the ‘plague village’. Its evocative museum tells the story of how the village sealed itself off from the outside world when bubonic plague struck in 1665, and how it regenerated afterwards. Once you’ve explored, you head towards the village of Froggatt and up on to the eponymous ‘edge’. This soon brings you to Curbar Edge, which in turn leads to Baslow Edge. Throughout this section of the walk, open moorland, purple with heather in August, stretches to the east, while down in the valley to the west lies green farmland peppered with stone-built farms and villages. You descend from the uplands to the village of Baslow. If you choose the upgrade version, you stay here, in the Cavendish Hotel. Otherwise, you continue the short distance to the Devonshire Arms in nearby Pilsley.
    Above Froggatt Edge
    Linear route from Grindleford to Pilsley: 12km
    Linear route from Grindleford to Baslow: 10km
  • Explore Chatsworth
    You could easily fill an entire day (or two, in fact!) exploring Chatsworth, and handily your included entry tickets do allow you to return multiple times. The vast yet graceful seat of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire houses art works and other artefacts spanning four millennia, from Egyptian sculptures to paintings by Lucian Freud, with 25 rooms open to the public, while the gardens cover 105 acres, encompassing a rock garden, a cascade, other water features, a maze and more. If your preference is to maximise your time in the estate, you should take the direct route to the house, although we also offer a longer walking route from each base if you prefer.

    From Pilsley: 4.5km/3miles, 1.5hrs, 80m ascent/145mdescent; or 9km/5.5miles, 3.5hrs, 200m ascent/260m descent
    The direct route from Pilsley to Chatsworth leads along tracks and a quiet country lane via Edensor, the estate village. Not only is this picturesque hamlet remarkable for the range of architectural styles (the duke, too busy to decide on a single option, ordered his team to build one of each of the architect’s designs), but because it had to be moved when it was discovered that the original site obscured the view from the main house! Return from Chatsworth to Pilsley by bus.
    For a longer day, you can detour from Edensor through the wider Chatsworth Estate, approaching the house from the south.

    From Baslow: 4.5km/3miles, 1.5hrs, minimal ascent/descent; or 10.5km/6.5miles, 3.5hrs, 160m ascent /descent
    Since the Cavendish Hotel is on the edge of the estate, it is only a short walk along the Derwent Valley Heritage Way to Chatsworth House itself. After your visit, return along the same route. If you would prefer a longer walk, you can explore the estate on a circular walk which leads via the estate village of Edensor.
    Edensor village
    Longer route from Pilsley: 9km
    Longer route from Baslow: 10.5km
  • Pilsley/Baslow to Beeley: 11km (7miles); 4hrs; 185m ascent/230m descent
    After Chatsworth yesterday, today you visit another of the Peak District’s most famous places: Bakewell, which is just a short bus ride away. Take time to explore – if you have read Pride and Prejudice, you will notice several similarities with Lambton – and be sure to buy a Bakewell pudding or tart for your picnic. When you are ready, leave the town by crossing the River Wye and joining part of the Monsal Trail, which follows the route of a disused railway line before rising up to a viewpoint offering lovely vistas across the rolling hills. Descending into the village of Rowsley, you have the option to visit historic Caudwell’s Mill before taking the Derwent Valley Heritage Way northwards to reach a bridge, at which point you cross the river and walk across meadows to Beeley and the second of two Chatsworth-owned country inns called the Devonshire Arms.
    Bakewell
    Linear route from Pilsley/Baslow to Beeley: 11km
  • Circular route via the Chatsworth Estate: 11.5km (7.5miles), 4hrs; 240m ascent/descent
    So large is the Chatsworth Estate that although your final, enjoyable walk explores it again, it reveals parts that you haven’t yet seen, and is very varied, leading first via fern-lined paths to emerge onto panoramic open moorland from where you can look across the area you have explored over the course of your break. After descending from the moor through woodland, the return leg of the walk takes you through Capability Brown-designed parkland on the banks of the River Derwent, where you might spot herds of fallow deer grazing. You also have the chance to re-use your included entry tickets and return to Chatsworth House today, should you wish to do so.
    Explore Chatsworth
    Circular route around Beesley: 11.5km
 

Accommodation

The standard of accommodation is high – the second and third places at which you stay are owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire – yet the ambience at all three is very friendly and relaxed, and walkers are warmly welcomed.

To make your holiday all the more special, opt for our upgrade hotel in Baslow (another establishment owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, which replaces the two nights in nearby Pilsley). Please indicate your preference at the time of booking.
 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter

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  • 6 nights: 01 September 2021 - 31 October 2021 & 19 March 2022 - 31 October 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 30 Sep 2021 £1065 £415
    1 - 25 Oct 2021 £995 £375
    19 - 31 Mar 2022 £945 £395
    1 - 30 Apr 2022 £970 £410
    1 May - 25 Jun 2022 £1015 £420
    26 Jun - 30 Sep 2022 £1045 £445
    1 - 25 Oct 2022 £970 £410
    3rd & 4th person discount -£15
    Single traveller supplement £15
    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, and any connecting travel detailed below.

    Included travel: transfer Beeley-Grindleford to collect car (if driving)

    Please note: this holiday is not available to children under 12 years, nor are dogs permitted on Inntravel holidays

  • 6 nights, staying at The Cavendish Hotel (5 dinners): 01 September 2021 - 31 October 2021 & 19 March 2022 - 31 October 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 30 Sep 2021 £1170 £510
    1 - 25 Oct 2021 £1085 £450
    19 - 31 Mar 2022 £1035 £430
    1 - 30 Apr 2022 £1060 £455
    1 May - 25 Jun 2022 £1095 £470
    26 Jun - 30 Sep 2022 £1135 £500
    1 - 25 Oct 2022 £1060 £455
    3rd & 4th person discount -£15
    Single traveller supplement £15
    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, and any connecting travel detailed below.

    Included travel: transfer Beeley-Grindleford to collect car (if driving)

    Please note: this holiday is not available to children under 12 years, nor are dogs permitted on Inntravel holidays

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    The Maynard, Grindleford
    Superior: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £14
    Superior: 19 Mar - 31 Oct 2022 £14
    The Devonshire Arms, Pilsley
    4-poster 'farmhouse' double: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £48
    4-poster 'farmhouse' double: 19 Mar - 31 Oct 2022 £48
    'Classic' double: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £14
    'Classic' double: 19 Mar - 31 Oct 2022 £14
    Deluxe double: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £28
    Deluxe double: 19 Mar - 31 Oct 2022 £28
    The Devonshire Arms, Beeley
    Deluxe: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £28
    Deluxe: 19 Mar - 31 Oct 2022 £28

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    The Maynard, Grindleford
    Superior: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £14
    Superior: 19 Mar - 31 Oct 2022 £14
    The Cavendish Hotel, Baslow
    Superior: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £28
    Superior: 19 Mar - 31 Oct 2022 £28
    The Devonshire Arms, Beeley
    Deluxe: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £28
    Deluxe: 19 Mar - 31 Oct 2022 £28
  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Connecting travel options - via Chesterfield

    Outward route Price per person Latest train
    arrival time
    taxi Chesterfield station to hotel (0h30) £12 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest train
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Chesterfield station (0h25) £10 flexible

    Connecting travel options - via Sheffield

    Outward route Price per person Latest train
    arrival time
    taxi Sheffield station to hotel (0h30) £8 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest train
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Sheffield station (0h40) £16 flexible
What's included
  • 6 nights
  • 6 dinners (5 on upgrade)
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • entry to Chatsworth
  • transfer to collect car
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 8 reviews
  • Tom, London
    26 September 2020

    Great selection of walks in very picturesque countryside. Very friendly and helpful hosts and efficient luggage transfer arrangements. Would be useful to have alternative options in the case of rain making some stone paths slippery and dangerous when wet.

  • Linda
    15 September 2020

    Without a doubt the Peak District is an amazing place to visit and you are spoilt for choice with the amount of beautiful walks. Letting Inntravel plan a route, arrange accommodation and baggage transfers definitely takes the strain out of the holiday and we were left to enjoy the lovely accommodations and what they offered (two were Inns offering good quality food and the one in Castleton has many choices to eat out in the town). It would have been good if Inntravel could share the GPX files for the suggested routes. Clearly Inntravel has these files as they shared the ascent/decent proile which was generated from electronic mapping. In future we would choose a company that would offer this.

    Inntravel
    response

    Thank you for your comments on the Peak District holiday, we're pleased that you enjoyed walking in this lovely area. We are aiming to provide gpx files for our walking holidays in the future, and are in the process of collecting & creating the gps tracks for this - the elevation profiles in our notes do indeed come from electronic mapping software, but the data used for these does not need to be as accurate as a gpx file used for following a route on the ground; we are currently undertaking this process of ensuring the tracks are accurate.

  • Jean and Steve
    12 September 2020

    What a great week in the Peak District. The walks covered a variety of countryside and the views we had were fantastic, particulary along Stanage Edge. Suprising amount of wildlife and birdlife - apart from lots of deer we were also lucky enough to see a stoat at Stanage edge and also hares.
    Some good restaurants to visit are Il Lupo in Baslow -  a lovely Italian and pre-booking is a must, in Hathersage we went to Bank House (best meal of the week) and in Castleton do try 1530 restaurant. 

    Another great Inntravel trip.

  • Anon
    22 October 2019

    Really enjoyed the day out at Chatsworth. We asked in the Devonshire Arms for the discount vouchers mentioned in the Inntravel notes but they said they did not do them anymore as the same discount was available on line. No discount is available on line other than free car parking!

    Very good evening meal at Rowleys at Prince of Wales pub in Baslow. We pre booked and were glad we had.

    Excellent evening meals at Plough Inn.

    We would recommend the George Pub in Castleton. We ate there both evenings. Again, pre booked.

    Treak Cliff Cavern where Blue John is still mined was an interesting visit.

  • Mr J Farmer
    Bromley
    22 July 2019

    Make sure you take the time to read the route notes before beginning the walk. It is best to leave the car at the final destination. 

  • Anon
    06 July 2019

    When staying in Baslow, I would recommend eating at Il Lupo which was excellent.

    The evening meals at the Plough were also very good.

  • anon
    06 July 2019

    Beautiful scenery, lovely part of the country.

  • Mr R Parkinson
    London
    08 April 2019

    This was our first Inntravel holiday in the UK and it was as good as any in Italy. The landscape was spectacular, especially the Edges, and Castleton was a magical place, a little like Delphi. Staying at Dunscar Farm during lambing was wonderful.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – walking holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety, not least taking tests before and after your holiday for many destinations.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • Yes, absolutely. Over the years, we have arranged a great many walking holidays in the UK for customers living in the USA, Canada, Australia and beyond.

    If you've never travelled with us before, it's worth reading the web pages which explain how we can cater for customers who live outside the UK. The main thing to bear in mind is that our tour operator's licence doesn't allow us to book flights that originate outside the UK, and nor are we able to book rail travel in the UK, so we can't make travel arrangements for you, other than pre-arranging taxis between the local railway station and the accommodation – see the ‘prices & travel’ section for the options available.

    For practical information about travelling to the UK, see the 'what do I need to know about travelling to England, Scotland and Wales?' question.
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • We are happy to take bookings for families of teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved, but please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.

    At the request of some of the accommodation providers on this holiday, we are unable to accept bookings for children aged under 12.
  • Unfortunately not. The Inntravel team includes many dog owners, but the extra considerations – such as whether taxi firms accept dogs for transfers to the start of walks, whether routes cross private land on which dogs are not allowed, and proximity to a vet’s – would add another layer of complexity to what are already quite complex holidays.
  • As a minimum, you will need a passport to enter the UK; requirements vary according to your nationality. It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. You’ll need to check requirements on the website of your own country’s government or that of the British government. Our essential travel information page provides links to websites where you can find out about the applicable requirements, along with general official travel advice.
     
    English is the most widely spoken of several official languages; in Wales, for example, Welsh has equal status. The currency is the British pound (Scotland issues its own bank notes, but Bank of England notes can be used in Scotland and vice versa). The UK follows Greenwich Mean Time during autumn and winter, but switches to British Summer Time (GMT + 1) from late March until late October.
Last fetch time is : 9/25/2021 11:17:41 AM