Best places to visit in North Derbyshire
As a glamping site based in Holmesfield, a small village overlooking Cordwell Valley and within reach of Sheffield, Chesterfield and the Peak District, we really do have the perfect little hideaway spot here at Secret Wood.
Beautifully situated within the absolute peace and quiet of the Derbyshire countryside, we also have the luxury of being close to famed national attractions such as Chatsworth, the Monsal Trail, The Three Edges… and many many more.
We often share our recommendations of where best to visit in North Derbyshire with our guests at Secret Wood, but in this blog we’ll be sharing them with you, too.
Monsal Trail
First up in our list of the best places to visit in North Derbyshire – The Monsal Trail. A traffic-free, relatively flat route ideal for walkers, runners, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair/pram users, the Monsal Trail is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. Located within the Peak District, the route offers incredible views of the native limestone dales and iconic Headstone Viaduct (seen from Monsal Head).
Stretching from Blackwell Mill, Chee Dale, to Coombs Road, Bakewell, the trail follows the historic Manchester to London Midland Railway line that was closed in 1968. Now open to the public, this history can still be noticed throughout the trail, its tunnels and ‘stations’ – most of which make for perfect cafes and ice-cream shops!
These stations in Bakewell, Hassop and Millers Dale also have car parking and bike hire – we would recommend the Hassop Station for our guests here at Secret Wood, just a 20 minute drive away.
Curbar Edge
Curbar Edge is a beautiful spot in the Peak District, resting just above the village of Curbar and offering some of the best views in the famed National Park.
Particularly ideal for rock climbers, thanks to the edge’s impressive rock formations, Curbar Edge is also popular with runners, walkers, cyclists and mountain bikers. As part of the national park, there is also an abundance of wildlife to spot at Curbar Edge, such as red deer, pheasants and grouse.
A particularly good walking route that we would recommend at Curbar Edge is the Frogatt, Curbar and White Edge red deer circular walk – perfect for spotting wildlife and stopping for a pint halfway, too!
Shillito Woods and Ramsley Moor
The Shillito Woods and Ramsley Moor walk is a firm favourite of ours here at Secret Wood Glamping. Covered in heather moorlands, the moor makes for the ideal walking trail, with plenty of picnic and paddling spots along the way, too.
Taking roughly 1 1⁄2 to 2 hours, Shillito Woods is a half an hour walk away from Secret Wood, and just 4 minutes to drive (there is a car park at the woods, too!). From here, the route you take will circle you along the woods and moors, making it perfectly ideal for dog walking, and wildlife or bird spotting, too. There’s a good guide on the walking route here, by Peak District Kids.
Looking for family-friendly attractions? Whilst the above are suitable for family days out, you may want to check out our other blog, ‘The best 3 family attractions in North Derbyshire’, for more specific destinations!
