The Houses & Heritage
of the Peak District

Day 1

We will be based at the 4* Shrigley Hall Hotel on the edge of the Peak District for four nights on a half board basis. On the way there, we will stop at Coughton Court (NT) in Warwickshire, to visit the house and 25 acre garden. This is the ancestral home of the Throckmorton family, with a history of events from Tudor times, including the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. Simple lunches will be available (extra).

Day 2

In the morning we will visit Buxton with our Blue Badge guide, a spa town since 1780 when the Duke of Devonshire built the Crescent. Its fame spread following the arrival of the railway in 1863. The town contains fine buildings such as the Edwardian opera house, and the Pavilion gardens and glasshouse. There will be a guided tour. There are plenty of places for lunch, after which we will visit Lyme Park (NT), said to be the largest house in Cheshire, dating from the 16th century. The architecture is a mixture of Palladian, Baroque and Gothic. The library contains one of the rare Caxton missals. The estate includes 15 acres of formal gardens and a 1300 acre deer park, all Grade II listed.

Day 3

In the morning we will go through Taddington Dale to charming Bakewell (of tart fame) for a coffee stop and stroll, and on to Chatsworth where we can get lunch (extra), leaving plenty of time to explore. Chatsworth has been home to the Dukes of Devonshire for 16 generations. The house (from 1844) contains one of the largest art collections in Europe, including the famed sculpture gallery. The 1000 acre grounds include the famous 90 metre Paxton fountain fed from the surrounding hills, 105 acres of gardens, a large commercial farm, and much besides. Buggy tours of the grounds are available.

Day 4

The morning visit will be to Renishaw Hall, home of the Sitwells for 300 years. DH Lawrence is said to have used it as part inspiration for Lady Chatterley’s Lover. There will be a guided tour of the house, including works by John Piper and Cecil Beaton. There is an important Italianate garden. In the afternoon we will visit Hardwick Hall (NT), dating from around 1590. Bess of Hardwick was a powerful member of the court of Queen Elizabeth 1. The building is recognized for its fine proportions, with a collection of 16C tapestries, paintings and furniture. There are walled courtyards and fine gardens.

Day 5

We leave our hotel and on our way back to Sidmouth we will detour to the Royal Worcester China Museum in Worcester, whose experts will be on hand to illuminate the large collection going back to the Flight and Barr period. There will be a talk on the complicated process of figurine construction. A private buffet lunch is included. After we return to our original pick up point.

We stay four nights on half board basis at the 4* Shrigley Hall Hotel (www.thehotelcollection.co.uk) near Macclesfield. Located in a countryside setting, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, and a steam room. All rooms are en suite and feature television, telephone, hairdryer, and tea & coffee making facilities.

Insurance £16

Single room supplement £89

Entrance fees to most places visited as part of this itinerary (NT properties free to NT members)

Gratuities

All excursions & guided tours included