The Heritage & Historic Houses of
the Peak District & Derbyshire

Day 1

We depart by private executive coach from our designated pick up points. En route to our hotel we visit the National Trust’s Baddesley Clinton property in Warwickshire, a romantic and atmospheric moated manor house, dating from the 15th century and little changed since 1634. The interiors reflect the house’s heyday in the Elizabethan era, when it was a haven for persecuted Catholics. The peaceful gardens include fish pools and a walled garden. We continue to the 4* Holiday Inn Rotherham – Sheffield Hotel for a four night stay on a half board basis.

Day 2

With our Blue Badge guide we visit Chatsworth, one of Britain’s best loved historic houses and estates, offering something for everyone to enjoy, from famous works of art and the spectacular fountains in the garden to the finest shopping, food and drink and many miles of free walks. The home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire is set in the magnificent landscape of Derbyshire’s Peak District National Park, and is seen in the film of ‘Pride and Prejudice’. This afternoon we visit Eyam. Struck by the Bubonic Plague in 1665 when a flea infested bundle of cloth was delivered to tailor George Vicars from London, the village of Eyam went into voluntary isolation. The Plague raged in the village for 14 months and it is stated that it killed at least 260 villagers with only 83 villagers surviving. Here we visit Eyam Hall and Craft Centre. Eyam Hall, built in 1671, just six years after the Plague struck Eyam, is a wonderfully unspoilt example of a grit-stone Jacobean manor house. Home of the Wright family for eleven generations, inside visitors can enjoy family portraits, and furniture belonging to each generation.

Day 3

Renishaw Hall and Gardens is our destination this morning, home to the Sitwell family for almost 400 years. After our guided tour of the hall, there is some free time to explore the Italianate gardens. We continue with our Blue Badge guide to Hardwick Hall and gardens, an Elizabethan treasure house and National Trust property dating from the 16th century. A magnificent statement of the wealth and status of its builder, Bess of Hardwick, Hardwick Hall is remarkable for being almost unchanged since she lived here and gives a rare insight into the formality of Elizabethan courtly life.

Day 4

Our Blue Badge guide meets us at our hotel this morning and accompanies us throughout the day. We spend some time at leisure at Bakewell this morning, famous for the production of the ‘tart’, or Bakewell Pudding as it is known locally. This afternoon we visit Haddon Hall for a guided tour, a fortified manor house dating from the 12th century. This remarkable old house is surrounded by terraced Elizabethan gardens.

Day 5

After checking out of our hotel and before returning home we visit the National Trust’s Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire, built between 1759 and 1765 for the Curzon family who have lived in the area since the 12th century. Kedleston boasts the most complete and least altered sequence of Robert Adam interiors in England. Taking carefully selected comfort stops en route, we return back to our original pick up points. 

We stay four nights at the 4* Holiday Inn Rotherham – Sheffield Hotel (https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/gb/en/rotherham/emart/hoteldetail). Located on the outskirts of Rotherham, and only 7 miles from Sheffield, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar, indoor swimming pool, and a gymnasium. All of our allocated Standard Rooms are ensuite and feature television, hairdryer and tea & coffee making facilities. A set 3 course dinner will be served on the first evening, and a choice 3 course dinner will be served on the remaining three nights.

Insurance (including Covid cover) £28

Single room supplement £99

Entrance fees to National Trust properties (free to National Trust members)

Gratuities

Lunches

All excursion travel & guided tours included