Chatsworth House - Derbyshire - Bakewell Tarts or Puddings in the Peak District<< >> To tour Chatsworth House Derbyshire and a visit to Derbyshire Bakewell go together like strawberries and cream. They can be enjoyed together but each is good on its own. We visit both places regularly because they are less than an hour from where we live. Even if you live further a field they are worth the effort for a good day’s visit or even for a few days. Firstly let me tell you a bit about Chatsworth House nr Bakewell which was built by Sir William Cavendish and his wife, Bess of Hardwick , in the mid 16th Century. The family name is still Cavendish and their title is Duke of Devonshire. Not much of the Elizabethan house remains as it was completely rebuilt by the first Duke but the Hunting tower above the house dates from the 1580s. There are little carts that will take you up to the tower, which is a lovely place to picnic. Also there are rooms to rent in the tower but I have never seen them so can’t say what they are like. It is worth a mention that there is a very popular Caravan Club sight there and always seems well used. The setting must be one of the most beautiful of any stately home in the Country. The river Derwent runs in front of the house and the Peak District hills all around protects it from the worst of the weather. The majority of our visits are to walk and there is no shortage of walks to do in this Peak District area. You are near to Froggat Edge, which also attracts rock climbers, and the Edge is easily accessible even if you are not an ardent walker and the views over Chatsworth are spectacular. If you are fortunate to visit the house for a tour when the Emperor fountain is working it is a lovely sight. The 6th Duke commissioned it in the 1840s as he expected a visit from Czar Nicholas. The technology was quite something for the time as it was fed from a huge man made lake 300 feet above the house. The jet was to reach a height of 260 feet and is even today a spectacular sight. It is worth mentioning that the Czar never came.
It is worth taking a stroll through the village and if you are energetic you can continue up the road and over the hill into Bakewell Peak District, home of the famous Bakewell puddings, yes pudding, not Bakewell tarts. Bakewell in the Peak Distict is a lovely market town surrounded by hills, again to protect it from the worst of the weather. Bakewell markets are still held on a weekly basis and although market days are busy there is plenty of parking and there are pleasant pedestrianised areas with small speciality shops and cafes. There are a couple of very nice jewellery shops selling silver and semi precious stone jewellery, including some super amber. I have had a few pieces from them and they are lovely souvenirs of Bakewell. There has probably been a settlement in the Bakewell area since Roman times and it is mentioned in the Domesday Book. There was certainly people living there in Saxon times and the church was founded around 920A.D but the one we see today dates from the 13th century and rebuilt again in the mid 19th century. A little further on is the Old House museum, which is housed in a genuine medieval building. It is worth a visit if only to see the building. Also, have a wander past Bagshaw Hall , a 17th century house and there are more old buildings on King Street which includes the Hospital of the Knights of St John. Of course you must not leave without sampling a Bakewell pudding. The best place to eat it is the Original Bakewell Pudding shop. This is not because theirs are any better than the others but the upstairs has a lovely ambience. Do not forget the Bakewell annual show, which attracts visitors in their droves and the livestock sales are interesting to ‘townies’.
We either eat a picnic on the seats of the cricket pavilion or if it is winter, buy fish and chips. Then we walk back in the opposite direction, through Rowsley and along the edge of Hadden Hall estate back into Chatsworth. The Peak District Bakewell and Chatsworth are lovely at any time of the year. << |
