Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
W Charting the growth of the National Forest: Though not yet a true forest, this
area of southern Derbyshire and northern Leicestershire is packed with attrac-
tions, from a woodland adventure park and wildlife aplenty to some of Britain's best
off-road cycling. See p. 553.
W Getting outdoorsy at Rutland Water: The biggest man-made reservoir in all
Europe offers up activities from watersports and walking to wildlife encounters,
plus a unique museum within a half-submerged church.
DERBYSHIRE & THE
PEAK DISTRICT
Derby: 130 miles N of London, 41 miles NE of Birmingham
Most of the county of Derbyshire falls within the Peak District National Park, desig-
nated Britain's first National Park in 1951 and attracting about 10 million visitors a
year for its gritstone edges, waterfalls, and moorlands (Dark Peak to the north), and
its limestone dales, rolling hills, and green valleys divided by dry-stone walls (White
Peak to the south). Its popularity is explained by the 980 square miles of public paths
and 133 square miles of open-access land all within easy reach of several major Brit-
ish cities, including Manchester (p.  562). South and east Derbyshire are certainly
less scenically dramatic but have plenty of diversions in the form of historic houses
and buildings, industrial heritage, and family attractions.
Essentials
GETTING THERE Direct trains to Derby from London St. Pancras or Euston
take between 1 1 2 hours to 2 hours, costing around £56 for a round-trip. To reach
Buxton by train from London, you have to go first to Stockport and then change to a
train from Manchester (p. 562), taking about 1 hour. If you're flying into Manches-
ter, bus no. 199 runs directly from the airport to Buxton. Also handy for the Peak
District are East Midlands Airport (www.eastmidlandsairport.com) near Derby,
with flights to Europe and North Africa, and the Doncaster-Sheffield Airport and
Leeds-Bradford Airport in Yorkshire.
Derby is minutes from the M1 running north from London, just over 124 miles
away. Mainly direct National Express buses ( &   0871/781-8178; www.national
express.com) from London to Derby take about 3 3 4 hours. Buses from London to
Buxton (most requiring a change at Derby) take about 6 hours.
Buxton is a 25-mile drive southeast of Manchester, but the most scenic routes take
longer. Transpeak ( &   01773/712265; www.trent.netescape.co.uk) runs regular
Manchester-Nottingham buses stopping at points in Derbyshire, including Buxton,
Bakewell, Haddon Hall, Matlock Bath, and Derby.
VISITOR INFORMATION Note that some Derbyshire attractions and tourist
information and visitor centers have restricted opening times or close altogether for
all or most of the winter. Call ahead to confirm opening times of the visitor centers
below. An invaluable resource for any visitor to the area is www.peakdistrict.gov.uk.
Bakewell Visitor Centre, Old Market Hall, Bridge Street ( &   01629/816558 ).
Buxton Tourist Information Centre, inside Pavilion Gardens gift boutique
( &   01298/25106; www.visitbuxton.co.uk).
Castleton Visitor Centre, Buxton Road ( &   01629/816572 ).
14
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search