Celebrate the Winter Solstice with a special women-only walk led by local historian and archaeologist,…
Peak District Picturesque Villages
The Peak District is famous for its rolling hills and picturesque villages with plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. While Bakewell, Castleton, and Hathersage are all popular tourist destinations, many other lovely villages are worth exploring.
Here are a few of our favourites to explore this Christmas.
Tideswell
Tideswell is one of the Peak District’s larger villages. It is home to the church of St John the Baptist, known as the ‘Cathedral of the Peak.’ The church is a magnificent Grade I listed building that dates back to the 12th century. It is well worth a visit for its stunning architecture and stained-glass windows.
In addition to the church, Tideswell has several other interesting attractions, including the Tideswell Dale Museum, which tells the story of the village and the surrounding area. There are also shops, cafes, and pubs in the village.
Great Longstone
Boasting lovely limestone cottages, this village in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales is said to have origins dating back to Medieval times. The 18th century saw a period of relative prosperity for Great Longstone due to its lead mining and shoe-making industries. Today, the signs of Great Longstone’s history can be seen all around the village.
There are many interesting things to see and do in Great Longstone, including visiting the 12th-century church of St Giles, taking a walk around the village green, or exploring the nearby Peak District National Park.
Edensor
Edensor is another of the charming villages dotted across the Chatsworth Estate. It was listed as Derbyshire’s poshest village and one of the most desirable places to live in the UK.
The village is home to beautiful houses, including Edensor House, which is a Grade I listed building dating back to the 17th century. There is also a church, a school, and a pub in the village.
Edensor is a great place to visit for a relaxing day out. You can take a walk around the village, visit the church, or have a drink in the pub.
Baslow
Baslow is only a two-mile walk from Chatsworth House, and this picturesque village is the perfect place to stop if you want a drink and a bite to eat after visiting the famous estate.
The village is home to several pubs, cafes, and restaurants. The village also has a traditional sweet shop and a bakery.
Pilsley
Pilsley is located on the Chatsworth Estate and is home to the popular Chatsworth Farm Shop. Estate workers live here in cottages and the village green normally hosts an annual fete.
The village is home to the 12th-century church of St Mary and there’s plenty of traditional village life to explore.
Derbyshire Christmas cottage retreat
Why not visit Wheeldon Trees this winter?
Award-winning Wheeldon Trees is one of the Peak District’s leading cottage retreats.
Our Peak District cottages are close to a variety of activities. Things to do include hiking, biking, fishing, and visiting historic landmarks. We are also perfectly placed for wandering around charming English villages and taking in cafe society.
We have 10 stunning cottages set in 12 acres of Peak District National Park. Alongside luxury cottages, our rural retreat offers free EV charging and an honesty shop packed to the brim with goodies. In addition, we have a fantastic games room where you can play pool, air hockey or ping pong. We have two new electric bikes for you to borrow to explore the local area. What’s more, we have recently added two new hybrid bikes.
In 2023 five of our cottages were rated 5-Star Gold by VisitEngland. Firstly, the Farmhouse retained its 5-Star Gold rating from 2021. And now Priestley Cottage, Ollerenshaw Cottage, Nadin Cottage and Mycock Cottage join it with top marks. The remaining five cottages – Sheldon, Walker’s Rest, Critchlow, Elliott and Lomas were all rated 4-Star Gold. TripAdvisor recently named Wheeldon Trees in the top 10% of places to stay in the world. Thanks to our visitors’ amazing reviews, we have recently been awarded the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2023 for the second year running. To complete the hat trick, we were also the runner-up in best self-catering accommodation at this year’s Visit Peak District and Derbyshire Tourism Awards.
You can view our availability and pick your perfect cottage by following this link – view our availability.