Marvellous May in the Peak District

Marvellous May is just a hop skip and a jump away, so what’s in store in the Peak District?

Chatsworth International Horse Trials – May 12 to 14 2023

The Chatsworth Horse Trials is an annual three-day eventing competition. The event attracts top equestrian competitors from around the world.

This three-phase equestrian competition tests the horse and rider’s skills in dressage, cross-country, and show jumping.

For anyone new to horse trials here’s the low down. The dressage phase involves a series of movements and tests designed to demonstrate the horse’s obedience, suppleness, and athleticism. The cross-country phase is a challenging course that tests the horse and rider’s speed, stamina, and jumping ability. This is all over natural obstacles such as ditches, banks, and water jumps. The show jumping phase is a technical course of coloured fences that require precision and accuracy.

The Chatsworth Horse Trials also features a range of other attractions and activities. This includes trade stands, food stalls, and family entertainment. Chatsworth’s event is considered one of the most prestigious horse trials in the UK and attracts thousands of spectators each year.

Coronation Music Weekend at The Heights of Abraham – May 6 to 8 2023

To celebrate the Coronation, the Heights of Abraham has live music in three performance zones; The Amphitheatre, The Pergola Stage, and in the Woodland Corner. You’ll find music to suit all tastes and a real atmosphere of celebration during this three-day mini festival of great musical talent.

The Heights of Abraham in Matlock Bath is named after a geological formation known as Abraham’s Heights, which is a series of limestone cliffs located at the top of the hill. The park’s cable car ride offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. At the top, visitors can explore a number of attractions. This includes an underground tour of the Masson Cavern, which takes visitors through a network of limestone caves and tunnels, showcasing the area’s rich mining history.

In addition, there are also several other activities to enjoy, such as a fossil factory, a nature trail, and a playground. The Heights of Abraham is also home to a restaurant and café. Both serve food and drinks, and there are picnic areas available for those who prefer to bring their own snacks.

Tissington Well Dressing – May 18 to 24 2023

Tissington Well Dressing is a unique and fascinating tradition that celebrates the natural beauty of the Derbyshire Dales and the importance of clean water to the local community.

It is a unique form of folk art that involves creating intricate designs using natural materials, such as flower petals, leaves, and moss, which are pressed onto a base made of clay and placed around the village’s wells.

The origins of well dressing can be traced back to pagan times. People would decorate springs and wells to give thanks to the gods for providing water. Over time, this practice evolved into a Christian tradition, where the decorations were used to celebrate the arrival of clean water during the medieval period.

Tissington is one of the few villages in England where well dressing is still practiced annually. The event takes place over the course of several days and involves a team of local volunteers who create several designs for the wells around the village.

The dressings are erected on the eve of Ascension Day. This is the first time that those who have worked on the pictures see what the effect is really like, as the pictures appear distorted when they are horizontal. They are then ready for the ceremony of Blessing following the service in Church at 11am on the Thursday. The Clergy progress round the village and bless each well in turn. The dressings remain in place until the following Wednesday evening, during which time very many thousands of people will have visited the village to see the spectacle.

Operation Ashbourne 40s Weekend Codename Coronation – May 6 to 7 2023

Operation Ashbourne was established five years ago to provide respite breaks for Armed Forces Veterans and serving members and their families suffering with PTSD. Following the pandemic, the event has now been opened to all veterans and their families.

Operation Ashbourne is one of the group’s popular fundraising events and celebrates everything 1940s. This year the weekend is expected to welcome more than 1,000 people to witness the sights and sounds of wartime England.

The event takes place at Peak Gateway Leisure Club, Osmaston. Highlights will include a confirmed spitfire flypast on both days and music from 40s entertainers. More than 35 living history groups will also display what they would have done and looked like in WW2. Joining them will bevmilitary vehicles, period cars and vintage traders.

At 2pm on May 6, there will be a reenactors’ coronation street party. In the evening, there is a coronation dance in the former officers’ mess.

Car park £5, tickets £4, children over 10 £2, children under 10 free.

Wheeldon Trees Cottages – the perfect May location

Wheeldon Trees offers chocolate box cottages in the stunning Peak District National Park. In addition, there’s free EV charging, free electric bikes, an honesty shop and amazing views. We’re set our 12 acres of Peak District National Park. Above all else, luxurious Derbyshire cottages. Wheeldon Trees is packed full of amenities and was recently named by TripAdvisor as one of the top 10% of places to stay in the world. The award is based on reviews by our amazing customers.

You can view our availability and pick your perfect cottage by following this link – view our availability.