Places Of Interest

“THE PEAK” describes an area of outstanding beauty and enormous variety. It is divided into two sections metaphorically named the White and Dark Peak. Foolow enjoys both at close proximity being located where one flows into the other. The Dark Peak with its gritstone moors and edges constitutes some of the wildest scenery in Britain and contrasts with the sweeping wooded contours and gorgelike dales of the White Peak. A good selection of guide books and leaflets are available in both Cottages outlining places of interest, walks, local history etc. The following is just a brief resume of local attractions which should whet the appetite and give an urge to taste at first hand the joy of the “Peak” no matter what the season or the inclinations of the visitor.


CHATSWORTH HOUSE - the Palace of the Peak. The house is set in a magnificent park, a walker’s paradise in its own right. The House and Ornamental Gardens are open to the public at set times from Spring to Autumn. Visitors may like to coincide their stay with one of the annual events such as the Angling and Country Fairs or visit the Chatsworth Horse Trials or outside Orchestral Summer concerts dependent on the timing of their visit. The Chatsworth Farm Shop and the Chatsworth Garden Centre are also worth a visit.
For more information on Chatsworth House, click here to visit the official website


HADDON HALL - dates from the Norman Conquest and is described as being the most outstanding example of a Medieval country house in England. http://www.haddonhall.co.uk/


EYAM (2 miles from Foolow) is a fascinating village full of history and made famous by the heroic acts of its inhabitants during the Great Plague of 1665/1666. There is plenty to see and read about in the village concerning those troubled times and in common with many Peak District villages craft shops and welcome tea rooms. http://www.eyamvillage.org.uk/


CASTLETON - famous for its caverns and castle. The unique Blue John stone is mined and worked here and can be seen in various forms in the gift and craft shops which line the village streets.


BAKEWELL - is an attractive historic town with a popular Monday market. It is a useful shopping centre for gifts, provisions (including the famous Bakewell pudding, specialty cheeses, pies etc.) antiques etc. The town has been the subject of a comprehensive but tasteful upgrading in recent times and now affords a small swimming pool and a large new cattle market just across the river from the main area of the town. A large agricultural show is held each year during the first week in August. There is also a National Park Information Centre.


MATLOCK BATH lies in the grip of a magnificent limestone gorge. A most spectacular journey can be taken by cable car which climbs the gorge to the Heights of Abraham. Here visitors can enjoy refreshment at the Scandinavian style cafe or take a fascinating guided tour around a lead mine made true to life by special effects. Nearby is the Riber Castle Wildlife Park and the Crich Tramway Museum is well worth a visit. Crich is famous as the base for the television series “Peak Practice” (although in truth filming has taken place throughout the extended area of the central and northern Peak to include villages such as Winster) .