 | Chesterfield, located only three miles from the Peak District National Park's eastern boundary, is an historical market town. It is a great place for holiday makers who want to explore the picturesque Derbyshire countryside to use as a base.
There is lots to see and do in and around Chesterfield. There are some great walks through pretty villages and green hills, and some magnificent gardens and stately homes to see: including Chatsworth House and the gardens of Renishaw Hall. Other places to visit include the hillside ruins of Sutton Scarsdale Hall and Bolsover Castle.
In Chesterfield itself St Mary and All Saints, the Crooked Spire Church, is a must-see feature. This is the largest church in Derbyshire and was built in the late 13th Century. Its spire reaches 228 feet high and is on a lean of nine feet and five inches from its centre. It was when unseasoned wood was used during the spire's construction that the twisting occurred. Lead tiles weighing 32 tons were put on top and when the timber dried out the lead's weight twisted the spire. During the period between Easter and Christmas you can take a tour of the tower to the base of the crooked spire Monday to Saturday. A yellow notice just inside the church will advertise the tours, which take about 45 minutes. Tours also take place on Bank Holiday Mondays during the summer and on the Medieval Market Day.
Look out for all the events taking place in this area throughout the year. Some are specialist events: such as the Ashover Vintage Car Rally and the Cromford Steam Rally. Then there are music festivals, including the Stainsby Folk Festival, and one-off events like the Chesterfield Market Festival: this features world class music, concerts in the aforementioned Crooked Spire Church, a large continental market, theatre, plus lots more.
There are country shows, including the Friendly Show in August at Ashover, and, in September, it's the Chatsworth Country Fair. Then there are special events to watch out for around Chesterfield market. These include holiday markets on all the Bank Holiday Mondays during the summer, and a Medieval Market and Christmas Market.
There is no shortage of places to stay here, with everything from camping and self catering to country cottages and hotels. There are also some great places to eat out both in the town itself and further out in the countryside surrounding Chesterfield: and watch out for the local delicacies. These include Bakewell pudding, Ashbourne gingerbread, traditional Derbyshire oatcakes, and Hartington stilton |
