The English county of Derbyshire is often associated with the development of commerce and industry during the Industrial Revolution, but it is also a beautiful part of the country. Part of the Peak District National Park is in Derbyshire, and the county also has some wonderful historic houses and gardens.
Here are details of just some of the gardens that you can visit if you’re taking a holiday in Derbyshire.
Chatsworth House and Garden (Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1PP).
Chatsworth House, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, is situated about 10 minutes’ drive from the Derbyshire town of Bakewell.
The house dates back to the 16th century, but was remodelled during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Chatsworth estate covers more than 1,000 acres of land and includes a 105 acre walled garden, which was originally a formal garden, but which was transformed into a more naturalistic garden by Capability Brown during the 18th century.
Highlights of Chatsworth’s garden include: the Cascade, a 300 year old water feature in which water flows down 24 steps; the Willow Tree Fountain; the Kitchen Garden; the Sensory Garden; and the Maze.
You can also take a tour of Chatsworth House and visit the estate’s farm, and there are restaurants, cafes and gift shops on-site.
Haddon Hall (Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1LA)
Haddon Hall is a fortified medieval manor house, and dates back as far as the 12th century. The building itself is stunning, and you can take a tour of it to see the Tudor Long Gallery, the 14th century Banqueting Hall and the oak-pannelled Dining Room.
However, Haddon Hall is also known for its gardens, which date back to the Elizabethan period, but which were cleared and replanted during the early 20th century. The gardens are best-known for their roses, but you can also see a range of other flowers and plants, together with some magnificent old yew trees there.
Haddon Hall has been used as location in a number of television and film productions. It also has a restaurant and a gift shop.
Cascades Gardens (Clatterway, Bonsall, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2HA)
Set around an old corn mill, Cascades Gardens cover 4 acres of land and are open to the public on Wednesdays, Sundays and public holidays between the beginning of April and the end of August.
Highlights of Cascades Gardens include: the Formal Garden, where you can see irises, delphiniums, foxgloves and other flowers; the Rose Shrubbery, which includes geraniums, daffodils and bluebells, as well as shrub roses; and the newly created Alpine Garden.
Cascades Gardens also has its own nursery, which stocks a wide range of herbacious perennials, so it’s the perfect place to visit if you want to buy flowers and plants to take back home with you.
Other gardens that you can visit if you’re staying in Derbyshire include Melbourne Hall Gardens, Hardwick Hall Gardens and Kedleston Hall Garden.
Image: David Benbennick
Tags: Cascades Gardens, Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, Haddon Hall, U.K.
