The Best Times to Visit Derbyshire

With the Peak District, opulent stately homes and idyllic English hamlets, Derbyshire makes for a classic English country escape at any time of the year.

Banish the winter blues with country walks and hearty eats in January or make the most of the great outdoors in August. Come rain or shine, there’s bound to be something that will take your fancy. Let our round-up of the best things to see and do each month in Derbyshire help you decide when to plan your perfect getaway.

For any events listed below, please check dates and opening times beforehand.

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Visiting Derbyshire in January

January doesn’t have to be depressing. The key is to have something to look forward to in that post-Christmas lull. Book a Derbyshire cottage break and raise the spirits with scenic walks in the Peaks, indulgent afternoon teas at Chatsworth House, and pottering around Bakewell’s boutique shops and tearooms.

At the end of the day, retreat to your quaint limestone cottage or secluded shepherd’s hut and put your feet up by the fire. If there’s a new book on your new year’s resolution list, here’s the perfect opportunity to hunker down and get started. Why not elevate your mini break by choosing a cottage with a hot tub? Nothing feels better on tired feet after rambling in the Peaks than those warm jets and a glass of something grape to help unwind.

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Visiting Derbyshire in February

If you’re planning to romance a special someone for Valentine’s, look to Derbyshire for decadent spas in Buxton and Matlock and a candle lit dinner at one of the county’s Michelin Star restaurants, which are bound to have offers on for the occasion. Or perhaps a stroll around one of Derbyshire’s grand stately homes which have formed the backdrop to some of TV’s most epic romances over the years, from Pride and Prejudice at Chatsworth House to Jane Eyre at Haddon Hall. Following that, retreat to your love nest for fireside tête-à-têtes or a glass of fizz in the hot tub.

Over February half term, families can look to Chatsworth House and the region’s other heritage properties for activities to get involved with. There’s also no shortage of family-friendly walks, such as the Thorpe Cloud circular route in Dovedale.

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A stone bridge crossing the River Wye in Bakewell

Visiting Derbyshire in March

Witness the first of the spring flowers waking from their winter slumber. The daffodils and crocuses are especially beautiful when lining the gardens of Derbyshire’s stately homes.

As the weather mellows, the mountain cable car at the Heights of Abraham in Matlock reopens. This 60-acre hilltop estate makes for a fun day out with walks, a play area and caves to explore as well as a historic property and exhibits for history enthusiasts. Dogs are welcome too. For a rainy day activity, hop aboard the Peak Rail steam train instead.

Elsewhere, Bakewell, Chesterfield, Buxton and Ashbourne are just some of the gorgeous historic towns you can explore. Find rows of boutique shops, museums, pubs, restaurants and cafes to potter around as you please. And you can’t visit Derbyshire without trying a Bakewell tart in the town that invented them.

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Two Children On An Easter Egg Hunt In The Sun

Visiting Derbyshire in April

With miles of green flanked ravines, spring lambs bleating in the fields, and wildflower meadows blooming, nothing says spring in England quite like Derbyshire. Fill your lungs with fresh country air on one of the county’s many walks, be it a gentle ramble around Calke Abbey’s blossoming gardens or an uphill clamber to Kinder Scout.

If you’re visiting with children during the Easter holidays, keep an eye out for the chance to feed the new lambs at Chatsworth House – and of course, numerous Easter egg hunts and nature trails to get involved in around the county.

Come Easter Sunday, feast on fresh spring produce in the county’s pubs and restaurants or stock up at a farmer’s market and cook up a storm in your cottage.

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Visiting Derbyshire in May

With two national bank holidays in May, what better time to escape to the Derbyshire dales? Plus, this month marks the start of the county’s chock-a-block calendar of festivals, with the Great British Food Festival at Hardwick Hall kicking things off. As well as plenty of food to taste, the weekend brings live music, bake offs, chef’s demos and food challenges to the grounds.

And throughout the month, Leek Arts Festival showcases national and international artists, poets, musicians and actors at various performances.

But if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle, retreat to the Peaks where a whole host of scenic walking routes beckon. If you’re up for a challenge, the eight-mile Castledon, Mam Tor and Great Ridge walk is considered one of the best ridge walks in Britain, leading you through pretty villages and giving way to far-reaching views over Edale, Hope Valley and Kinder Scout.

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a village in the hills surrounded by woodland in Matlock

Visiting Derbyshire in June

If you’re not tied to the school holidays, visit Derbyshire in June to soak up the first of that summer sunshine without the high season crowds. There’s an array of festivals and shows throughout the month to plan your visit around, such as the Derbyshire County Show, Ashbourne Festival and Cromford Mills Beer Festival. Speaking of which, with beer gardens opening, you could plan a walk or cycle to a country pub and reward yourself with a cold one or even an al fresco lunch at the end.

From converted limestone barns to cosy shepherd’s huts, we have luxury accommodation conveniently located in and around Ashbourne, Bakewell, Matlock and elsewhere so you’re close enough to the action while being far enough away to enjoy some tranquillity.

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Visiting Derbyshire in July

With the school’s breaking up in mid-July, many of the region’s National Trust properties put on events and activities to keep the family entertained. There’s also Abraham Heights with caves, a play area and walks, and Chatsworth House which again has lots to see and do.

In Matlock, there’s Gulliver’s Kingdom theme park and the Peak Rail steam train and in Bakewell, cop a squat on a hay bale and enjoy craft sessions, music, animal encounters and more at the Country Festival (under 15’s go free). If the heavens open, take the opportunity to visit a museum or exhibition which again, is likely to have activities for families during the school holidays.

For the culture vultures, Buxton might be a nice base for your cottage holiday in July as the Buxton International Festival brings an eclectic mix of classical music and performances to go and see.

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Visiting Derbyshire in August

With summer in full swing, so too is Derbyshire’s events calendar. So whether you’re planning a cottage holiday with family, friends, or just you two, there’s bound to pique your interest.

There’s even something for canine guests as Dog Lover’s Festival, the UK’s biggest canine-friendly music festival, returns to Derby. Book one of our dog-friendly cottages and treat yourselves and your pooch to a weekend of top tribute acts and walkies in the Derbyshire dales.

Elsewhere, you’ve got the Country Fair at Chatsworth House, the Ashbourne Show and Chesterfield Music and Food Festival. Take a hike in the Peak District, cycle the Tissington Trail, picnic on the lawns of Calke Abbey or pop to Bakewell for one of their famous tarts; there are so many ways to enjoy the great British summertime in Derbyshire.

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Visiting Derbyshire in September

In September, there’s a lovely sense of winding down following the school holidays and if you’re lucky to score some late summer sunshine, you’ll hit the sweet spot between warm weather and uncrowded attractions. Embark on epic walks in the peaks and choose from a wide choice of places to dine, from bistros and gastropubs to Michelin Star restaurants.

Whatever you get up to, our handpicked range of traditional cottages, luxury barns and romantic shepherd’s huts in Derbyshire ensure you will have a tranquil space to retreat to kick back and relax in afterwards. Equally, enjoy lazy days in the cottage, reading a book in the garden or soaking up the views from your very own hot tub, the choice is yours.

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Visiting Derbyshire in October

Autumn is a beautiful time of year to visit Derbyshire, when the forests redden and one can trudge through the crisp, newly fallen leaves. If staying during October half term, look to the National Trust properties and museums around the region for Halloween activities such as pumpkin carving and ghost tours. For the ultimate fright (or adrenaline rush, depending on how you see it), head to the Scarefest at Alton Towers in Stoke.

Alternatively, pick your own spooky squash at one of the farm’s pumpkin patches and transform it into a jack-o-lantern at your cottage. Come night time, snuggle beside a toasty fire in your with a good film on or take a dip in your bubbling hot tub. If you don’t fancy cooking, Derbyshire boasts a wide range of quality diners.

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Visiting Derbyshire in November

Get into the Christmas spirit with a cottage holiday in November, when festive markets and Christmas light switch ones take place across Derbyshire. The Chatsworth estate hosts a sizable Christmas market where you can purchase handmade gifts, food and tipples. Bakewell, Chesterfield and Haddon Hall all have festive markets too. At Bolsover Hall, the Winter Festival weekend sees one of Britain’s biggest lantern parades as well as stalls and live music, a perfect event to attend with the family.

Pair seasonal shopping with tucking into festive bites, crisp walks in the Peak District and evenings beside a crackling fire in your cosy cottage and you’ve got yourself the perfect pre-Christmas break.

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Visiting Derbyshire in December

Whether you’re looking for a pre-Christmas getaway or a cottage to bring all of the family together on the big day, Derbyshire is magical over the festive period. Chatsworth House is truly enchanting when decked out in all of its finest yuletide trinkets. Calke Abbey is also worth a visit for festive lights, a market and the chance to bump into Santa Claus. Meanwhile in Matlock, feel the nostalgia at the Victorian Christmas market. It is also pantomime season, so head to Derby Arena or Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel Theatre for this great festive tradition.

See the New Year in with a bang at one of the events around Derbyshire which will ensure you see it in with a bang. Or book out one of our stylish family cottages and throw your own shindig with your nearest and dearest.

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