 Derbyshire is situated in the north Midlands of England. Its bustling market towns, villages, hills, dales and rivers offer majestic scenery, and a rich variety of customs. With large country houses, like Chatsworth, Kedleston and Haddon, beautiful towns and villages and crystal clear rivers and streams running through its valleys and dales, the county has much to offer. Derbyshire is perhaps best known for the Peak District National Park, the first to be designated in Britain, in 1951, in recognition of its outstanding and largely unspoilt scenery. Derby is by far the largest town in the county. Other towns of some importance are Alfreton, Ashbourne, Bakewell, Belper, Buxton, Chesterfield, Glossop, Heanor, Ilkeston, Long Eaton and Matlock. The towns and villages are often quite isolated and built of the abundant native stone. There are also many stone built reminders of the ancient past, including the many burial mounds or `lows` which crown so many hills in Derbyshire. The hedgerows and arable fields which typify the Midlands, once you have passed Ashbourne, give way to mile after mile of drystone walls criss-crossing stoney pastures, where pastoral farming of sheep and cattle predominates. Places of Interest American Adventure Theme park, Bolsover Castle, Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, Cauldwells Mill, Chatsworth House, Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery, Creswell Crags, Denby Pottery Visitors Centre, Elvaston Castle Country Park, Poole Cavern. Living in Derbyshire The county has many good comprehensive and independent schools, from preparatory through to further education. There are several colleges, Chesterfield College, Derby College and South East Derbyshire College, and there is also the University of Derby. The county has strong road and rail links, and there are good local and national bus services. Derby Railway Station is 10-15 minutes walk from Derby Bus Station and the city centre There are frequent buses between the city centre and Railway Station. Nottingham, Birmingham New Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucester, Newport and Cardiff Central, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Leeds, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway (for Luton Airport) and London St. Pancras are some of the destinations available by rail. Nottingham East Midlands Airport is the nearest airport, with Birmingham and Luton also being easily accessible. Derbyshire offers fantastic shopping opportunities. Chesterfield Market is one of the largest open air markets in England with over 200 stalls. Open Monday, Friday and Saturday. Flea market on Thursday. Sadler Gate, The Victorian Market Hall, Eagle Shopping Centre, and Eagle Centre Market are the main shopping areas in Derby. For the serious shopper, there is the peak village outlet shopping centre. There are very good sport and leisure facilities county wide, with many indoor centres, gymnasiums, tennis and squash courts and swimming pools. In addition, Derbyshire caters for rock climbing and pot holing to fly fishing and canoeing on waters surrounded by beautiful scenery. |
