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ceremonial county in East Midlands, England
Europe > Britain and Ireland > United Kingdom > England > East Midlands > Derbyshire

Derbyshire is a county in the English Midlands part of the United Kingdom. Derbyshire has many attractions, including Peak District scenery such as Mam Tor and Kinder Scout, and more urban attractions such as Bakewell, Buxton and Derby. Its heritage sites include Bolsover Castle, Castleton, Chatsworth House, National Tramway Museum at Crich, Peak Rail steam railway, Midland Railway steam railway, Dovedale, Haddon Hall, the Heights of Abraham and Matlock Bath.

Cities, towns and villages

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Cities

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Towns

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Villages

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Other destinations

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Understand

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The varied landscape of Derbyshire makes it an attractive destination for sightseers, particularly hikers. The south is a low-level clayland area, dominated by the broad, flat, gravel-filled valley of the River Trent. The north and central west of the county is classic limestone hills and valleys. Further north, surrounding these limestone areas, are higher level moorlands, dotted with rock outcrops and gritstone edges, while the lower area are rolling hills and deep valleys with small picturesque villages that a hobbit might feel at home in. The eastern part of the county consists of a rural and urban landscape influence by its industrial, mainly coal-mining, past.

Derbyshire also has many historical attractions from stately homes to early industrial heritage buildings, and includes the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, a long, wooded corridor running from Derby to Matlock and containing some of the first water-powered mills of the Industrial Revolution.

Talk

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Derby people do have a noticeable accent but this is easily understood. You may be greeted by Ey Up Mi Duck. Do not be concerned: it is not an insult but a friendly greeting.

Get in

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By train

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By plane

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By car

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The M1 from London and Leeds runs along the eastern edge of Derbyshire while the A6 crosses from north west to south east of the county.

By bus

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Coach services are operated by National Express to Derby from around the country. Trent Barton connects the Derby to Chesterfield and Nottingham at very regular intervals on weekdays and weekends. The 'Transpeak' bus service by High Peak connects Derby with the Peak District and Manchester.

Get around

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By bus

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  • Local bus services operate between many of the towns in Derbyshire. A number of villages are served by bus services, but many have only a limited frequency. The buses are operated by numerous different companies, including Arriva, High Peak buses and Trent Barton.
  • The Derbyshire Wayfarer rover ticket is good value if travelling on more than one bus or train service. It is valid on nearly all buses and trains within Derbyshire.
  • The Transpeak bus is the main service for crossing the county. It runs from Nottingham via Derby, Belper, Matlock, Bakewell and Buxton to Manchester.
  • For timetable information see the Derbyshire County Council public transport website[dead link] or phone Traveline on ☏ +0870 608 2608 (UK only).

By train

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  • Within the county, there are train services between Derby and Matlock and between Derby and Chesterfield.
  • East Midlands Railway. Cheap train tickets to and from Derby. East Midlands Railway runs services across Derbyshire plus high speed services to Derby from London, Leicester, Nottingham, Chesterfield and Sheffield.

Countryside

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  • The Peak District National Park — Britain's first ever national park, set up in 1951. A very large part of Derbyshire is within the park, and it extends into parts of neighbouring counties.
  • Dovedale — a picturesque valley, very popular with visitors and so can be crowded on Summer weekends and Bank Holidays
  • Ladybower and Derwent reservoirs
  • High Peak Trail — path for cyclists and walkers along former railway line
  • Monsal Trail - footpath
  • Pennine Way — a long distance footpath, which starts in the north of the county
  • Carsington Water — a reservoir

Country houses

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  • Chatsworth House — near Bakewell
  • Haddon Hall — near Bakewell
  • Kedleston Hall — near Derby
  • Calke Abbey — near Melbourne
  • Sudbury Hall (also includes The Museum of Childhood) — south of Ashbourne near Uttoxeter

Other historic buildings

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Museums

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Heritage of transport

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  • Crich Tramway Village (also known as The National Tramway Museum)
  • Midland Railway Centre, Ripley
  • Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in Wirksworth
  • Peak Rail
  • Hiking
  • Pot holing
  • Climbing
  • Watch cricket: Derbyshire CCC play at the County Ground in Derby.
  • Walk the Pennine Way, which starts in Edale and heads north into Yorkshire.

There are many great country inns serving English pub food making exploring the villages very rewarding.

The tea rooms serve some excellent cakes. Cream tea (scones, clotted cream and jam) makes a pleasant afternoon break, but also look out for locally made Bakewell pudding and Bakewell tarts.

Also do not miss checking out the local fish & chips takeaways, not just for fish and fries but also for the steak and kidney pies, chicken and mushroom, battered sausages and mushy peas.

The city of Derby has some excellent Indian restaurants.

Drink

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The county has a large number of pubs in the towns and in the country serving numerous brands of real ale.

Derbyshire whisky and gin are made at White Peak Distillery at Ambergate, north of Belper.

There's a vineyard at Renishaw Hall near Chesterfield.

Sleep

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Stay safe

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Go next

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This region travel guide to Derbyshire is a usable article. It gives a good overview of the region, its sights, and how to get in, as well as links to the main destinations, whose articles are similarly well developed. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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