TOURING : CLUB SITES in the heart of the is manna from heaven for walkers FOR THE FAMILY

Tower treat There’s plenty to amuse the Midland young and young-at-heart at Alton Towerstheme park. Start gently with Old MacDonald’s Farmyard and end kicking and screaming on Oblivion! T0871 222 3330 Back in time Waltontowers.com Nearest site Tramway Village is set in a Blackwall Plantation former quarry and features cobbled streets, period buildings, a mile-long tramway and the . MagicDon Jolly is spellbound by T01773 854321 a selection of sites in and Wtramway.co.uk Nearest site The Firs CAVALIER APPROACH around the glorious Peak District National Park

DON’T FORGET You can book your pitch online at caravanclub.co.uk/ searchandbook, by calling Bowled over our Advance Booking Service Seventeenth-century on 01342 327490 or, for is a great historical attraction but AS sites, calling them there’s plenty for the kids too; dress up direct. as a cavalier or watch the jousting! T01246 822844 Wenglish-heritage.org.uk Nearest site Poolsbrook n the north-west of drive George II from the British throne in THIS MONTH’S FEATURED SITES is the magnificent Peak District 1745. Last winter, £500,000-worth of National Park, and the four Club improvements were carried out at the site, BLACKWALL PLANTATION Nature nut sites highlighted here are within mainly to the toilet block which now has See p96 of the Sites Directory & Handbook The Chestnut Centre easy striking distance. Indeed, photo-cell operated basin taps and 2011/12 near Chapel-en-le-Frith Ione of them, Castleton, is in its midst. extractors in every cubicle. has fallow and sika deer in THE FIRS a parkland area leading to Approaching from the south, the first Additions include more showers, a bigger YOU ARE HERE See p98 of the Directory a leafy valley featuring site you reach is Blackwall Plantation. laundry, better facilities for disabled people enclosures housing It’s not far from Ashbourne, known and baby-changing. There is also a drying POOLSBROOK COUNTRY PARK otters, owls and more as the ‘gateway to the Peak’, a Georgian room for those who get wet and mucky See pp102-103 of the Directory from around the world. market town (market days are Thursday after a day of bog-trotting. CASTLETON (LOSEHILL) T01298 814099 and Saturday) which has links to Bonnie Interesting wildlife to be seen on site See p100 of the Directory Wchestnutcentre.co.uk Prince Charlie’s abortive attempt to includes badgers (best to peer from behind >> Blackwell Plantation Club site Nearest site Castleton

18 www.caravanclub.co.uk October 2012 The Caravan Club Magazine 19 TOURING : CLUB SITES

As well as being a reservoir, attracts many species of birds OUTDOOR FUN FOOD + DRINK DID YOU KNOW? GO WITH THE FLOW Carsington Water is ’sreservoir, ninth holding largest Stopping point 35,412 megalitres Whether you walk only as far as ’s stepping stones, or to the top of , the Izaak Walton Hotel provides welcome The Firs Club site refreshment on your return.

T01335 350555 Wizaakwaltonhotel.com Nearest site Close to the former mining town of Blackwall Plantation Staveley, east of Chesterfield, you’ll find the Club’s Poolsbrook Country Park site. The park occupies the site of colliery Dale delight spoil heaps and has been transformed Cycling Less well known but almost as TASTY TREATS from industrial dereliction into 180 acres The Pennine Cycleway is an beautiful as crowded Dovedale 80-mile route stretching of woodland, meadows and fishing lakes. is Lathkill Dale. Limpid waters from to Holmfirth, You will also find children’s play areas, run from Monyash through a Real thing taking in the popular limestone gorge and between picnic sites, a café and walking and traffic-free Tissington and For genuine Bakewell riverside meadows to Alport. cycling trails here. Keen cyclists can go Longdendale Trails. National puddings (not tarts with Cycle Network Route 6 runs Nearest site cherries –they came later!), further afield on the Trans Pennine Trail, from Derby to the western Blackwall Plantation head for theOld Original to the Rother Valley Country Park for edge of the county, heading Bakewell Pudding Shop in example, or, via link paths, to north towards Worksop. The Square, Bakewell. Chesterfield, famous for its church with T01629 812193 crooked spire. Back at Poolsbrook, the Wsustrans.org.uk Wbakewellpuddingshop.co.uk park is also excellent for birdwatching, Nearest site any featured Nearest site The Firs boasting an impressive sightings list. the curtains at dusk to see them), nesting oaks’, and from the site, high above the Kingdom theme park is ideal for those When the site opened in 2008, it buzzards and sparrowhawks. From the river, that is the super view you get. Some holidaying with young children and there incorporated several sustainable resource site’s edge, there are good views over of the best pitches enjoy this outlook, but are also former mills to visit at the and energy-saving features and became a Carsington Water, a reservoir which, of if yours doesn’t, there’s a terraced area Derwent Valley World Heritage Site Club flagship eco site. Technological interest if you are a birdwatcher, has an with barbecue and picnic tables where between Matlock and Derby. features include solar heating >> Cheese please RSPB reserve, as well as a large shop at you can relax with a glass of wine in the the visitor centre. glow of the setting sun. The Old Cheese Shop in Hartington offers such Although the park does extend almost Crags of fun varieties as Sage Derby, ACTIVITY OPTIONS to the Derwent at Matlock, this is a good The impressive six-sailed Heage On Derbyshire’s eastern Dovedale Blue and Hartington Active types will find an eight-mile trail base for visiting attractions outside the border, is Bomber, a creamy cheese encircling the water which is ideal for Peak District. The nearest of these is the home to caves containing Ice Age engravings of animals and covered in black wax. walkers and cyclists, and there are various impressive, six-sailed Heage Windmill, Windmill is open at weekends Mam’s the word birds. There’s also easy tuition, hire and self-launch opportunities open at weekends and on bank holiday “ looms large west of walking around a lake. T01298 84935 for sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and Mondays. Flour produced at the mill can ” Castleton, and makes a good Whartingtoncheeseshop.co.uk Nearest site any featured kayaking. Trout fishing is possible, too, be bought there or at Belper’s monthly day’s walk. Head north to Lose T01909 720378 Hill, follow the ridge westwards Wcreswell-crags.org.uk either from the shore or a hired boat. farmers’ market. Nearest site Poolsbrook A few miles east of Ashbourne lies the The National Tramway Museum at by way of Hollins Cross to Mam Tor, then head south to the mill town of Belper, on Derbyshire’s most Crich is a must, and there are more family , returning to important river, the Derwent. Nearby is diversions in the form of cavern tours at Castleton via Cave Dale. our second site, The Firs. ‘Derwent’ is a the , reached by cable Spring Celtic word meaning ‘valley thick with car from . Nearby Gulliver’s Nearest site Castleton break Fill your water bottle at ’s famous St Ann’s Well. The geothermal spring water emerges at a constant temperature of 28˚C. Nearest site Castleton

Poolsbrook Co untry Park Club site Heage is a fascinating working windmill

20 www.caravanclub.co.uk October 2012 The Caravan Club Magazine 21 TOURING : CLUB SITES panels, photo-voltaic cells and a heat recovery system to provide underfloor heating in the toilet block. CULTURE Staveley has a Morrisons’ supermarket, while Chesterfield (about six miles away) offers branches of Tesco, Asda and Well, well Sainsbury’s. Staveley has several pubs but Well dressing is a Derbyshire many Poolsbrook visitors head for the activity in which wells are Arkwright Arms, on the A632 at nearby decorated with floral Long Duckmanton, which has a displays, usually depicting a traditional menu. major or religious event. Castleton Club site Some 80 villages take part in ALL-YEAR ACTION a season running from late May to mid September. Our final Derbyshire site lies in the heart of the Peak District at Castleton and is the 10 minutes’ walk from the village centre. Wwelldressing.com Nearest site any featured only one of the four open all year – ideal If you have thirsts to quench and energy if you’re into winter as well as summer to restore, the village is home to excellent walking. Previously known as Losehill, pubs and cafés. the site now takes the name of the village. For sightseers, ’s ruins Treasure trove Footpaths head in all directions to overlook the village, while deep beneath is one of surrounding ridges, and you don’t have it is the entrance to , where England’s greatest treasures, to drive far for a change of scenery. Even guided tours are available. Beyond the boasting significant art the start of the is nearby at village, near the foot of Winnats Pass, are collections. Behind the house are 105 acres of landscaped , if you want a more challenging more caverns famous for being the source gardens, complete with hike. There are also plenty of other of Blue John stone used in jewellery. water features. activity options in close proximity – So whether you’re looking for an caving, rock climbing, horse riding and energetic break, a cultural treat or simply T01246 582204 Wchatsworth.org paragliding for example. a relaxing stay amid beautiful scenery, this Nearest site Poolsbrook Such attractions make for a busy site, area is simply Britain at its peak. ■ but it is beautifully located and only

MEMBERS’ VIEW Dean Hall and Lorraine Lowry from Birmingham (right), were on their first visit to Derbyshire since their youth. They were staying at Blackwall Plantation, and loved the site. “You feel miles from anywhere and it’s wonderful seeing and hearing so many Some for all birds,” they said. “We’re cycling To read even more member views, Water power offers round Carsington Water see our fantastic online forum at tomorrow, and Saturday we’re The year-round entertainment going to Ashington market.” caravanclub.co.uk/together Heritage Site between for all musical tastes as well Derby and Matlock Bath as comedy and drama. Ken and Angie brings 250 years of Rushall, from industrial heritage to life. T0845 127 2190 Wbuxtonoperahouse.org.uk Royston in Nearest siteCastleton Hertfordshire, T 01629 536831 were staying at Wderwentvalleymills.org Terry and Lesley Nearest site The Firs Castleton for five Curlfrom Luton days en route to were staying at York and had The Firs on their plenty planned. first visit to the “We’re going to area. “We loll do a few walks on around the site the nearby hills in the morning, to enjoy the enjoying the views views, meet and listening to friends at the birds and rustling of the leaves, then Hayfield and visit places like Bakewell, Buxton and then spend a day Matlock in the afternoon. We love it and at Chatsworth.” will definitely be back.”

22 www.caravanclub.co.uk