7-Night Peak District Discovery Tour Destinations: Peak District & England Trip code: DVHCR-7 HOLIDAY OVERVIEW The dramatic landscape is carved out of beautiful limestone, creating a rolling backdrop rich in variety. From the White Peak to the Dark Peak, the Dales feature tranquil river valleys, rugged caves, vast moorlands and picturesque villages and market towns. Take a trip to the imposing ruins of Peveril Castle, looming over historic Castleton, and enjoy a slice of Bakewell tart in the market town that gives it its name. WHAT'S INCLUDED • High-quality Full Board en-suite accommodation and excellent food in our country house • The services of our knowledgeable HF Holidays’ leader, ensuring you get the most from your holiday • Full-day excursions with all transport on touring days in a good-quality, comfortable mini-coach For 2022 departures, all admission costs are included on Discovery tours, including National Trust & English Heritage. HOLIDAYS HIGHLIGHTS • Treat yourself in the small market town of Bakewell • Explore Castleton, a picturesque Peak village sitting below ruined Peveril Castle www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 1 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 • Discover the superb ‘Palace of the Peak’ - Chatsworth House and Gardens • Learn about the fascinating 'plague' village of Eyam TRIP SUITABILITY Our Discovery holidays give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture of the local area through active sightseeing. On each Discovery day, you will be walking between 3-5 miles (5-8km), hopping on and off the coach throughout, so you should expect to spend the majority of the day on your feet. Some of this walking may be across country tracks or footpaths so be sure to bring sturdy shoes! There will also be stairs to climb in the majority of the venues you visit, though other more accessible options may be available. ITINERARY Day 1: Arrival Day You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary Afternoon Tea on arrival. Day 2: Tissington, Uttoxeter & Ashbourne We start today with a gentle stroll around the well-dressing village of Tissington. Well-dressing is an ancient custom growing in popularity and your holiday may include a visit to one of these beautiful floral displays. We then make a visit to Tissington Hall, a beautiful Jacobean house which has been the seat of the FitzHerbert family since 1465. Our final stops of the day will see us at the picturesque market towns of Ashbourne and Uttoxeter. Day 3: Dambusters & Plague In Eyam Today we reach the boundary of the Dark Peak and White Peak as we arrive in Castleton before continuing to the Derwent Dams, famous today for their connection with the heroic RAF 617 Squadron, The Dambusters. Later in the afternoon, we will travel on to Eyam, one of the worst-affected villages during the Black Death. Day 4: Free Day A free day for you to explore the local area or to relax in the Country House. Our Discovery Points help you make the most out of your free day. There’s plenty of maps and a selection of the best local walking routes, as well as weather forecasts and public transport options – plus details about other places to visit. Day 5: Bakewell & Chatsworth House After spending the morning in the bustling market town of Bakewell, famous for its Bakewell Puddings, we make the short journey to Chatsworth House. Known as ‘The Palace of the Peak’ it is the ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and is one of the most spectacular palaces in Britain, if not Europe. It was used as a filming location for Mr Darcy's Pemberley House in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, starring Keira Knightly. We will also visit the custom-built village of Edensor. Built in the grounds of Chatsworth by the 6th Duke of Devonshire, it features an attractive mixture of building styles from mock Tudor to Swiss cottage. He continued the work of the 4th Duke who had set about dismantling the original village because it spoiled his view! Day 6: Ilam Hall & Haddon Hall We start our holiday with a short walk along the idyllic River Dove to view the stepping stones below Thorpe Cloud. A short drive brings us to the pseudo-alpine village of Ilam where we can take a gentle walk through www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 2 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 the wooded grounds of Ilam Hall before travelling to Haddon Hall, arguably the best-preserved Medieval fortified manor house in the country with some stunning medieval and Elizabethan interiors, and small but exquisite gardens. Day 7: Cromford Mill & Heights Of Abraham On our final morning, we'll enjoy a delightful walk along the Cromford Canal, finishing up at Cromford Mills, World Heritage Site and the cradle of the Industrial Revolution for the textile industry worldwide. In the afternoon, we'll take the cable car up to the Heights of Abraham where we'll find a myriad of caves to explore! Day 8: Departure Day Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home. ACCOMMODATION The Peveril Of The Peak The Peveril of the Peak, named after Sir Walter Scott’s novel, stands proudly in the Peak District countryside, close to the village of Thorpe. Backed by the cone of Thorpe Cloud, which guards the entrance to Dovedale Gorge and the famous stepping stones at the entrance to the gorge, it’s an ideal base for people hoping to explore the Derbyshire countryside. Surrounded by extensive grounds and rolling countryside, it’s a picturesque retreat with 46 rooms, large shared spaces and a pleasant bar. Stride out from the house to find Dovedale’s wooded ravine, cave-like Dove Holes and of course stepping stones. Upstream lie the heights nicknamed the Dovedale Castle and the Twelve Apostles, best viewed from the grassy spur called Lovers’ Leap. While the Peak bit of the area name refers to small English hills rather than great summits, there’s superb walking to be had on the Roaches and the gritstone escarpment of Stanage Edge, while Chatsworth, Tissington and Bakewell make attractive places to explore too. Matchless Country House Accommodation Accommodation Info Need To Know Important Covid-19 Steps We Have Taken For Guest Safety: Please Read Following the relaxation in government guidance on 19 July, we are continuing to take extra steps to keep our guests leaders, and staff safe in our HF country houses. We ask all our guests to respect the measures put in place. The English, Scottish and Welsh governments are not in sync, so measures in our country houses will vary between the nations. With the relaxation of social distancing in England, from 19 July we will be allowing larger groups to dine and relax in the bar together. However, we will still give guests space e.g. we will seat 6 people at a table where pre-pandemic we may have seated 8. We will ensure our public rooms are well ventilated by opening doors and windows wherever possible. If you have any concerns about distancing, please speak to the House Manager. The government recommendation for England is to wear face coverings in crowded areas. You must wear a face covering by law in public areas in hotels in Scotland. This is mandatory in public spaces; however, face coverings will not be required whilst eating and drinking in the restaurant and bar areas or whilst you are outside our houses. In Wales face coverings will remain a legal requirement indoors, with the exception of hospitality premises. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 3 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 As a temporary measure, we will not be servicing rooms during a stay. Extra tea, coffee, milk, and toiletries will be made available on request for all guests. It is recommended that guests bring their own toiletries for the duration of their stay. We will though be increasing the frequency of cleaning in our public areas providing particular attention to frequently touched items including door handles and handrails. Menus for the week will be available in your room on arrival. A self-service breakfast will be served from 7.45am – 9am. Picnic lunches will now be pre-ordered the night before from an order form in the room. Evening meals will be table service. A dinner order form will be available in each room for completion. Dinner is served at either 7.15pm or 7.30pm. Please check at the house for details. The bar will be open. We will be offering a table service but guests can also come to the bar to order (depending on local restrictions). Join our team after dinner on Wednesday evenings for the HF Big Pub Quiz. There will be one other evening of entertainment at the start of the week, which will vary depending on the country house that you are staying at. Our Walk Leaders will also be on hand in the bar or lounge for individual or small group walks talks briefings, which allow guests to talk through the following day’s walk options and ask any questions. All of our swimming pools are open, except for Glen Coe, which will not re-open this year. Swimming Pools will be operated in line with maximum capacities. For more information and to see all the steps taken, visit our page on how house stays will be adapted. Rooms Tea & coffee-making facilities, TV, Hairdryer, Toiletries, Wi-Fi Stay in the smartly presented rooms in the main house. With 46 rooms, Peveril of the Peak has plenty of space and there’s a range of Classic and Premium Rooms to choose from.