Bakewell is a charming town and the largest town in the Peak District National Park. Its surroundings are perfect for hiking tours, and the city itself has nice, historic buildings that blend in perfectly with the landscape. Not far from Bakewell is one of England's most famous mansions, Chatsworth House.
The city occupies the valley of the River Wye and the slopes of the hills descending towards it. It is surrounded by meadows and moors in the Peak District National Park. The area is considered one of the most beautiful in England and attracts hikers every year among rugged hills, river valleys and small lakes.
Although Bakewell is mentioned already in the 11th century books, it has always remained in the shadow of nearby Matlock and the nearby noble residences. One of them is the famous Chatsworth House and Garden, owned from the 16th century until today by the Cavendish family, the Dukes of Devonshire. Chatsworth with its neoclassical manor house and surrounding gardens and parks is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful palace and park complexes in the whole of Great Britain. He is also known for his many movies, including the 2005 blockbuster Pride and Prejudice.
In addition to Chatsworth, the area is also home to Haddon Hall, owned by the Dukes of Rutland and a fine example of a Tudor-era residence. In Bakewell itself, you can also see the house from the time of Elizabeth I, which houses the Old House Museum, which collects collections related to the history of the city.
Bakewell's attractions are not limited to former mansions. In a short distance, you can visit the ruins of the old lead mine Magpie from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. A popular route for cycling and horse riding is the Monsal trail, which runs along the former railway line. On its route there are, among others Headstone tunnel, several meters long. A well-known hiking destination is Birchen Edge, a hill with a flattened peak and a vertical rock wall that is a great vantage point over the Peak District.
