From castles to show caves, a selection of some of the fascinating places to visit around the county at Easter
Calke Abbey
‘Un-stately’ home with 600 acres of beautiful parkland. Spot the ‘Old Man of Calke’ (a 1,200 year old oak tree) and walk through the grounds to the flower garden with its unique auricular theatre. Easter egg trail 18th-20th April. National Trust. Ticknall DE73 7LE; Tel: 01332 863822
Hardwick Hall
Magnificent Elizabethan mansion built by Bess of Hardwick. Although roofless,vistors can still go to the fourth floor to view the surviving decorative plasterwork, as well as exploring the kitchen and service rooms, all brought to life by an audio tour. Excellent formal gardens and parkland. Easter trail 18th-21st April. National Trust. Chesterfield S44 5QW; Tel: 01246 850430
Kedleston Hall
18th century mansion designed by renowned architect Robert Adam. The Hall has an extensive collection of paintings, sculpture and original furnishings. Easter egg trail 18th-21st April. National Trust. Quarndon, Derby DE22 5J; Tel: 01332 842191
Sudbury Hall
Late 17th century hall and National Museum of Childhood. Easter egg trail 18th-21st April. National Trust. Ashbourne DE6 5HT; Tel: 01283 585305
Eyam Hall
Jacobean-style manor house with craft centre – a perfect starting point before a tour of the ‘plague village’. Easter egg trail 18th-21st April. National Trust. Eyam S32 5QWT. Tel: 01433 639565
Bolsover Castle
Newly restored wall walk, redesigned Little Castle and Riding School, new play area and multi-media guide. ‘Cavalier Horsemanship’ events on 12th, 13th, 18th, 21st April (English Heritage). Bolsover S44 6PR; Tel: 01246 822844
Chatsworth House
House, gardens, farmyard, playground, restaurant and shops. Easter trails 12th-27th April and special activities over Easter weekend. Bakewell DE45 1PP; Tel: 01246 565300
Haddon Hall
Romantic manor house with medieval kitchens, banqueting hall and 17th century long gallery. Easter egg trail 20th April. Bakewell DE45 1LA; Tel: 01629 812855
Peveril Castle
One of England’s earliest Norman fortresses (English Heritage). Castleton S33 8WQ
Renishaw Hall
Late 17th century house and beautiful Italianate gardens with a vineyard. Opening times and tours vary. Renishaw S21 3WB; Tel: 01246 432310
Tissington Hall
Jacobean house with gates wrought by the celebrated Robert Bakewell. Hall open for tours 21st-25th April. Tissington, Ashbourne DE6 1RA; Tel: 01335 352200
Tutbury Castle
Medieval castle ruins. Viking event 19th-21st April. Tutbury DE13 9JF Tel: 01283 812129
Buxton Pavilion Gardens
23 acres of beautifully restored Victorian gardens with play areas, cafe and Pavilion Arts Centre. Easter Extravaganza 18th-21st April. Buxton SK17 6BE; Tel: 01298 23114
Buxton Country Park & Poole’s Cavern
Visit Grin Low and Solomon’s Temple, enjoy the thrilling Go Ape treetop high-wire adventure and explore the vast Poole’s Cavern. Buxton SK17 9DH. Tel: 01298 26978
Chestnut Centre
Otter, owl and wildlife park. Easter egg trail during school holidays. Castleton Rd, Chapel en le Frith SK23 0QS; Tel: 01298 814099
Creswell Crags
Visitor centre, museum and country park. Stone tools and remains of animals found in the caves provide evidence for a fascinating story of life during the last Ice Age between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago. Ice Age Easter Trail 18th-21st April. Welbeck S80 3LH; Tel: 01909 720378
Crich Tramway Village
The National Tramway Museum. Vintage tram rides, play areas, tearooms, workshop and galleries. Easter 1940s weekend 20th-21st April. Crich, DE4 5DP; Tel: 01773 854 321
Conkers
‘Hands-on’ experience in the National Forest. A unique mix of indoor and outdoor experiences to keep the whole family engaged - whatever the weather. Discovery Centre, activities and playground. Swadlincote DE12 6GA; Tel: 01283 216633
Castleton Show Caves
Explore underground at Blue John Cavern, Peak Cavern, Speedwell Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern. Tel: 01433 620679 (Castleton Tourist Information)
Heights of Abraham
Take a cable car to this hill-top country park with caverns, gardens, shops, exhibitions and play areas. Matlock Bath DE4 3PD; Tel: 01629 582365
Lea Gardens
Woodland walks and over 500 varieties of rhododendrons, azaleas and other plants set in approximately three and a half acres of land.Lea, Matlock DE4 5GH; Tel: 01629 534 380
Museums
Arkwright’s Mill, Cromford; Buxton Museum & Art Gallery; Chesterfield Museum; Derby Museums & Art Gallery; Erewash Museum, Ilkeston; Old House Museum, Bakewell; Peak District Lead Mining Museum, Matlock Bath; Sharpe’s Pottery Museum, Swadlincote
Railways
Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre, Chesterfield; Derby Roundhouse; Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Wirksworth; Midland Railway Centre, Butterley; Peak Rail, Matlock
Out of the county...
Alton Towers; Belvoir Castle, Leics; Churnet Valley Railway, Froghall; Lyme Park NT, Disley; National Space Centre, Leicester; Trentham Monkey Forest, Staffs; Twycross Zoo, Atherstone; Wollaton Hall and Park, Notts
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