From castles to show caves, a selection of some of the fascinating places to visit around the county at Easter

Great British Life: Bolsover CastleBolsover Castle (Image: Archant)

Calke Abbey

Great British Life: Go Ape in BuxtonGo Ape in Buxton (Image: Archant)

‘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