Alstonefield is a small village in the Peak District National park, in an area known as the White Peak. The Peak District National Park covers 555 square miles and was the first of the National Parks, established in 1950. Alstonefield lies on the borders of Derbyshire and Staffordshire on the watershed between the valleys of the Dove and the Manifold rivers. It has less than 250 residents but it possesses such unity and confidence that it has won the best kept village in the Community Council of Staffordshire Award competition on numerous occasions.
For more information on the village visit www.alstonefield.org .
FOOD & DRINK
The George Inn is a short stagger from the house and has a fantastic menu. The restaurant has been refurbished and they have a great lunch and evening menu. They also have a farm shop with great local produce.. Call 01335 310205 (Dogs are welcome)
(www.thegeorgeatalstonefield.com)
The Crewe and Harpur Arms at Longnor is a 5 min drive. It has a fully refurbished restaurant and bar, serves real ales and has an extensive wine list.
Call 01298 83205 (www.creweandharpur.co.uk)
The Staffordshire Knott
Located in Sheen, a 5 min drive, great food and atmosphere. Inside its wooden floors, old scrubbed tables, old comfy chairs and in the winter a huge open fire. On Sunday they do a Sunday roast carvery which is huge and great value.
01298 84329
The Watts Russell
Just below Alstonefield in Hopedale. An alternative menu with curries, salted beef and wraps. Very friendly and with a diverse menu including Six Hour Pork and Watts Russell Salt Beef (the salt beef is cured on the premises). In the summer we sit on the terraced garden and watch the world go past.
01335 310271 (www.wattsrussell.co.uk)
The Royal Oak
In the middle of Wetton village with a large garden. A stiff walk or 2 min drive.
01335 310287 (www.royaloakwetton.co.uk)
The Peacock at Rowsley (near Bakewell) is a country house hotel and has excellent restaurant and lunch menu. A good stopping off point after visiting Hadden Hall or Chatsworth House.
Call 01629 733518 (www.thepeacockatrowsley.com)
Callow Hall in Mappleton is a 5 min drive and has a fine dinning restaurant and is ideal for special occasions. Call 01335 300900 (www.callowhall.co.uk )
The Gate at Brassington is also good for food and real ales, a 10 min drive, call 01629 540448
Fish & Chips
Ashbourne Market Place, great fish and chip shop, eat inside and experience the black and white interior – a classic.
Longnor Market Place, you can eat inside but they only have a few tables so try and book 01298 83317 (Closed Monday, Wednesdays and Sunday).
Hartington Market Square – sit beside the duck pond and eat straight from the fish and chip van (evenings only).
SIMPLE THINGS TO DO
Milldale
A simple short walk to stretch your legs and get a taste for the area. Go down past the church and take the footpath on your right across the fields. This will take you down to Milldale, you’ll have some stunning views over the Dovedale valley on the way. Milldale has a stone bridge over the River Dove and a small tea shop. If you take some bread you can feed the ducks.
Ilam Hall and Village
Ilam is nestled below rolling hills and has a woodland walk along the river. The hall has a National Trust tearoom and shop. Lots of good walks around the hills above Ilam.
Tissington Hall and Village
Tissington Hall is a stunning Jacobean Manor house owned by the Fitzherbert family. The house is only open to the public by arrangement. Tissington Village is a managed estate famous for its well dressings held in May. The village has an excellent tearoom and is a great place to wander around, the church and village pond are worth a visit. Call 01335 352200 www.tissington-hall.com
Dovedale
From Milldale the down-stream valley walk will take you to Thorpe and Ilam. This can be busy on warm weekends and holidays. The up-stream walk takes you to Hartington, its less popular but a very beautiful river valley walk.
Wetton Mill & Thors Cave
Park in Wetton (The Royal Oak is a good country pub) and follow the signs to Wetton Mill, the cave is a short walk from the village, if you follow the path down through the wood you will join the Manifold valley bike trail.
Manifold Valley
A great river valley bike trail, park at Wetton Mill or below Grindon and take a stroll or hire a bike in Waterhouses. Very easy walking, stop at the cafe at Wetton Mill.
Haddon Hall (featured in Jane Eyre).
Signed on the road to Bakewell. A fortified medieval manor house dating from the 12th Century. Elizabethan terraced gardens and has a simple restaurant. 01629 812855 www.haddonhall.co.uk
Chatsworth House and Gardens (featured in Pride & Prejudice)
Stunning setting, spectacular gardens and house. Various restaurants, farm shop and garden shop. A real must if you have never been. In the summer we take a picnic and sit beside the river. 01246 565300 www.chatsworth.org
Carsington Water
A whole range of activities, bike trail with bikes to hire, wind surfing, sailing, canoeing, fishing, horse riding, etc. 01629 540696www.carsingtonwater.com
Tissington Trail
A great bike trail across the hills, stop off at Tissington and have lunch in the cafe or take a picnic. You can hire bikes at Ashbourne 01335 343156 and at several locations along the trail.
Cycling
Cycle hire is available on the Manifold Trial a stunning river valley, call Brown End Farm at Waterhouses on 01538308313 or on the Tissington Trail, a disused railway route through the hills, you can hire bikes in Ashbourne 01335343156 or Parsley Hay 01298 84493. You’ll find this a useful link; www.peakdistrict.org/index/visiting/cycle
