Westhills Courtyard is ideally located for exploring some of the best sights in Derbyshire and the Peak District. Here are some of our favourite places to visit within a short drive of the cottages.
- Chatsworth House and Estate
- Haddon Hall
- Matlock and Matlock Bath
- Crich Tramway Village
- Cromford
- Great British Car Journey
Chatsworth House
Less than 20 minutes away by car from Westhills Courtyard, Chatsworth is the jewel in the crown of the Peak District. Home to the Cavendish family since the 16th Century, Chatsworth House is a magnificent English country house set in over 1,000 acres of parkland.
There’s more than 100 acres of stunning formal gardens, a farmyard and children’s adventure playground, as well as cafés, restaurants and gift shops. The acclaimed Chatsworth Farm Shop in nearby Pilsley is also well worth a visit to stock up on local produce and artisan treats to enjoy back at the cottage.
Haddon Hall
Less than a 20-minute drive from Westhills Cottage and Westhills Loft, you’ll find Haddon Hall, rightly acclaimed as one of the most beautiful medieval manor houses in the whole of England.
Dating back to the 12th century, its stone walls are covered with climbing roses, and its perfect setting on a hillside overlooking the River Wye is straight out of a romantic fairy tale.
Don’t miss the beautifully preserved 14th century kitchens, where visitors can still see the stone bread ovens, chopping blocks and water troughs that would have been used in Tudor times.
The gardens are the perfect place for a summer stroll and provide superb views of the surrounding countryside.
Guests staying with us at Westhills Courtyard get a 15% discount on entrance to Haddon Hall.
Matlock and Matlock Bath
Matlock and its close neighbour Matlock Bath are beautiful towns with a wealth of sights and attractions to keep the whole family entertained. Matlock boasts a host of independent shops, as well as a wide choice of cafés, pubs, and restaurants.
At its centre is Hall Leys Park, which has river walks, flower gardens, a small boating lake and tennis courts. Just a little further along the valley is Matlock Bath, a town that became popular with Victorian visitors thanks to its spa waters.
It’s often described as a quirky seaside town that’s nowhere near the coast, with a long street of shops, cafés, and amusement arcades, not to mention fish and chip shops!
It occupies a stunning position in a dramatic valley, and the riverside paths along the River Derwent are great for peaceful, shady strolls.
Heights of Abraham
The Heights of Abraham has been one of the area’s most popular activities ever since it opened in 1787. It’s now a multi-award-winning tourist attraction in Matlock Bath.
A cable car takes visitors 339 metres from the floor of the limestone gorge to the top of Masson Hill, offering spectacular views of the Derwent Valley. Once at the summit, there is plenty to keep visitors occupied, including impressive show caves, a geology museum, a restaurant, an adventure playground, shops, and beautiful woodland walks.
Crich Tramway Village
Located just outside Matlock, Crich Tramway Village is a fabulous place to spend a day, with plenty to keep the whole family happy. It’s home to the National Tramway Museum, with more than 60 vintage trams for visitors to admire in airy exhibition halls.
There’s also a beautifully-recreated period village to explore, complete with a vintage pub, café and olde-worlde shops. Several trams run through the village and can be hailed at historic tram stops, allowing visitors to take unlimited rides for more than a mile into the surrounding countryside, with stunning views of the area.
Cromford
The lovely village of Cromford is perhaps best known for its connection with the renowned industrialist Richard Arkwright, who built Cromford Mills in 1771. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the mills are home to a wonderful museum and interactive visitor attraction telling the captivating story of how the Derwent Valley changed the world in the 18th Century, as well as independent shops and cafés in a lovely courtyard.
A stone’s throw away visitors can walk along the peaceful towpath of the Cromford Canal and even take a narrow boat trip through the beautiful Derbyshire countryside.
Great British Car Journey
Located on the riverside in Ambergate, not far from Matlock, the Great British Car Journey is a family-friendly visitor attraction with plenty to keep all generations happy.
Showcasing more than 100 classic British cars and charting the course of British motor manufacturing through the ages, you’ll see examples of everything from the classic Austin 7 and the magnificent Morris Minor, right up to the sleek McLaren 650S and the iconic DeLorean, the car famous for its starring role in the Back to the Future movies.
Fully interactive audio-visual displays allow you to find out more about each make and model and tell the stories behind the cars, as well as the pioneers and entrepreneurs who built them.