Bakewell is actually named after a well and almost became a spa town, but its water was not warm enough. The Bath House is not open to the public, but make sure you visit Bakewell Bath Gardens, a flower-filled riot of colour presided over by an enormous hornbeam tree.
Innumerable painters and photographers have captured the image of the river running through the town, bordered by willow trees and traversed by its five-arched bridge. The bridge is one of the oldest in the country – it dates from 1200AD – and an Ancient Monument.
The Bakewell pudding
Legend has it that the Bakewell pudding was created by mistake, when a cook at the Rutland Arms misunderstood a jam tart recipe. At the Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop in The Square, you can sample a freshly baked version of the traditional treat and have a go at making it yourself. Groups of 20 or more can also book a guided tour of the premises, which are actually a shop, bakery, deli and restaurant. You'll find freshly baked breads and cakes, tarts, cheeses, local ales, chutneys, jam, honey and more on sale. For more Bakewell puddings, head to Bloomers of Bakewell and the Bakewell Tart Shop and Coffee House.
The Old House Museum
The building which contains the Old House Museum dates back to 1543, making it one of the oldest in Bakewell. Here you can learn all about the history of the town. You'll explore Tudor rooms with wattle and daub partitions, see a Tudor toilet, find out what life was like in a Victorian mill worker's home and discover old-fashioned toys. For kids, there's a Tudor dressing-up box, a dolls' house to play with, and skipping ropes, hula hoops and games in the courtyard. There are also artists in residence throughout the year. The museum is open from 11:00 to 16:00, usually from March to November.
Peak District National Park
From Bakewell hotels, The dramatic landscapes of the Peak District National Park can be explored on foot, on a bike, on horseback or through a guided walk. You can also go sailing, windsurfing and canoeing on one of the reservoirs, fishing in the rivers or caving in Titan Cave at Castleton, the UK's highest natural cavern.
The park is home to a vast array of wildlife, including hares, bats, hedgehogs, otters, pine martens, adders, lizards, great crested newts, slowworms and the Peak District Brown Argus butterfly. Birdwatchers should look out for black grouse, red grouse, golden plovers, grasshopper warblers, grey partridges, hen harriers, lesser-spotted woodpeckers, linnets, nightjars, ring ouzels, yellow wagtails and yellowhammers.
Chatsworth House
Set in 1,000 acres of parkland and overlooking the River Derwent, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire has more than 30 rooms to explore. The house is also home to a significant art collection, including Old Masters, ancient Egyptian artefacts, ceramics, sculpture and computer portraits. In the beautifully kept gardens you'll find fountains, a maze, a rockery, a rose garden, a cottage garden, streams and ponds. You can also explore the parkland beyond, home to deer, sheep and cattle. For kids, there's a working farmyard and adventure playground.
