2020 – Our journey through COVID
What a year! Most challenging of all, has been going without the thing we hold most dear at Darley House…connecting with our family and friends. With the vaccine on the horizon we feel sure better times are coming. And to make sure we are ready to welcome you again at Darley House, we have not […]
Continue reading...Our love affair with Darley House
We were holidaying in the Peak District with family when Alex, who loves old buildings (we had already restored two houses and I swore there wouldn’t be a third…), decided to walk back from Matlock to our B&B. Before he took the track along side the Peak Rail steam railway line, he espied an Estate […]
Continue reading...Chocolate making with Barry Colenso
What a fabulous way to spend a rainy day in February… making our very own original flavoured chocolates with master chocolatier Barry Colenso!!! Barry is a talented chocolatier with a prestigious career which includes creating the Chocolate Wedding cake for Prince William and Catherine’s Wedding in 2011. So a weekend away with some girlfriends at Darley House […]
Continue reading...Willow sculpture in the heart of nature
I was lucky enough to attend a willow sculpture course at Zantium studios during my stay at Darley House and wanted to write about it for the Darley House blog as I was so impressed with the location and the course and I would really recommend it for anyone staying in the Peak District. Zantium Studios […]
Continue reading...A few of our favourite things – RHS Chatsworth 2017
We are very proud of our Victorian gardens at Darley House, designed by Joseph Paxton. Since we are always looking for further ideas and inspiration, we love visiting other gardens and shows. So, we were eager indeed to be at the first RHS Chatsworth Show, partnered by Wedgwood. Here are some of the show’s highlights for […]
Continue reading...Cycling – explore the beauty of the Peak District on two wheels
We think the Peak District is one of the best places for leisure cycling. The unique and varied landscape offers you a range of great cycling experiences – family-friendly trails, organised group tours, and longer routes for more experienced cyclists who are seeking some challenging hill climbs.There are over 65 miles of easy-going trails for […]
Continue reading...Reasons to visit the Peak District in 2017
There are so many wonderful events happening across the Peak District summer 2017. Here are some that we are particularly looking forward to: RHS Chatsworth Annual Flower Show 7 – 11 June 2017Chatsworth, the vanguard of stately homes, is host to the newest RHS flower show and promises not to disappoint. “We have been focusing on […]
Continue reading...Capturing memories at Darley House with photographer Graham Dunn
We celebrated my father’s 90th birthday at Darley House in October 2016. Like most people coming to Darley House we were looking to bring family and friends together and wanted to capture the occasion. Obviously you’re not 90 everyday and one of my sister’s and her family live abroad, so our opportunities to get together […]
Continue reading...A taste of the Peak District – our new welcome hamper
Continuing on our foodie trail to find some wonderful local products for our guests, I met Barry Colenso, a master chocolatier, at Darley House at the beginning of October. Barry, from nearby Belper, is the “go to” expert on chocolate and was involved with the design of Kate and Will’s chocolate wedding cake in 2011. His […]
Continue reading...Local produce from Derbyshire – enjoyed by our guests
At the end of August 2016 we went on a foodie trail to discover local produce for our guest hamper. We want to give our guests a taste of the area whilst supporting the wonderful local artisans. We also recommend guests visit the vineyards and discover the varied and delicious local produce at Bakewell Farmer’s market for […]
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