I couldn’t have asked for a better day to complete the third stage in my epic challenge. There was a hard frost, no rain and no mud! Returning to Bonsall my walk with Nellie to Brassington was just over five miles in length, beginning at Fountain Square before heading up The Dale to just past the Ebenezer Chapel which has a date plaque of 1893. From here we ascended a narrow path to follow a stretch of the Limestone Way. This then led us through a long succession of fields w

Derbyshire-based Longbow Venues is proud to announce that it has once again been shortlisted in the 2026 Publican Awards, the UK hospitality industry’s most respected and competitive awards programme. The independent Peak District operator has secured finalist places in Best Food Offer and Best Pub Employer (Up to 500 Employees) - the same two categories it was shortlisted for last year - making Longbow Venues the only Derbyshire business to reach the national finals for the

Treak Cliff Cavern is a genuine wonder in the heart of the Peak District. Treak Cliff Hill is the only place in the world where Blue John Stone, a rare form of fluorite with beautiful colours occurs naturally. The self-guided audio tour explains how Blue John Stone was formed, how miners in the 1700s constructed a tunnel using only hand tools to reach the Blue John Stone deposits within the hill, and you can see incredible veins of the stone across the cavern roof and walls.

Darley Dale Town Council is delighted to host its annual Big Green Energy Event to promote awareness of new energy options available for people in Derbyshire. Whether you’re a homeowner, a school, a business, or a farm, this event is designed to help you explore energy saving solutions. A wide range of companies will be attending, all ready to share their expertise and answer your questions. With both talks and exhibition stands, you’ll have the chance to: • Speak directly w

Bagshaws are pleased to announce their auction dates for the year ahead, continuing their long-standing tradition of successful property auctions: • Monday, 23rd March • Monday, 18th May • Monday, 20th July • Monday, 21st September • Monday, 16th November Following a highly successful year, Bagshaws are looking forward to another strong programme of auctions. Despite a challenging financial climate for some in 2025, there remained a healthy appetite in the market, with plent

Cast rehearsing Knight Fever Yes, Christmas needed attention, and snow is distracting – but all that carbohydrate complexity and journey planning has passed (hopefully) and we’re on to the next event: Baslow’s February Pantomime, ‘Knight Fever’. It is hoped you’ve already got your tickets to avoid disappointment (some nights do sell out). ‘Knight Fever’, written by TLC, on an Arthurian theme is full of infectious laughter, tales of quests, magic and medieval come-uppance. Th

Dr Alan Fielding – Where Eagles Fly 9th February, 7.30pm Alan Fielding studied at Liverpool University in the 1970s and during his career as a lecturer he was active in golden eagle research including support of the re-introduction of golden eagles into Ireland and the very successful South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project. In his presentation he will show how satellite tracking has enabled us to understand a great deal more about the lives of these wonderful birds. He is sti

Tuesday, 10th February, 7.3pm in Baslow Village Hall The Manners family left Haddon Hall for Belvoir Castle in around 1720. The Hall remained unoccupied by the family until the 1920s when the 9th Duke of Rutland returned to restore it. Haddon had been described as the best preserved mediaeval Manor House in England. Margie’s talk will explore Haddon’s fascinating history dating back 900 years and focus on the Duke’s work using material from the Haddon archives. Visitors £5

Megan Wroe, Angela Moores and Isabella Franchini New Year financial anxiety is placing growing strain on relationships, with a leading Hope Valley law firm warning that Monday, 19 January, could be the tipping point for people feeling overwhelmed by money worries and relationship pressure. The date, commonly referred to as ‘Blue Monday’, is recognised as a point in the calendar when stress and anxiety tend to peak, following the financial and emotional pressures of Christmas

Riber Castle today – from Crown Square in the centre of Matlock. The interior of Riber Castle under restoration with new roof and re-created galleries Following a sell-out presentation last November, a repeat talk on ‘The Story of Riber Castle’ will take place on Thursday, 12 February at 7.30pm in the Imperial Rooms, Matlock. The previous event attracted 150 attendees, with many turned away due to lack of space. The free event is organised by Matlock Civic Association and ad

Derbyshire Wayfarer Ranger tickets can now be purchased through an app, making them more convenient for bus and train users. Until now Derbyshire Wayfarer Ranger tickets have only been available to purchase from libraries and tourist information centres as scratchcards, on buses and at railway ticket offices. Developing a digital solution ensures that the ticket is available to a wider number of people and is more accessible. The tickets can now be bought through the Trave

Charlotte Spruit and Angus Webster – violin and piano 6th February Matlock Music Society continues its successful 2025/26 season with a recital on 6th February to be given by the exciting Dutch violinist Charlotte Spruit, accompanied by pianist Angus Webster. Charlotte started her violin studies aged 4, continuing her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and at the Royal Academy of Music with Rachel Podger. She is a soloist and chamber musician and has received internatio

It seemed strange to return to the location of my previous walk as normally each issue has a very different whereabouts, as I randomly pick and choose where to go. However, this new series is definitely different to the norm and will feature both circular and linear walks and make use of some well-established long distance walking routes along the way. Nellie seemed surprised when she emerged from the car to be back at Darley Bridge. I could swear there was a look of deja vu

DFMH weekly walking group and allotment group DFMH is governed by a board of trustees and currently they have vacancies for two new members. They are looking for people who have the skills and experience to advise officers and other trustees at a strategic level; in particular they are looking for people with a financial background or experience in marketing or fundraising. DFMH is a charity that has been working in the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak areas for forty years; t

Every year Bakewell u3a hosts a coffee afternoon to raise money for a worthwhile charity, sometimes local, sometimes national. For 2026 the organisers have chosen Cancer Research UK and invite you and your friends to come along to the Methodist Church, Bakewell, at 2pm on Wednesday 21st January and join in the fun. There will of course be a raffle and plenty of coffee and tea and biscuits but the main attraction will be the table-top sale of lots of hand-made or unwanted bit

Derbyshire Wayfarer Ranger tickets can now be purchased through an app, making them more convenient for bus and train users. Until now Derbyshire Wayfarer Ranger tickets have only been available to purchase from libraries and tourist information centres as scratchcards, on buses and at railway ticket offices. Developing a digital solution ensures that the ticket is available to a wider number of people and is more accessible. The tickets can now be bought through the Trave

Way back in 2006 I had the bright idea to walk with my sister, west to east, across the Peak District National Park, starting at Upper Hulme and ending in Rowsley. It took us 2 days with an overnight stay on the outskirts of Hartington. Later that year I set off from Marsden in the north to Thorpe in the south, completing an approximately 75-mile hike in nine staggered stages. Each section was completed with a family member and so I entitled this series ‘A Relative Descent Of

Amelie Ingrouille, a student film producer in her final year at the Manchester Metropolitan University is planning her major graduation project which will be a 10 minute short film set in rural 17th century Northern England during the witch trials. She is in search of a field barn that she and a small crew can use to film inside and out. It should be derelict – old enough to work as a convincing 17th century location, but safe enough to have people inside. Amelie would be ext

Over 70 women gathered at the Cowshed Café in Millers Dale for the annual Peak Women in Ag Christmas meeting, filling the space with laughter, music, and festive cheer. The evening was a wonderful celebration of friendship, farming, and community, with attendees travelling from all across the Peak District The atmosphere was electric as guests enjoyed a fabulous night of entertainment from a 10 piece brass band, whose lively set combined classic Bavarian tunes with well-love

Derbyshire County Council’s b_line 3 card, which offers discounts for those aged from 19 up to their 22nd birthday is to be extended from the end of December to the end of March 2026. The card offers single bus fares for £1.50, to those eligible. The current b_line scheme is Derbyshire County Council’s cut-price travel discount and library card for young people aged 11 up to 19. Since 1 November 2023 b_line card holders have been able to buy single tickets for £1.50 on buse