Bakewell Things to Do

These markets are usually held on the last Saturday of the month, (with the December 2005 being on Sat 17th)

Open 0900 - 1400hrs. Free admission

If you like your food, this is a Must Do!!!

Indoors, with a few stalls outside, a wide variety of locally produced foods and crafts, spread through 3 halls.
Only products produced, raised, baked or caught locally (30 mile radius) are displayed.

Some stalls have tasters!! I tried a sip of ale, chutneys on crackers, balsamic vinegars and flavoured oils on pitta, and a christmas fruit pie, which was delicious!

The mushroom stall seemed to be the most popular when I visited, with queues stretching around the table..a wide variety of funghi, at various prices.

Vegetables, meat, fish, cheeses, oils, vinegars, real ales, pies, chutneys, jams, breads etc of high quality, plus soaps/pot pourri, carved wood trinkets, basket work, furniture and a lot more besides!

A cafe serves hot/cold snacks. Outside, there was a pancake stall.

The hotel stands on the site of an earlier hotel “The White Horse”. This hotel was built after the old hotel was demolished in 1804 and named after the seventh Duke of Rutland.
The Bakewell pudding is said to have originated here, after a customer ordered a strawberry tart, the cook instead of pouring the egg mixture into the pastry she poured it over the jam. The customer loved the pudding and it became a firm favourite.

Jane Austen is said to have stayed in room 2 of the hotel whilst visiting nearby Chatsworth house.

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The River Wye is 15 miles long and it flows from the River Trent to the North sea at the Humber.
The Wye is rich in trout and grayling fish. Ducks, geese and swans line the river at Bakewell and it is a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by.

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CHURCH OF ENGLAND
ALL SAINTS DAY 1st November.
A grade I listed building. The original church was founded here in 920.
William the Conquerer granted the manor of Bakewell to William Peverel. Peverel built a new church in 1110, some of this church is still visable in the round arches of the west wall.
In the mid 13th Century the church was extended and modernised. The tower and spire were built at this time.
In the early 1800’s the church was in a poor state. The spire began to crack and the whole church needed repairing.
The present church was rebuilt in the 1840’s. The stained glass was replaced during the late 19th Century. The Henry Holiday “lamb of god” window in the North aisle is worth a look.
There are two Anglo-Saxon crosses in the churchyard.
The church is still being renovated and the tombs of Sir John Manners and his family, also Sir George Manners and his wife are on display in a side aisle.
The oldest Saxon stones in the UK are in this church and are at the moment in the process of being displayed within the church.

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This stately home is situated just 3½ miles northeast of Bakewell and is the home of the Duke of Devonshire, having been in the family since 1549.

Chatsworth House offers plenty of opportunities for the visitor. You will find lots of small car parks in the public accessible parts of the extensive grounds and parklands. Parking near the house itself costs £3 for the day.

There are a variety of access tickets for the house, gardens, farmyard and adventure playground with discount offered if purchased in advance online.

The house itself has featured in a number of films and TV productions, including the 2005 production of Pride and Prejudice, it is also named within the novel as one of the estates that Elizabeth Bennet visited prior to Pemberley.

The extensive website below contains excellent information to assist in planning your visit.

If Bakewell is your first stop within the Peak District National Park, then a visit to the town's Visitor Centre is a must. An excellent source of information and leaflets on all the sights around the Peak District National Park, you will find this Visitor Centre an excellent aid to planning your visit.

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All over rural Britain, agricultural/horticultural shows are held through the summer. It's worth checking if there's one where you're visiting because they give a great insight into country life, and are an interesting and fascinating day out.

The Bakewell Show, now over 100 years old, is held on the first Wednesday & Thursday of August each year. It's a good example of the traditional shows with all kinds of farm animals, and pets, being entered into competitions for 'best of breed', competitive events, demonstrations.

Competitions are also held for fruit, vegetables, flowers, cooking of cakes and jams, owners parade their restored historic farm vehicles, there are market stalls, sideshows, food stalls - everything for a good day out in the country.

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Every Monday there's a livestock auction at the new Agricultural Business Centre, just a couple of minutes walk across the river from the town centre.

Here you'll find local farmers selling and buying their cattle and sheep, and a large number of tourists and locals looking on from the public galleries.

It's an interesting experience and well worth spending a while watching the activity.

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The helpful Tourist Information Office in Bakewell is housed in the historic Old Market Hall. There has been a Market on Mondays in Bakewell since 1330 when farmers from the hillsides have brought in livestock and produce. The Market Hall is old, but not that quite that old. It was only built in the 1600’s. This building was originally open sided and has served as everything from a wash-house to a dance hall and library. The stone carved coats of arms of the ancestors of the Dukes of Rutland are still visible. The most remarkable feature is the wooden roof beams all made by hand.

There is a lot of good information on the Peak District National Park as well as Bakewell itself.

Opening times are:
Easter until 31 October 9:30am - 5:30pm
1 November until Easter 10:00am - 5:00pm

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The River Wye flows through the centre of the town and attracts many tourists because it's a traffic free, pretty area. Benches are provided to enjoy a picnic or chips or a Bakewell pudding. The swans and ducks fight over the leftovers and the HUGE fish hoover up what sinks to the bottom. However wander a little further along the river and discover a pretty walk through the meadows (near our B&B on my accomodation tip). Eventually you come to another mediaeval bridge (only wide enough for pedestrians and animals) and an ancient pen for sheep dipping. The banks of the streams that feed the river here have a population of water voles but you need to be quiet and have your camera ready as they are very shy.
*These are endangered creatures and there is a website to report where and when you sighted them. I'll update with info.