Steely Fascinations

Thursday

This morning we visit Bakewell, best known for delicious Bakewell Pudding. Later, we visit Chatsworth House, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and one of the country’s grandest stately homes. Marvel at the magnificent art collection, impressive architecture and extensive gardens. From here, we continue to our hotel and our 4-night stay.

Friday

Standing at twice the length of Buckingham Palace, the grand facade of Wentworth Woodhouse parades as one of the finest Georgian houses in England. Palladian style architecture and 87 acres of gardens create the ideal backdrop for period dramas, playing host to the Oscarwinning Darkest Hour and iconic television series Downton Abbey and Victoria. A private tour reveals secret stories of the house and its characterful visitors, opulent rooms including the dazzling Pillared Room and iconic Marble Saloon, plus behind-the-scenes access to areas not normally open to the public.

Saturday

Today we journey into the Peak District National Park to Buxton. Discover the miraculous curing water that has been revered since Roman times, as you journey through Buxton Crescent. Hear stories of the building, the town, and its historic visitors before a virtual reality flight uncovers Buxton during its Georgian heyday. Visit the elegant Victorian Pump Room or take the thermal mineral waters that have been attracting visitors for more than 10,000 years.

Sunday

Sitting on a manmade island formed 900 years ago, Kelham Island Museum embodies the once beating heart of Sheffield’s industry. A guided tour will provide in-depth insight as we discover the most powerful working steam engine in Europe. Interactive galleries illuminate the sights and sounds of the ‘Steel City’ through the Victorian Era and two world wars, to unveil how steelmaking forged Sheffield and the rest of the world. We continue north to the Elsecar Heritage Centre, where huge fiery furnaces and a grand pumping engine drew aristocrats and royalty to this Yorkshire village. Famous for rolling amour for battleships, including HMS Warrior, and mining millions of tonnes of coal that were shipped around the world. Our guided tour, reveals Elsecar’s importance as an international centre of industry and innovation for over two centuries.

Monday

Departing our hotel we enjoy a scenic day out travelling back in time on the restored working trams in the period village of Crich Tramway Museum. This lovingly restored period village is home to the National Tramway Museum and its worldrenowned archives. Today a track runs one mile out into the rolling countryside and is operated by some of the vast selection of preserved trams at the museum.