We are passionate about where we live & sharing it with you & we will never underestimate that it is a privilege to live where we do. The Peak District might be a quieter alternative to the Lake District but definitely just as beautiful. A bold statement, &, to be honest, the Lake District holds a special place in our hearts as we started our love affair with it over 30 years ago, before we took a leap of faith & moved to the historic village of Eyam.
The Peak District really does have so much to offer. Walkers, cyclists & climbers paradise, stately homes to wander around & market towns to mooch in. Great places to eat & drink & lots to do in every season.
So, a little bit of history of our special village to start you off:
Eyam (pronounced Eem) is a small village in the Dark Peak famous for it's residents, who ,through self isolation, survived the Black Death of 1665. Of course, many residents died but a small number survived & it was consequently known, that the survivors were genetically unique & had a natural immunity to the disease. There are still descendants of this line living in Eyam today. This historic story has sharp similarities with recent Covid19 events in the world, making it even more interesting & the plague story even more relatable.
Eyam & it's story are on the national curriculum, your children may have already visited. It's a great place to visit at weekends or in the school holidays as a family or with friends. There is a great play area & bike pump track to burn off a bit of energy, before you head home, hopefully with your happy & tired kids ;-)
Things to Note:
This guide is based on our own recommendations, there may be other things you would like to see, do & places to stay, but in our opinion, this is a pretty good start .......... suitable for all ages young & old. Some of the places we have suggested have steps & uneven surfaces which may cause problems for pushchairs & wheelchairs or those who have difficulty with walking/climbing stairs. We recommend you do your own research before visiting, but where possible, we have included links for you to find out more.
What to bring with you:
A sense of adventure & inquisitiveness, bikes or scooters for the kids, a camera to keep your kids interested & occupied, wet weather gear, reading glasses, a good appetite!
So, if you are visiting for a day or two, looking for something to do with the kids or are interested in local history & a bit of culture, enjoy good food in nice places, read on:
* Park in the free public car park on Hawkhill Road. You will also find the childrens play area & the Eyam Pump Track here too.
* You will find Eyam Museum just opposite the lower car park entrance. Tickets are available on the day. Your visit should take approximately 1 hour. You can book on a guided tour around the village. Open Tues - Sun 10am till 4pm, last entry 3:15pm
* Eyam Hall courtyard, shops & bistro - a great place to stop for a cuppa & a mooch in the boutique shops.
* Eyam Stocks - a definite photo opportunity alert! There are also information boards for you to read in the Old Market Hall next to the stocks.
* Eyam Church - The church has impressive & unique stained glass windows, including the "Plague Window" which tells the story of the plague in Eyam. The church is open every day except Sunday between 10am & 4pm for visitors. #StainedGlassSummer
*Eyam Square for lunch - Village Green / Eyam tea rooms / The Miners Arms. Click here for our favourite places to eat/drink
* Hannah Bennett Sculpture Garden - after lunch, why not visit this beautiful sculpture garden with an interesting exhibition curated by Hannah in her domestic garden. Hannah's clay work is thought provoking & beautiful. Open May - Oct Thur, Fri, 10-3, Sat 11-5
If you are in the area for a little bit longer, the surrounding area has a wealth of places to visit & things to do too. Here are a few of our favourites which we think you might like to see before you leave, click on the links to find out more:
Chatsworth House, Gardens & Farmyard - if you are just the two of you or have the kids with you, maybe pack a picnic & plan a day here. The gardens are the perfect outdoor playground for children to run free, play & explore & the farmyard is perfect for any animal lover big or small. It's also a romantic place to wander together as a couple, slowing down your pace of life & drinking in the surroundings. Don't forget to look out for the famous Chatsworth deer in the park too.
There's more to do thank you might think at first, & not just in summertime. There is an outdoor swimming pool, concerts in caves, local brewery tours & much much more...
Hathersage - David Mellor, lido, food/shop Thornbridge - hall, Thornbridge Tap Room, The Packhorse Inn
Castleton - caves, devils arse concerts
Well dressings / carnivals
Longshawe estate, National Trust
If we've grabbed your attention with interesting things to do in & around Eyam, hopefully we can persuade you to stay a night or two too...
Places to stay:
We have been welcoming couples to our little corner of the Peak District in our #littlegreenhut Thehuteaym for over 10 years. It is a great base for a weekend away, a romantic bolthole & a place to switch off & hideaway from the world together.
More recently, we have added in our #littlecottageeyam Memorial Cottage, to our #littlepeakdistrictstaycations which can sleep 3 & is dog friendly. So if you can't bear a night or two away without your well behaved paws, Memorial Cottage may be just what you are looking for.
We do hope you have found this information useful, & we have persuaded you that there is enough interesting stuff to do in our little corner of the Peak District? We'd love to see you & help you make some special memories together.......
See you here soon, Rachel, Haydn & Gilbert x