The Chatsworth estate is a beautiful Grade 1 listed country house approximately a 5 mile drive from Eyam.
Chatsworth comprises: Grade I listed house and stables 105-acre garden 1,822-acre park Farmyard and adventure playground Award winning Farm Shop Restaurants & cafes One of Europe’s most significant private art collections.
It has been home to sixteen generations of the Devonshire family for nearly five centuries. Each has contributed to its careful evolution and preservation, creating the house, garden, estate, and collections we enjoy today.
It is open all year round & the extensive park, home to the famous herds of deer, is free to explore. Driving through the estate is like a fairytale as the house emerges in the distance, with the river infront & it's 105 acre garden just visible.
Each season brings its own magic.
Lambs in Springtime, slowing your car journey down as they gamble across the road through the estate.
Early Summer is time to enjoy the famous Horse Trials & then later on, the Country Fair. Demonstrations of countryside skills such as shepherding, shows of synchronised motorbikes, stalls & food, all make this a date for your diary.
Autumn is the bonfire & fireworks display.
Visiting Chatsworth House Derbyshire at Christmas is a celebration of Winter. The house is decorated by the staff with a different theme each year. The gardens are lit & definitely worth a visit on a winter evening. Buy a hot chocolate & a mince pie & amble around the grounds. There is an annual Christmas market up by the house too & the award winning Farm shop, packed full of tempting seasonal produce, is only a 5 minute drive away.
There is always something going on from courses to concerts - check out the events page here
We love to park in the near village of Baslow & wander through the kissing gate & into the estate when it's quiet on a frosty February morning or a late summers evening. The sheep & deer roam freely in the park, therefore dogs must be kept on a lead. But the excitement of spotting one of the deer herds never leaves us even after 25 years of living here. It is mesmerising. We like to pack a picnic & a blanket & enjoy some quiet time by the river or better still, call at Cafe on the Green in Baslow for a "brew & bun" before heading home.
You can park at Carlton Lees too where there is also a brilliant (dog friendly) garden centre. There are a couple of suggested routes from here on the Chatsworth Estate website - click here to browse Explore the Park
Ofcourse, there is so much to do here, you'll probably need more than 1 day. But we hope you find this article useful & maybe add some of it to your itinerary when you come & stay with us in our little green hut or little cottage here in Eyam. I know we've said it many time before, but we are very lucky to live where we do, it's a beautiful part of the country - come stay & see for yourselves! We look forward to welcoming you soon.
Best, Rachel, Haydn & Gilbert
*All words & pictures are our own