Chatsworth Camping at Baslow

Where else to start but at the Chatsworth Estate? Take the 40-minute walk from Baslow village or drive over in five minutes for a full day exploring the stunning house and grounds, tackling the adventure playground or meeting animals at the farm (and picking up bits at the farm shop). For more smart buildings, continue on to Tudor-era Haddon Hall (20 minutes’ drive) or Bolsover Castle (half an hour). Eyam (10 minutes) isn't quite as fancy but it's a fascinating place where you can hear the story of a village that sealed itself off to stop the spread of the plague. The natural surroundings are pretty spectacular too, of course, especially if you head to some of the top spots like Speedwell Cavern or Heights of Abraham (both 25 minutes) or Dovedale (40 minutes). If you’d like to take in some of that scenery while on a walk or bike ride, the Monsal Trail is a good place to start – handily, the 8.5-mile traffic-free trail finishes up in Bakewell (10 minutes), a well-known hub of bakeries and pudding shops.