Bakewell

Bakewell lies at the heart of the Peak District and could even be described as its unofficial capital, considering the Peak District Authority have their headquarters and main tourist information centre here. People have known about Bakewells thermal springs since Roman times, or possibly longer. Indeed the towns name derives from the Saxon phrase, bade quella, meaning bath well.

Bakewell is probably best known for its tarts, or puddings, as they are known locally. The Bakewell Pudding came into being quite by accident when the cook at the Rutland Arms attempt to make a fruit tart went rather awry, in around 1860. One of the best places to sample this delicacy is the Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop; where they claim to hand make their puddings to the original secret formula.

To the east of Bakewell is Chatsworth House, one of Englands finest houses, which has been the seat the of the Dukes of Devonshire since it was built in the very early 18th century. Its collections of furniture, artworks, antiquities are famous the world over for their quality and the grounds are of an equally high calibre.