Buxton Tourist Attractions

In the beautifully situated Pavilion Gardens, the opera house (1905) and the octagonal concert hall (1875) have regular performances, while the large Victorian conservatory with its many tropical plants, a cafe and the gondola lake, which receives its water from the River Wye, all provide an attraction for the visitor. For children there is a circular trip on the miniature railroad.

Interesting for its architecture is the Crescent, which is situated a short distance away from the Pavilion Gardens. This crescent-shaped street, 316ft/96m long, was built in 1780-88 out of local sandstone and was designed by John Carr of York, who modeled it on the Royal Crescent in Bath.

The Devonshire Royal Hospital (1859), originally built as a riding school, has a dome 154ft/50m in diameter; it is now a major center for the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Buxton, like other places in the Peak District, is noted for the custom of "well-dressing", said to have originated in the nearby village of Tissington. The custom, which may well go back to pagan times, involves setting up a sacred image by a spring. The image is made of wood covered with clay and then coated with a mosaic of flower-petals.The wells in Buxton are usually "dressed" in mid-July. A carnival is also held to celebrate the annual custom.

In Grin Low Woods Solomon's Temple (1,440ft/439m) offers a panoramic view. The tower was erected in 1896, in memory of Solomon Myrock, on a prehistoric burial mound.

Just 20 minutes away on foot from Grin Low Woods is Poole's Cavern with its impressive dripstone formations.Poole's Cavern is a 2 million year old, natural limestone cave. There is evidence that the caves have received visitors as far back as 5,000 years ago.

It is worth making a trip to Arbor Low (9mi/14km southeast of Buxton), a Neolithic stone circle with 50 stones (1,200ft/366m).

On a rocky crag above Castleton can be seen Peveril Castle, with a massive keep dating back to 1176.The castle offers breathtaking views of the Peak District.

Castleton is noted for its caves, which are open to visitors throughout the year. The most impressive is Peak Cavern, half a mile long. Also of interest is the Speedwell Mine, in which visitors take a boat trip along an underground gallery half a mile long, passing sinter terraces, waterfalls and fantastic stalactite and stalagmite formations. Blue John Mine is reached by way of the Winnats, a steep and narrow ravine 1mile long. This cavern is named after the bluish (sometimes also yellow-tinged) type of feldspar found here, which can also be seen, in many varying shades of color, in Treak Cliff and Treak Cliff Cavern.

Chatsworth (15mi/24km to the east of Castleton), the seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, is one of the great country houses of England. Little remains of the original Elizabethan house which was built in 1555 by Bess of Harwick on the banks of the River Derwent. It was replaced with the present building by William Cavendish, first Duke of Devonshire, between 1686 and 1708. A wing was added in the 19th century by Wyatville. Chatsworth contains a magnificent collection of old masters, sculpture, tapestries, furniture, silver and porcelain (at least one hour is needed to walk round).Henry Cavendish, who discovered hydrogen and designed the maximum-minimum thermometer, lived here.

Haddon Hall (15mi/24km to the southeast of Chatsworth), seat of the Duke of Rutland, has a magnificent setting on a hillside above the Wye. This beautiful stately home was originally a Norman stronghold, and the northeast tower and parts of the chapel date from the late Norman period. The visitor enters by the northwest gate which leads into the Lower Courtyard with its fountains. Of interest inside the castle are the Duke's bedchamber, the medieval banqueting hall with massive wooden vaulting, the chapel with 15th century wall-paintings and a white marble tomb for Lord Haddon, the brother of the ninth Duke, who died in childhood. The stone ceiling of the dining room is decorated with coats of arms belonging to the family, while its walls are embellished with elaborate wood paneling. The Great Hall (14th century) is hung with wonderful Flemish tapestries, on which hunting scenes and the five senses (feeling, hearing, seeing, tasting and smelling) are depicted. The wainscoted Long Gallery (110ft/34m) shows Renaissance influences. The colorful gardens were skillfully remodeled at the beginning of this century.Haddon Hall Gardens is predominantly a terraced rose garden but it is also renowned for its clematis and delphiniums.

Monsal Dale (4mi/6km northwest of Bakewell) is a beautiful little valley which will appeal to all lovers of nature.

The Pennine Way is a well-established, long-distance waymarked footpath for walkers and riders. Other classic walks in the area are through Chee Dale, Wye Dale, Ashwood Dale and Manivold Valley with Thors Cave, in which traces of an Ice Age settlement are still to be found.The Peak District National Park, (Britain's first), offers extensive hiking paths, climbing, boating and fishing opportunities. Limestone Way crosses the White Peak, which is the limestone southern half of the Peak District, from Matlock to Castleton. The trail is 26mi/42km long.

The highest plateau in the Peak District is Kinder Scout (2088ft/637m), best climbed from the village of Edale in the vale of the same name.

This three-week festival in Buxton runs from late July to early August and includes many daily events.The program features acclaimed operas as well as concerts, recitals, cabarets, plays, jazz performances, fringe events, children's activities and even discussion groups. The operas are performed by a special company set up solely for the festival.Every year the festival focuses on one great master, whether a writer, composer or artist.The Edwardian Opera House is the focus of the festival, although other venues are also used, including the Octagon Hall, and the Pavilion Gardens.

The Chestnut Centre Conservation Park is located near Buxton in Chapel-en-le-Frith. The center grew out of the interests of its proprietors in the endangered otter and barn-owl. Today you will find Europe's largest collection of multi-specied otters and owls here, including Britain's only pair of giant otters.

At the Buxton Micrarium visitors can study nature up-close since almost all displays involve looking through microscopes.