Romantic Gardens of the Peak District and Derbyshire Dales

We travel to the private gardens of Snitterton Hall, beautifully situated on the edge of the Peak District above Matlock, with its unique underground swimming pool cleverly disguised as a lean-to glasshouse. Following lunch, we visit an Elizabethan manor house with fine gardens developed by a leading designer.  We arrive at Losehill House Hotel in the late afternoon with time to settle in before dining together.

We start with a tour of the famous gardens of Chatsworth House, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire. Here three of Britain’s leading garden designers, Tom Stuart-Smith, Dan Pearson, and James Hitchmough, have helped to redevelop the extensive grounds, including the remodelling of the large rock garden.  After free time for lunch at the Chatsworth, we head on to Thornbridge Hall, a late Victorian garden with historical salvaged sculptural elements. Over the past 20 years the current owners have restored and developed the gardens, mostly by enriching the flower borders.

We take a step into Staffordshire to visit the gardens of an old hall and a grange, both once part of the same estate. The garden we find at Biddulph Old Hall is mostly set in the ruins of a 16th-century grand manor that was built next to an older 15th-century farmhouse. The Manor was destroyed during the Reformation, but the ruins remain, now romantically planted with predominantly white roses, inspired by Sleeping Beauty and the Italian garden of Ninfa.  A light lunch will be included at Biddulph Old Hall.  The garden at Biddulph Grange is one of the most exciting survivals of the great age of Victorian gardening. From 1841, James Bateman employed plant hunters to help amass an international collection of plants which were subsequently planted in geographically themed areas amidst rockwork, topiary, tree-stumps, and an extraordinary array of eclectic garden buildings.

We spend the morning lower down the Hope Valley in the village of Eyam. Next door to the museum is the colourful garden plot of small, local business Wild in the Country, which provides a whole range of seasonal cut flowers.  Nearby, Hannah Bennett Sculpture Garden displays a variety of carefully curated artworks in a lovingly tended, lived-in setting.   We go on to Renishaw Hall, home for over 400 years to the famous Sitwell family. Its garden shows a strong Italianate influence, enhanced by the truly British understanding of plantsmanship. We include a special tour of the garden and Hall to learn more of the literary associations of previous owners. Lunch is also included at Renishaw on arrival.  Following the visit, we return to Chesterfield railway station for 17:00 or to collect cars from the hotel at 18:00.