It was our first visit and we hadn't realised how big the site was. We recently had English Heritage membership, so had free entry. There was ample free parking and the ruins of the old house and impressive newer house. Lots of interesting history and rooms you can access, such as Bess' bed chamber. Lots of tapestries, including one made by Queen Mary. Nice shop and cafe and beautiful gardens. Plenty to see and do.

A really amazing place to visit. We only expected to be a couple of hours at most, but there was so much to see. The visit also includes the adjacent old hall ruins. The house is stunning, and the interiors are decorated with the most amazing embroidery which hangs from almost every wall and room. The volunteers are very friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about the property. We took our dog and he was welcome in an area of the restaurant, which was nice as it was cold and raining. We would have liked to walk more of the grounds and gardens, but the weather put us off. They do look stunning and I'm sure on a better day would have been very enjoyable.

Fantastic to look around. Amazing house and gardens, easily able to spend a full day there and more. I could just look at the tapestries for days! Well worth a visit if you're into history or just beautiful places.

We haven't been here for quite a few years and we're pleasantly surprised, there is a lot more to see and do. The guides were interesting and knowledgeable but not overpowering like at some properties. A very pleasant day out 😁

Expect an expansive estate as the drive from the entrance to the parking lot must be a mile long. This property features two historic buildings: Old Hardwick Hall and the Renaissance style Manse known as Hardwick Hall. Bess of Hardwick was born in the original hall and had it renovated to impress guests in 1587. When her 4th husband died and she came into substantial funds she built the latter and present day manse. We were able to tour both with our National Trust memberships (via Royal Oak Society). One can climb to the top of the Old Hall for a bit of a view of the countryside if the weather is accommodating. There are no handrails, though, so take walking sticks if you think you need support while traversing the original stone steps. The Manse is huge and the tour is quite extensive. It is self guided but volunteers are available for questions. Some unique features are the longest Elizabethan Long Hall in the National Trust holdings. It has 450 year old tapestries hanging on the walls. There are also four noble women tapestries that Bess designed specifically for this house. She was obviously quite a talented woman. There are some gardens along the front and the back of the house, but not a formal designed style like you see on some properties. Parking was in a very large lot a bit of a distance from the entrance. There is a cafe on the grounds that offers a delicious cream tea as well as a myriad of other delights, all reasonably priced.

Amazing staff/volunteers making sure your visit is :) I wish I had noted the name of the lovely lady at the visitors centre who went through the areas I and the dogs could visit. The old hall, gardens and estate are brilliant. We loved our visit ❤️

A wonderful historical place of interest with stunning tapestries. We spent a very happy 3 and a half hours there. Checking out the history of bess's family, with help from the very knowledgeable volunteers. Strolling the gardens and climbing the 127 steps of old Hardwick hall. Then stopping for a very tasty cheese scone and coffee in the restaurant.

Quite a bit larger than I expected. Really interesting. Great history. Twisted/ crooked spire. Free entry. Recommended if in the area. There are tours of the spire. Check times first though. We missed it. There was a hunt the knitted doll, for kids, when we were there.

We booked the spire tour for a Friday afternoon. It was an amazing tour. The guide certainly knew his stuff about the church and spire. Learning the history of the church was great and the kids really got into it. The views from the top overlooking Chesterfield are fantastic. This is a true gem of Chesterfield. Highly recommended.

Driven past many times but actually went inside this time and it was well worth the visit. Fascinating history told to us by one of the guides. Will return for a tour of the 'crooked spire'!

We spent a good hour in this unusual Church with the curved spire. Lots to look at and read about the history and the people.

One of The Thousand. I couldn’t get in when I arrived, but love how the spires craned it’s neck throughout the City, so included these

Beautiful church and incredible glass work and organized church doing charity work.

St. Mary and All Saints also known as ‘the Crooked Spire’ is Derbyshire’s largest parish church located in the heart of Chesterfield. Famously known for its iconic crooked spire – hence its adopted name, it’s Chesterfield’s best-known landmark. The twisted spire can be spotted from views all around the town, it stands 228 feet high and twists 9 feet 6 inches from its original centre. Visitors are welcome inside to tour the tower and appreciate the stained glass, carved alter pieces and the elegant archways.

You can tell some of the old hall has been restored recently, but quite tactfully. This clearly was a grand place once upon a time. This site is English Heritage but managed by National Trust. You can get free access to BOTH new and old Hardwick hall with your EH membership (including parking).

Everything was so interesting — both the castle itself and its history. I was amazed by the number of tapestries in the rooms; everything looked so harmonious and had its own mystical charm. There are many paths where you can take a walk and simply enjoy nature and the peaceful solitude.

This places is situated next to the Hardwick Hall (New). Can be visited from the same ticket. No need separate tickets or parking. National trust membership is recommended if you planning to visit several times. Cafes and restaurants available. You can bring your own food and have them in the outdoor seating area. Very nice place to have a day out.

A lovely place to visit with beautiful tapestry's, great countryside views.

Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury, was born in her father's manor, now old Hall at Hardwick, which today is a ruin beside the 'new' hall. Hardwick Old Hall, a slightly earlier house which was used as guest and service accommodation after the new hall was built. It is administered by English Heritage on behalf of the National Trust and is also open to the public. Many of the Old Hall's major rooms were decorated with ambitious schemes of plasterwork, notably above the fireplaces. Remarkably, impressive fragments of these are still to be seen (protected by preservative coatings and rain-shields), though most of the building is unroofed. You can go all the way to the top, which has some great views. Both Hardwick Hall and the Old Hall are Grade I listed (the highest designation) by Historic England.

Recently reopened after some preservation work to the plaster work. It is still an English Heritage property, but now run by the National Trust, so you can access both halls on either membership. There are staff about or you can wonder freely and read the information boards dotted about. English Heritage do a guide book but only from there website, currently none in the shop. National Trust has one for the new hall with a brief mention of the old hall. Plenty stairs to climb with a fantastic view from the top, stairs are easy but some are uneven. Worth doing first if doing both halls

Fabulous Elizabethan stately home of Bess of Hardwick. Impressive textiles and tapestries as well as the usual old artefacts of super-rich families. Thoughtfully and carefully presented by National Trust. Cafe, bookshop and actually open most days.

Nice place for walk. People I bumped into told me there were loads of like alongside the canal 30 years ago. Now you can barely see a single one. It’s sad. I caught one and then no follow at all.

Marvelous little circular walk. We joined at Cromford where there was a cafe and paid parking, and walked down the canal to high peak junction where there was another cafe. Lots of dog walkers on here and as it's flat suitable for pushchairs etc. We headed back up hill on the opposite side of the canal along the old railway line to high peak junction. A steep walk under the trees where you can learn about how the railway line was used. The views were great at the top, together with benches and picnic tables. We took the fingerpost back down to Cromford.

Brilliant peaceful place for cycling walking on own / with dog / family / couples etc jogging or fishing

Really friendly folk, reasonably priced cafe-pretty bog standard food and coffee, but down to earth staff and a pretty view of the canal make up for that somewhat. I get a bit bored going up and down but I do appreciate the views and the beauty of it.

Fantastic place to walk along. There's a few pitstops along the way, including a visitor centre, a pub and a cafe. There's plenty of seating for you to sit and enjoy the stunning views. There's also a cycle path that runs alongside the canal. It always seems to be popular with walkers, families and cyclists. Beautiful scenery.

Great towpath walk. Fine gravel topping, can feel like hard work after a few miles brisk walking. 12 miles there and back, end to end. Half the cyclists have no manners. None of the joggists have any.

It's a lovely walk either way. Dogs love it, cyclists enjoy it, walkers explore it. Full of wild life swans, ducks, water voles, peaceful and tranquil the best words to describe it.

One of the best places to walk the dog in the woods. Wide, even paths and picturesque landscapes make walking a pure pleasure. Enough room in parking spaces. The prices are fair, however get some coins ready as the card readers don't work at the moment.

A beautiful place for a walk, where you can take in the beautiful surroundings. The walk around the Reservoirs has a few hills but its very manageable. We had a lovely walk on a sunny September Sunday.

Had a lovely walk with my husband and family. Beautiful scenery. Only reason didn't get a 5 star was because of people not having their dogs on a lead. Xxx

Beautiful place! Very easy walk. All dogs should be on leads but quite a few people were not following this rule.

Nice wee walk around 3 reservoirs. Well kept Can do a longer walk round them all or cut short and just do one or two Toilets on site, car parks and an ice cream van!

Good walk, you can walk around 1, 2 or all 3 reservoirs. Not toilets, no cafe, limited seats.

There's something to appreciate at any time of the year, but these are some of the stunning autumn colours in Linacre.

An absolute little gem of a mill. With a guild which were very informative and helpful. Great story and definitely worth a trip here before going to Hardwick Hall.

Such an amazing place with huge history. We have visited 3 or 4 times over the past 25 years or so. its always very pleasant to sit in the grounds and take a picnic.

A wonderful old mill with a great deal of history, we were guided around the mill by a very knowledgable and informative National Trust volunteer, who covered every aspect of the history and workings of the mill through the ages. Well worth a visit

Amazing place, the grounds are great

Lots to see and do. Great parkland to walk through, formal gardens are limited but nice enough but the house is well worth a visit. The story of Bess of Hardwick is brought to life throughout the house and what an amazing story it is. Nice cafe in the courtyard asking with the usual National Trust so 3 and second hand bookshop.

Very cute small site..small and personal..all staff hands on and friendly. Very good with my kids ....helped them with the quiz sheet. Parking next to it in the lane. Toilet available. See working mill get a tour and buy their flour. Farmers wife had left some cakes eggs etc for sale in the field at the back of the mill with a honesty box so we bought some yummy flapjack to have with our picnic which we had up the road at Hardwick Hall , which is also NT and hardwick old hall also next to it , owned by EH but free to NT members.

Been here a few time now and always enjoy ourselves. Great guides, really put in the effort to make the visit special which is appreciated with children. They sometimes have there own flour for sale and recipes. I like the collection box at the end with the bell ringing for money put in (gold coins make it ring loudest ~ so the sign says). Super place would recommend a visit.