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Chatsworth, Bakewell

Companionship careDerbyshire

Days out in Derbyshire for an older parent

Ten places in Derbyshire that make a good day out for an older parent, from Chatsworth to Bakewell. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated September 2026

Chatsworth. Photo: Paul Johnson, CC BY 2.0

Ten days out across nine towns

The best places to take an older parent in Derbyshire

Six of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for two describes a step-free route, and two confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Chatsworth, Bakewell

Photo: Paul Johnson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Bakewell

Chatsworth

Chatsworth is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, a large country house in the Derwent valley near Bakewell with painted halls, sculpture galleries and art collections. The 105-acre garden has the Emperor Fountain, the Cascade, a rock garden and glasshouses, and the park around it is free to walk.

Carers of disabled visitors go in free, and the house team can advise on parking, wheelchairs and scooters in advance, so a carer can plan the day around a shorter route through the house and garden.

Time to allow
A full day
Cost
Park free, house and garden paid, carers free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Bakewell

Hardwick, Chesterfield

Photo: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Chesterfield

Hardwick

Hardwick Hall is an Elizabethan house built for Bess of Hardwick in the 1590s, famous for its great windows and its tapestries and embroideries. Run by the National Trust, it has walled gardens, parkland and a restaurant, with the ruins of the Old Hall next door.

There are accessible routes in the gardens and on the ground floor of the hall, accessible toilets near parking, wheelchairs and trampers to hire and a buggy from visitor reception to the hall.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Chesterfield

Kedleston Hall, Kedleston

Photo: Glen Bowman from Newcastle, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Kedleston

Kedleston Hall

Kedleston Hall is a neoclassical mansion designed by Robert Adam in the 1760s for the Curzon family, set in landscaped parkland north of Derby. Visitors see the marble hall and state rooms, the Eastern Museum and the pleasure grounds.

There are Blue Badge spaces in the main car park, an accessible toilet by the hall, a wheelchair accessible shuttle bus to the hall and level access to the gardens from the car park.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Kedleston

Calke Abbey, Ticknall

Photo: xlibber, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Ticknall

Calke Abbey

Calke Abbey is a country house near Ticknall that the National Trust has kept much as it was found, with peeling paint, crowded rooms and collections of stuffed birds. There are walled gardens, a deer park and nature trails at Calke Explore.

There is accessible parking, accessible toilets in several places, a wheelchair and tramper to borrow, level access to the restaurant and café, and a short wheelchair and scooter friendly trail at Calke Explore.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Ticknall

Carsington Water, Ashbourne

Photo: Neil Theasby, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Ashbourne

Carsington Water

Carsington Water is a large reservoir run by Severn Trent near Ashbourne, with a visitor centre, shops, a café, bird hides and a path around the water. It is a good place for wildlife, with waterbirds on the lake all year.

The visitor centre is fully accessible for wheelchair users, with three accessible toilets and a Changing Places toilet, so a carer can plan a short lakeside walk with facilities close by.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free, parking charged

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Ashbourne

Monsal Trail, Hassop

Photo: peter robinson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Hassop

Monsal Trail

The Monsal Trail is a traffic-free path along an old railway line through the limestone dales of the White Peak, crossing the Headstone Viaduct and passing through old railway tunnels. The former stations at Hassop and Millers Dale have cafés.

The surface is flat and there is easy access for wheelchair and scooter users at Bakewell, Hassop, Great Longstone and Millers Dale stations, and Hassop and Millers Dale have cafés and accessible toilets.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Hassop

Pavilion Gardens, Buxton

Photo: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Buxton

Pavilion Gardens

The Pavilion Gardens are Victorian gardens in the centre of Buxton with a lake, bandstand and a glass and iron pavilion. The building holds a conservatory of plants, a café, shops, an art gallery and the Octagon Hall.

There is level access from the car park to the promenade, conservatory, café and shops, eight disabled parking bays, and Blue Badge holders park free.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free, parking charged

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Buxton

Bolsover Castle, Bolsover

Photo: Andrew Knowles from UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Bolsover

Bolsover Castle

Bolsover Castle is a 17th century mansion built by the Cavendish family on a hilltop above the Vale of Scarsdale, run by English Heritage. It has the Little Castle with painted rooms, the ruined Terrace Range, the Venus Garden and a Riding House.

The Little Castle is up many steps, but the Terrace Range, Venus Garden and parts of the Riding House have level access, and there are accessible toilets and a large café at the entrance.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Café

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Bolsover

Upper Derwent Valley at Fairholmes, Bamford

Photo: The original uploader was Year1989 at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Bamford

Upper Derwent Valley at Fairholmes

Fairholmes is the base for exploring the Upper Derwent Valley reservoirs, where the Dambusters practised before their 1943 raid. There is a café, toilets and bike hire, and walks lead to the Derwent Dam and along Ladybower Reservoir.

Wheelchair access goes to within about 100 metres of the base of the dam, which still gives good views, and the café and toilets are beside the car park.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free, parking charged

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Bamford

Bakewell, Bakewell

Photo: Peter McDermott, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Market town · Bakewell

Bakewell

Bakewell is a stone-built market town on the River Wye, known for the Bakewell pudding, a weekly Monday market and a medieval bridge over the river. The riverside, shops and tea rooms are all close to the town centre.

The National Park visitor centre in the town is fully accessible, and the riverside and town centre are compact enough for a short stroll between tea rooms.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Bakewell

Regular groups and events in Derbyshire

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Derbyshire.

  • Dancing · BuxtonAfternoon tea dance in the Octagon HallA monthly afternoon tea dance from 1pm to 4pm in the Octagon Hall at Buxton's Pavilion Gardens, with tea, coffee and biscuits included and no booking needed. A carer can simply turn up and pay on the door, and sit out the faster numbers with the person they support.Details
  • Dancing · WinsterWinster Morris DancersA long-running mixed morris side based in Winster that keeps a distinctive Derbyshire dance tradition going and performs at local carnivals and events, with weekly practices from October to April. A carer could take someone to watch a practice or a carnival appearance, which suits people who enjoyed dancing but no longer want to take part.Details
  • Photography · ChesterfieldChesterfield Photographic SocietyA Chesterfield camera club meeting weekly in winter and fortnightly in summer for talks, competitions and exhibitions. A carer can provide the lift to meetings and help with sorting or printing pictures at home between sessions.Details
  • PaintingDerbyshire Open Arts studio weekendAn annual open studios event over the late May bank holiday weekend when artists across Derbyshire open their own studios and shared venues to visitors. A carer can ring ahead to pick two or three venues with parking and easy entry, rather than attempting a long trail in one day.Details
  • ReadingReading groups at Derbyshire librariesDerbyshire County Council libraries run free reading and book groups across the county, such as the Sandiacre Reading Group and Pinxton Readers, meeting monthly or every few weeks. A carer can check the library events list for the nearest group, arrange transport and pick up the next title on the way home.Details
  • Sports · ChesterfieldChesterfield Festival of CricketAn annual festival at Queen's Park in Chesterfield where Derbyshire County Cricket Club play County Championship and Vitality Blast matches away from their main ground. A carer can plan a half day rather than a full one, with chairs, shade and a park cafe close to the boundary.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Derbyshire

At a glance

The ten places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
ChatsworthBakewella full dayFree outside, paid insideAskAskAsk
HardwickChesterfieldhalf a dayPaid entryAskAskAsk
Kedleston HallKedlestonhalf a dayPaid entryAskAskAsk
Calke AbbeyTicknallhalf a dayPaid entryAskAskAsk
Carsington WaterAshbournehalf a dayFreeYesYesYes
Monsal TrailHassophalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk
Pavilion GardensBuxtonan hour or twoFreeYesAskYes
Bolsover CastleBolsoverhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Upper Derwent Valley at FairholmesBamfordhalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk
BakewellBakewellhalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Derbyshire

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

AlfretonHadfieldSwadlincoteKillamarshAshbourneLong EatonShirebrook12345678910
  1. 1Chatsworth, Bakewell
  2. 2Hardwick, Chesterfield
  3. 3Kedleston Hall, Kedleston
  4. 4Calke Abbey, Ticknall
  5. 5Carsington Water, Ashbourne
  6. 6Monsal Trail, Hassop
  7. 7Pavilion Gardens, Buxton
  8. 8Bolsover Castle, Bolsover
  9. 9Upper Derwent Valley at Fairholmes, Bamford
  10. 10Bakewell, Bakewell

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Derbyshire

Carers in Derbyshire charge £19 to £21 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £19, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £76 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Derbyshire has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Derbyshire

Chatsworth in Bakewell, Hardwick in Chesterfield, Kedleston Hall in Kedleston, Calke Abbey in Ticknall, Carsington Water in Ashbourne, Monsal Trail in Hassop, Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, Bolsover Castle in Bolsover, Upper Derwent Valley at Fairholmes in Bamford and Bakewell in Bakewell. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Carsington Water and Pavilion Gardens describes a step-free route. Carsington Water and Bolsover Castle have an accessible toilet. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Chatsworth (outside free, inside paid), Carsington Water, Monsal Trail, Pavilion Gardens, Upper Derwent Valley at Fairholmes and Bakewell. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 42 of the carers with a rate near Derbyshire drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £19 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Derbyshire shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Derbyshire

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Derbyshire

Days out in the areas around Derbyshire

Companionship care by town in Derbyshire

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Derbyshire

See carers near Derbyshire who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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