The village of Baslow sits just on the edge of the grounds of Chatsworth Park, with its stately surroundings reflected in the houses, restaurants and shops of the village. Get outside the village though and you are soon hiking up onto rugged gritstone edges, with dramatic views across the Dark Peak.
If you’re looking for a few days in the Peak District with great food and drink, combined with fabulous local walks, and heritage buildings, Baslow is the place for you. In this article we’re sharing the best things to see and do in and around Baslow, along with our favourite walks in the local area.
Let me know in the comments what your favourite thing about Baslow is.
How to Spend the Perfect Walking Weekend in Baslow
(Including a 3-DAY ITINERARY)
Unlike many other Peak District villages, Baslow was not built mainly on industry. It grew instead due to its position on the River Derwent and its position on a natural cross-country route for travellers. This positioning, coupled with its proximity to the Chatsworth Estate, has made it a natural tourist destination for well over 150 years.
Its magnificent Hydropathic Hotel may be long demolished but there are still many delightful places to stay and play in Baslow. It’s flanked by neighbouring villages which are well worth a visit and no trip to Baslow is complete without at least a glimpse of the stately facade of Chatsworth House.
Whilst visiting you can also stroll around the lovely independent shops or simply sit and watch the world go by on Goose Green.
Read on for our pick of the best Baslow walks and highlights of the village and the local area to keep you busy for a short break or weekend away.
Full walk descriptions, maps and GPX of each walking route can be found in their main walk post.
Sample the gastronomical delights
If you’re a foodie heading to the Peak District then Baslow is the place to stay! There are a range of options on offer to you, from fine dining to traditional pub meals, as well as an Italian restaurant and delightful cafes.
Fischers of Baslow and The Cavendish Hotel have sterling reputations for serving high quality food and both offer beautiful accommodation too. Il Lupo is a family run Italian restaurant which has been serving rustic Italian fare in Baslow since 1995. If you fancy pub food you are spoilt for choice too. In the village centre you can choose from The Wheatsheaf, The Devonshire and The Prince of Wales. A little further out along the A619, The Robin Hood is well worth a visit and sits at the start of many walks up onto Baslow Edge.
Explore the unique neighbouring village of Edensor
Edensor is a truly unique village located near to (but crucially, out of sight of) Chatsworth House. The village name is pronounced ‘Enzer’ and belongs to the Chastworth estate. The walled village, with gateways at its entrance, is in itself, but its true charm becomes apparent when you notice the mix of building styles.
The village was originally located between the river and the road to Chatsworth Park but the 4th Duke of Devonshire didn’t like being able to see it from Chatsworth House, so he decided to demolish the houses and rebuild them out of sight, with all tenant re-housed in the new buildings.
The legend goes that, unable to choose between building styles for the rebuild, the Duke told the architect to chose some in every style! Therefore you’ll see a mix of Norman to Jacobean and Swiss-style to Italian villas, as well as traditional Derbyshire buildings. It’s a delight to stroll through, with a charming tea room and interesting church to visit.
Our Chatsworth House, via Edensor, from Baslow, 7-mile walking route takes you through the village and into the surrounding area, giving you the perfect chance to enjoy the village.
Chatsworth House Walk, via EdensorVisit Wellington’s Monument
Head up to Baslow Edge on one of our walking routes and you’ll come across Wellington’s Monument. This stone cross is dedicated to the Duke of Wellington in celebration of his victory at the battle of Waterloo in 1815. The monument was erected by a Baslow local, Dr Wrench, a fascinating character in his own right.
Dr Wrench was an army surgeon who served in the Crimean War. When he returned to the UK he became the surgeon and physician for the Chatsworth Estate for 50 years, until his death during a bike ride in 1912 at age 78. You can find Dr Wrench’s grave and memorial in the churchyard of St Anne’s church in Baslow (check out the next section for more on that!).
Check out the quirks of St Anne’s church
When walking through Baslow it’s worth heading into the churchyard to explore St Anne’s church and its grounds. In the graveyard you’ll find the grave and memorial dedicated to Dr Wrench (mentioned above). Also keep an eye out for the highly unusual coffin shaped grave-marker monument to Robert Stafford. This gritstone ashlar chest features carvings of an hourglass, a serpent eating its tail, skull and crossbones and wings.
On the church door you’ll see a ‘sanctuary knocker’. This would have been used in the Middle Ages by fugitives from justice who would hold the knocker and beg for entry. If admitted to the church they would be safe from capture for as long as they remained within.
Venture inside the doorway and you’ll spot a whip in a case. This dog whip would have been used in the 1600’s by a paid ‘Whipper’ who used it to keep stray dogs away and to wake sleeping churchgoers during a sermon!
Our 11-mile Baslow Walk (including Froggatt, Curbar and Baslow Edge), brings you back into Baslow past the churchyard. Relax and explore at the end of a hearty walk!
11-Mile Baslow WalkClimb the gritstone edges
We’re a little biased towards walking and hiking here at Peak District Walks but variety is the spice of life and we do like to mix it up now and again! Climbing and bouldering are popular activities in the Peak District and can offer you a different way of appreciating the area and the gritstone edges around Baslow are perfect for giving it a try.
There are lots of local businesses who offer beginner and improver guided climbing experiences. Check out a variety of them on the Visit Peak District and Derbyshire pager here.
Get on the rocks!Visit the Old Bridge to pay your toll
Nowadays the main bridge into Baslow carries the A619 into the village but a little further along the River Derwent, near to the Co-op, you’ll see the charming Old Bridge with its toll booth at one end.
The toll booth, aka the watchman’s hut, would likely have been the shelter point for a toll man in the 17th century, who would collect crossing fees for those entering the village. At night it would be occupied by a watchman, employed to prevent miscreants from entering the village – make sure they don’t spot you coming!
Hike along the Derwent Valley Heritage Trail
The Derwent Valley Heritage Way is a 55-mile long distance footpath, starting by Ladybower Reservoir and following the River Derwent through and out of the Peak District to its finish by the River Trent at Shardlow.
As it passes through Baslow it takes in views of Chatsworth before crossing the Old Bridge into the village, before heading back out towards Calton Lees. A few of our walks pass along part of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way, including our Chatsworth Hunting Tower, 4-mile route.
If you want to hike the enitre route you can find out more about it on the Derwent Valley Trust website.
Derwent Valley Trust WebsiteGo wild swimming with a grand backdrop
If you enjoy cooling off after a long walk with a wild swim a plunge in the River Derwent. It’s a fairly popular wild swimming spot, with most people choosing to dip between the two weirs.
At the end of August, during the Chatsworth Country Fair, hundreds of hot air balloons take off around sunrise, with many swimmers choosing to congregate and watch them from the water.
If you have a taste for a cooling stop during or after a walk, we’ve compiled some of the best Peak District walks with wild swim opportunities in this article.
Best Wild Swimming Peak District WalksVisit a hunting tower and aqueduct in Chatsworth House grounds
No stay in Baslow is complete without visiting Chatsworth House and Gardens. Chatsworth is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, with 17 generations of the family having resided there since the 1550’s.
The main estate is made up of a Grade I listed house and stables, a 105-acre garden, a farmyard and adventure playground, and more than 1800 acres of parkland and historic woodland. You have to pay to visit the house and gardens but the surrounding parkland and woods are free to access and are host to some hidden delights.
On our 4-mile Chatsworth Hunting Tower from Baslow you can guess that you’ll be visiting a hunting tower but you’ll also see a fascinating aqueduct! The 16th century hunting tower was built for Bess of Hardwick to have been used as a viewing point for ladies while a hunt was taking place and also as a banqueting hall. The aqueduct is part of Chatsworth’s extensive waterworks, which feed the lakes and waterfeatures around the estate.
As this is just a short walk you’ll have plenty of time to visit the house and gardens afterwards if you like.
Chatsworth 4-mile Hunting Tower WalkBaslow: A 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1
- Arrive in Baslow and head out to see Edensor on our Chatsworth and Edensor Route.
- Take a stroll around the shops and visit the church.
- Head out for some fine dining at Fischers or Italian food at Il Lupo.
Day 2
- Drive just out of the village to Birchen Edge to hike our 6 Edges Walk, which takes in Wellington’s Monument.
- The car park for this walk is just next to the Robin Hood Inn – perfect for post-hike food and drink.
- Back in the village, take a stroll to the Old Bridge and its toll house and take a rest on a bench at Goose Green.
- Finish the day with a hearty meal in The Wheatsheaf.
Day 3
- Begin your day with a full English breakfast at Charlie’s.
- Explore the grounds of Chatsworth on our 4-mile Hunting Tower walk.
- Visit the splendid Chatsworth House and grounds.
- Take a dip in the River Derwent to cool off before heading home!
Do you have any more questions about Baslow? Ask me in the comments below.
Ordnance Survey Walk Maps
For these walks, there are two maps that cover them OL1 – Peak District (Dark Peak Area) and OL24 – Peak District (White Peak Area)
Shop online at Ordnance Survey
And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.
For online maps, I recommend the OS Online App (I have been using it for many years and it is worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one-month or annual option with the OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App.
Check prices here for the one month or yearly option with OS Online App.
More walks in the Peak District
Want some more walking ideas around Baslow? You might like these Peak District walks.
Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here
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