To truly enjoy a holiday in Derbyshire, it helps to understand a little bit about Derbyshire itself. Anywhere you go in England will be steeped in history and Derbyshire is no exception to the rule. Therefore, introducing yourself to the locale initially will make staying in a holiday cottage all that much more rewarding.
The County of Derbyshire
Contrary to what some people outside of the UK may believe, Derbyshire is not a town but a county that is located in the East Midlands of England. The East Midlands is an official region of England and is one of nine designated regions of this type in the country. Besides Derbyshire, the locale encompasses Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and a good part of Lincolnshire, all which are historical English counties.
Kinder Scout
The highest point in this part of England is Kinder Scout. Kinder Scout itself is a moorland plateau as well as a nature reserve. It is located in the popular Derbyshire Peak District. The Derbyshire Peak District is the reason many visitors schedule holidays and book cottages in the county of Derbyshire each year. An upland region in England, the Peak District is situated in the northern part of Derbyshire County but spans over the countries of Cheshire, Staffordshire, Greater Manchester and Yorkshire.
The Peak District represents great diversity geographically as it is divided between the Dark Peak, where the majority of the moorlands is located (whose geological terrain is represented by gritstone) and the White Peak, where most of the people live (whose geology is primarily limestone). Gritstone or grit is a coarse-grained type of sandstone and refers to sandstones that are quarried for construction purposes.
Historically, gritstone has been used for millstones in order to grind wood for paper pulp and to mill flour. The siliceous sandstones have also been utilised for grindstones that are used to sharpen blades. The “grit” that is applied to the sandstones is typically made up of angular grains of sand that may contain small rocks or pebbles.
Visitors to Dark Peak are adventurers as this part of the Peak District in England is wilder and more remote. The area is home to Derbyshire as well as South Yorkshire County. Dark Peak has obtained its name because it is contrasted with the White Peak section of the Peak District, which, as stated, is geographically represented by land made up of white limestone. Primary upland areas inside the Dark Peak include the aforementioned Kinder Scout and Bleaklow, which is a gritstone moorland that lies due north of Kinder Scout and Black Hill, which is also the highest point in the county Cheshire.
In past years, several military aircraft have reportedly crashed in Dark Peak, with the weather to blame for the mishaps. Because the high moorlands are pervasively empty and bleak, many of the wrecks have gone unnoticed and mostly have been discovered by hikers who have been taking excursions in these secluded areas. Reports of “ghost” planes have also surfaced over the years. Some of the ghostly flying apparitions have included such wartime flyers as the B-29 Bomber, the Lancaster, the Dakota and the Wellington Bomber.
Ghostly Sightings
Eyewitness accounts tell of propeller-driven aircraft, flying low over the area, which seemingly crash into the moorland after having navigational troubles. Some of the witnesses, who have recovered crash site items, have allegedly said they were visited by apparitions or ghosts. Evidently, Dark Peak somehow lives up to its name, not only from a geographical standpoint but from a supernatural perspective as well.
A Popular Attraction
Enjoy the perfect Peak District Holiday with Derbyshire Country Cottages and visit the Peak District National Park, which has the noted distinction of being one of the major national parks in the UK. The designation was made official in 1951. The park attracts millions of holiday-goers each year as it is closely located to the cities of Manchester and Sheffield as well as nearby holiday cottages. It also can be accessed readily by rail and roadway.
Nestled in the Pennines
The Peak District itself is located in the southern Pennines, with much of the topography made up of uplands that are above 1,000 feet. Despite the name “Peak” used in the District’s description, much of the land is defined by hills that are rounded in form and escarpments of gritstone that make up the borders or edges of the rolling landscape.
The Pennines make up a range of hills and mountains that separate North East England and Yorkshire from the North West part of the country. Often said to be England’s “backbone,” the Pennines continue from the Peak District in the country of Derbyshire and continue through the north and east boundaries of Greater Manchester and Lancashire. From there, they proceed through the Yorkshire Dales until they stop at the Cheviot Hills, which is located on the English-Scottish border.
Conurbations
When visiting the Peak District, you will notice that the area is surrounded by a number of conurbations. These conurbations are similar to metropolitan areas in the U.S. Conurbations in this area include Manchester, Huddersfield, Derby, Sheffield and Stoke-on-Trent. Conurbations are characterised by small towns and urban areas that have come together in their growth over the years to become one continuous urban community.
The Peak District National Park spans over approximately 1,440 km of the Peak District. Park boundaries were designated to exclude any industrial sites or areas of urban build-up. In the UK, when an area is designated as a “National Park,” it means that the area is governed by certain planning restrictions for the land’s protection. However, it does not mean that the land is necessarily uninhabited or that it is government-owed.
Because of its natural and scenic sites and close proximity to cities and public rails and buses, the Peak District in Derbyshire County is a favourite place to visit, whether the holiday goer is from the UK or outside the country. Booking a cottage makes the trip seem all the more “historic” and inviting. If you want to make the acquaintance of the English countryside, then a Peak District holiday should be included in your travel itinerary.
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