#1 –Peak District National Park
Location: Dovedale, Ilam, Ashbourne, DE6 2AY
The first place I’d recommend in Derbyshire is a day out at the Peak District National Park! There’s soooo much to do there, but my favourite has to be going for a walk and visiting the Dovedale Stepping Stones.
Located at the bottom of Thorpe Cloud in the Peak District, these picturesque stepping stones (which look like they’ve come straight off a postcard!) cross over the River Dove, home to lots of fish, fossils and other wildlife. If Mother’s Day is sunny, the stepping stones are the perfect place to ice cream or have a picnic whilst admiring the scenic views!
20 minutes from the Dovedale Stepping Stones is also the Peak Wildlife Park, home to exotic and endangered animals from across three different continents. The wildlife park is another of my favourite things to do in the Peak District - I love the lemurs and the penguins!
For more inspiration, I’ve linked a website with plenty more things to get up to in the Peak District here!
# 2 – Alton Towers
Location: Farley Ln, Alton, ST10 4DB
If your Mum is more of the adventurous type (and is willing to be taken on a ‘hair-raising journey through the twists and turns within a cursed manor!), Alton Towers’ new attraction ‘The Curse at Alton Manor’ is opening just in time for Mother’s Day this weekend!
But, if scaring Mum and Grandma with demons and ghosts this Mothering Sunday isn’t on the cards, then Alton Towers has over 40 other rides and attractions (fortunate for the scaredy cats like me!) suitable for all ages, so it’s the perfect day out for Mums with cheeky monkeys.
#3 – Denby Pottery Village
Location: Derby Rd, Ripley, DE5 8NX
For Mum’s who love to get their craft on, the Denby Pottery Village offers a unique day out where you can roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty on a pottery throwing experience (perfect for Mum to make her own mug for allll the cups of tea being made for her whilst she pops her feet up!)
They’re even offering ‘Crafternoon Tea’ and ‘Champagne Breakfast’ experiences on Mothering Sunday!
Aside from having a go on the Potter’s wheel, you can also:
- Browse the shop for some new Denby stoneware
- Journey through over 200 years of history in the museum
- And then when you’re feeling a little peckish, you can have a bite to eat in the delicious coffee shop and bistro.
- The little ones can even paint their own pot!
(Don’t panic, it’s also not too late if you haven’t got the perfect present for your crafty Mum ready for Sunday! I love our ‘Do Not Disturb Crafting Personalised Socks’, perfect for letting everyone know not to disturb Mum as she crochets, knits, or draws her masterpiece!)
#4 – Heights of Abraham
Location: Dale Rd, Matlock, DE4 3NT
If you and Mum like heights, then you’re in for some luck, because the Heights of Abraham offer the best view over Derybshire!
I recommend starting your day with a journey up to the summit of the Heights of Abraham in a cable car, taking in the magnificent 360 degree views of the Derbyshire Dales around you as you go up. Then, take the guided tours through the 2 famous show caverns, Great Masson and Rutland Cavern, enjoy the viewpoints and the nature trails, and then treat your super Mum to a spot of lunch at the Vista Restaurant!
(If you haven’t sorted the perfect present for your outdoorsy Mum yet, I love our new Me and You Snail Socks, perfect for the Mums who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and try something new!)
#5 – Hoar Cross Hall
Location: Maker Ln, Burton-On-Trent, DE13 8QS
Just outside of Derbyshire, Hoar Cross Hall is my favourite place to retreat to when I need a bit of ‘me-time’, therefore it’s high on my list for being one of the best places to treat Mum to this Mother’s Day, so that she can indulge in some well-deserved pampering also!
(Plus, if you decide to go and enjoy a spa experience with Mum, then technically you’re treating yourself to some time to pop your feet up and relax too!)
I personally love letting the outside world melt away in the blissful hydrotherapy pool (included in the day spa experience) and then getting horizontal in the sanctum in the afternoon to read a good book (I’ve just finished reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus – you can see my review here – and I recommend it to every book lover I know!)
#6 – Elvaston Castle
Location: Borrowash Road, Elvaston, DE72 3EP
Elvason Castle – my favourite place to go to enjoy a picnic in the sunshine! - is an early 1800s Gothic-revival stately home which stands as the centerpiece of 321 acres of woodland and old English country gardens.
Treat Nanny to a coffee or an ice cream from Wyatt’s cafe (if it’s not too cold!) and explore what the estate has to offer – the recently renovated golden gates, the Moorish temple and the ha-ha wall all proves a fascinating glimpse into the past.
Fun Fact: some people think the castle could be haunted by ghosts, and it’s this paranormal atmosphere of the castle which inspired J.P. Reedman’s gothic novel Elvingstone. So watch your back for ghosts if you decide to pay it a visit!
Location: Markeaton Lane, Derby, DE22 4AA
If you live in Derbyshire, you’ve probably visited Markeaton Park (it does happen to be one of the most popular attractions in the East Midlands!)
The park offers an abundance of green space for you to escape into along with lots of different activities, perfect for Mum who’s been wanting to try something new! Maybe try a hand at tennis, crafts, or even rowing boats (just don’t fall in!).
#8 – McArthurGlen Designer Outlet
Location: Mansfield Rd, Alfreton, DE55 2JW
If Mum is in need of some well-deserved retail therapy, then I recommend a trip to the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet (my favourite place to adventure in my socks!)
There’s lots of great places to shop, such as Carvela, Lindt (chocolates can be perfectly paired on a Sunday afternoon with some snuggly socks, Mum’s favourite chick flick – mine’s Devil Wears Prada! – and a cup of coffee for a chilled Mother’s Day afternoon), Joules and Fossil.
As well as shopping, you and Mum can also catch up over coffee or lunch at one of the 12 cafes and restaurants there.
#9 - Bakewell
Location: Bakewell, DE45
Located on the banks of the River Wye, Bakewell is one of the prettiest towns in England, characterized by quaint courtyards, scenic walking trails, and also, the birthplace of the infamous – and delicious – Bakewell Tart!
Here’s a few things you could be getting up to in Bakewell this weekend:
- The Thornbridge Estate, just a 7 minute drive from the centre of Bakewell, is offering a Mother’s Day ‘Grand Aternoon Tea’, including garden entry tickets, lots of prosecco and of course, homemade scones!
- If a lovely afternoon walk exploring the scenic river that runs through Bakewell is more up your street, I'd recommend giving the Monsal Trail a go, it’s one of the most popular walks that takes you through the woodland and Bakewell’s former railway station.
(The Monsal Trail also boasts lots of exciting new smells for your four-legged friends, so it’s a perfect day out for all the Dog Mums! For a Mother’s Day present from the dog, I love our bestselling Dog & Owner Walking socks, I’ve gifted a pair to every Dog Mum I know!)
- Finally, because Bakewell has lots of lovely places to eat and drink, it’s also the perfect place to go and relax with a Bakewell Tart from The Bakewell Pudding Parlour, a small family run business, or if you fancy something different, a weiner schnitzel from Tiroler Stuberl, an Austrian coffee shop.
#10 – Chatsworth House
Location: Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1PP
Chatsworth House is the crowning jewel of Derbyshire manors as the generational family home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and however many times I have visited myself, I find that there is always more to see.
The house is full of artwork spanning thousands of years and sumptuous interiors (I find the Chapel the most impressive part of the house!), and you can also explore the woodland and meet the animals in the farmyard.
On Mothering Sunday, Chatsworth House is offering the chance for you to learn how to make paper wreaths and posies with paper artist Kim Bevan – perfect to make as a special Mother’s Day gift or for the crafty Mums!
Happy Mother’s Day!