DISCOVER DERBYSHIRE
AND THE
PEAK DISTRICT
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DISCOVER DERBYSHIRE AND THE PEAK DISTRICT |
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ROOKES POTTERY - HARTINGTON THE FEATURE The picturesque village of Hartington with its spacious market place, village green, its delightful duck pond and limestone houses, which sparkle in the bright sunlight, make it one of the major tourist centres in the Peak District. Once an important stopping place for pack horses and drovers and then for stagecoaches, both The Charles Cotton and The Devonshire Arms are former coaching inns. It has more the air of a prosperous market town than a village. Now Hartington provides for tourists as well as local people and there are several tempting cafes, quality gift and craft shops and a newsagent. It has been the home of Rookes Pottery since it was established in 1977, by makers and designers David and Catherine Rooke.
Rookes Pottery is located by the start of the walk down to Beresford Dale and the Dove Valley. The dale was once the home of Charles Cotton who lived at Beresford Hall, now demolished, who wrote, with his great friend Izaak Walton, a remarkable book about 17th century rural England called ‘The Compleat Angler’. No other English language book, other than the Bible and Book of Common Prayer, has been reprinted more times. He shared his time between an extravagant life style in London society with the quieter pleasures of his home and the Peak District. That is when his creditors were not chasing him - then it is said he hid in a cave in Beresford Dale. The fishing lodge he built still remains on private land in Beresford Dale, but can be seen from a distance when approaching the dale.
Rookes Pottery Hartington Buxton Derbyshire SK17 0AN Visitors are welcome to view the workshop. For further information and shop opening hours, telephone 01298 84650 or visit sales@rookespottery.co.uk, www.rookespottery.co.uk.
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ROOKES POTTERY - HARTINGTON Rookes Pottery (Tel. 01298 84650) located at Hartington. It is normally open daily apart from at Christmas and some weekends in January and February. For more information: sales@rookespottery.co.uk, www.rookespottery.co.uk.
PLACES OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE AREAManifold Valley Visitor Centre (Tel. 01298 84679) housed in the old Hulme End Station, where information displays outline the history of the railway, the industries and local community. Precise opening dates are not currently available. Leek Tourist Information Office (Tel. 01538 483741) will be able to supply further details. Thor’s Cave rises 350 feet above the river in the Manifold Valley, its 60 feet entrance is imposing but the cave inside is comparatively small. The railway track that once ran through the valley has been converted for the use of walkers and cyclists. Longnor Craft Centre (Tel. 01298 83587) the home of Fox Country Furniture. Apart from furniture, exhibits of the work of local craftspeople and artists are also displayed. The café is open seven days a week from mid-February or earlier selling home baked produce. Weekends only from late December.
THE DISCOVER DERBYSHIRE AND THE PEAK DISTRICT GUIDE
Provides a wide range of features with heritage trails and detailed countryside walks, through some of the most scenically attractive countryside in the UK.
1. To return to the main site click the link below. 2. To return to the contents page of the main website click the link below. HARTINGTON FEATURE The picturesque village of Hartington with its spacious market place, village green, its delightful duck pond and limestone houses, which sparkle in the bright sunlight, make it one of the major tourist centres in the Peak. HARTINGTON WALK After leaving the village the walk descends gently to Beresford Dale. The River Dove meanders slowly through a beautiful wooded dale, over a succession of tiny weirs. Once across the water meadow, Wolfscote Dale is entered, which becomes progressively more spectacular, as you walk, with the sides of the dale rising almost vertically. Biggin Dale, in stark contrast, is dry except in wet weather. Wild flowers grow in profusion during the summer in the dale, attracting large numbers of butterflies and other insects. Part of the dale is designated as a National Nature Reserve, under the care of English Nature.
All details on this page were correct at the time of publication, but changes may be made without notification.
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