Local area

local shops - two large supermarkets and the usual shops associated with any town (including a petrol station)
Further afield we have Chesterfield with its famous church spire and open markets
Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield all with every city centre facility and shop you need, Nottingham is particularly good for clothes shopping, with an abundance of boutiques.
Slightly further on but still within an easy daytrip (one hour to one & half) we have Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham and my favourite - York.
Chesterfield is also on the main line to London, Sheffield and Leeds so again easily commutable

Tourism

Where to start, Bolsover I guess. Bolsover has the only Castle built for pleasure, Cavendish, was very much into entertaining hence the large stable block, dressage (horsemanship) was his pastime. Bolsover also has a 13th century settlement and the current castle is also built on the foundations of a 13th century castle. Going out of Bolsover in any direction you will find something of interest. Head West towards the Peak District - walking, climbing, mountain biking, paragliding and most other outdoor sports you can think of, or visit Buxton Spa town, Chatsworth Hall, Matlock, Bakewell, Castleton with its Blue John Mines and many othe places to visit
To the East, you head into Nottingham forest, famous for Robin Hood. In fact the area he lived in and eventually got married in, is closer to Bolsover than it is to Nottingham itself. Cresswell Crags, known for it's caves, again a favorite spot of robin's plus the home of prehistoric man.
North is York- plenty of attractions - York itself with the Shambles, Viking centres, York railway museum, etc. Also good to vist over December in the run up to Christmas - lots of activities going on.
South is Nottingham, also with a castle, plenty of shops - the good thing about the shops there is that they are all in one area, some good names, plus because of the University, there is a lot of variety and not overpriced. Oh and back to Bolsover, the castle has various displays throughout the year - Jousting tournaments, a fantastic firework display, concerts and a lantern parade (literally hundreds of night time lanterns made by anyone that wants to join in - dragons, chinese lanterns, hearts, mice, pigs, planes, stars, the list is endless).

Bolsover History

Bolsover castle Raised by the Peverel family in the 12th century, very little is known of the original Bolsover Castle. A stone Keep was built c1173, surrounded by a curtain wall with an outer bailey, but the wall was breached in 1216 during the reign of King John. Surviving fragments of this curtain wall were later incorporated in a wall walk that can be seen in the castle garden.
Bolsover Castle became Crown property in 1155 when the third William Peverel fled into exile, but by 1400 it had lost its strategic importance. Years of occupation by tenants had left Bolsover Castle ruinous by the time it was purchased by Sir George Talbot in 1553. Talbot, later becoming the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, is noted for two famous associations. Firstly, his marriage to 'Bess of Hardwick', probably the most astute business woman of the 16th century, who owned the vast Chatsworth estates. And then his lengthy term as keeper to the exiled Mary Queen of Scots, a 16 year duty that seriously drained the family's resources. - rest of this article available at http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/castles/bolsover castle.htm

Email this page to a friend
Open email
- Room Measurements and Floorplan
- More Pictures

- list of activities and day trips from Cliff House