Guidebook for Staffordshire
Food Scene
This is a pretty family-run Grade Two pub with exceptionally good food and a warm welcome from a husband and wife team. Danny has been Head Chef at the Houses of Commons, Channel 4 Television and Express Newspapers. Henrietta runs front of house and was one of the first people we met in Mayfield, she insisted on bringing us drinks, even though the pub was closed. (It took us a few months to adjust to the fact that pubs in the country aren’t open all day). It’s on the route of our favourite very local walk, a lovely 5km circle that takes in the three Mayfields.
No kids’ menu, but young diners are very welcome.
The Rose & Crown
Main RoadThis is a pretty family-run Grade Two pub with exceptionally good food and a warm welcome from a husband and wife team. Danny has been Head Chef at the Houses of Commons, Channel 4 Television and Express Newspapers. Henrietta runs front of house and was one of the first people we met in Mayfield, she insisted on bringing us drinks, even though the pub was closed. (It took us a few months to adjust to the fact that pubs in the country aren’t open all day). It’s on the route of our favourite very local walk, a lovely 5km circle that takes in the three Mayfields.
No kids’ menu, but young diners are very welcome.
A fire, fairy lights, cosy interiors, cushions you want to stick up your jumper and bring home. The fattest chips, burgers, veggie meals and a children’s menu. Service is attentive and there’s a relaxed atmosphere.
Directions - Turn left out the drive, down the hill, over the bridge, turn left in front of the pub.
Royal Oak station
A fire, fairy lights, cosy interiors, cushions you want to stick up your jumper and bring home. The fattest chips, burgers, veggie meals and a children’s menu. Service is attentive and there’s a relaxed atmosphere.
Directions - Turn left out the drive, down the hill, over the bridge, turn left in front of the pub.
A great walker’s pub, dog and family friendly with a lovely laid back atmosphere roaring fire, for mulled wine and hot chocolate after a big walk. We booked the sun lounge for a big gathering of friends with kids which worked well. Has quiet nooks and crannies too. Home made burgers, and plenty of veggie and gluten free options.
16 personas locales recomiendan
The Royal Oak
114 Cross LnA great walker’s pub, dog and family friendly with a lovely laid back atmosphere roaring fire, for mulled wine and hot chocolate after a big walk. We booked the sun lounge for a big gathering of friends with kids which worked well. Has quiet nooks and crannies too. Home made burgers, and plenty of veggie and gluten free options.
The Okeover Arms is welcoming, family friendly, serves pub grub, has a kids playground, outside seating and hens and ducks
7 personas locales recomiendan
The okeover arms
Yerley HillThe Okeover Arms is welcoming, family friendly, serves pub grub, has a kids playground, outside seating and hens and ducks
The warm, relaxed welcome of a well-loved local pub with the attention to detail of a fine dining restaurant. ‘The local we all wish we had.’ according to Tom Parker Bowles, The Mail on Sunday, April 16 2017.
39 personas locales recomiendan
The Duncombe Arms
Main RoadThe warm, relaxed welcome of a well-loved local pub with the attention to detail of a fine dining restaurant. ‘The local we all wish we had.’ according to Tom Parker Bowles, The Mail on Sunday, April 16 2017.
Great food, book ahead if you can as it does get busy at weekends.
8 personas locales recomiendan
Thai Basement
Great food, book ahead if you can as it does get busy at weekends.
Lovely for a chilled out, romantic evening or catch up with friends. It serves traditional French/English cuisine and they do excellent veggie options.
01335 342279
6 personas locales recomiendan
Lamplight Restaurant Ltd
4 Victoria SqLovely for a chilled out, romantic evening or catch up with friends. It serves traditional French/English cuisine and they do excellent veggie options.
01335 342279
For fish and chips the Riverside Cafe in Waterhouses takes some beating, also does a good deep pan pizza and will also take phone orders for collection, or you can eat in. 01538 308434
Riverside Cafe
Leek RoadFor fish and chips the Riverside Cafe in Waterhouses takes some beating, also does a good deep pan pizza and will also take phone orders for collection, or you can eat in. 01538 308434
Anayas in Ashbourne serve pretty special curry in glitzy surroundings
10 personas locales recomiendan
Anayas Premier Indian Dining
25 Dig StAnayas in Ashbourne serve pretty special curry in glitzy surroundings
A more casual curry house and also will deliver takeaway to the barn. Good curry!
01335 343232
Red Chilli of Ashbourne
1-5 Dig StA more casual curry house and also will deliver takeaway to the barn. Good curry!
01335 343232
DILLON'S
5a Saint John StreetOur kids love it here, massive cakes and always looks magical at Christmas!
Great deli and place to eat, especially if you can sit outside and people watch. I had winter scones with brandy cream on my last visit - amazing!
7 personas locales recomiendan
Bramhalls Deli & Cafe
22 Market PlGreat deli and place to eat, especially if you can sit outside and people watch. I had winter scones with brandy cream on my last visit - amazing!
Haven't had chance to visit yet, but looks great, cosy, homely and great gluten free options.
The Flower Café
5 Market PlaceHaven't had chance to visit yet, but looks great, cosy, homely and great gluten free options.
Stylish, nice atmosphere, all welcome and quality food.
26 personas locales recomiendan
Jack Rabbits Ashbourne
10 St John StStylish, nice atmosphere, all welcome and quality food.
Sightseeing
Step back in time into an Aladdin’s cave of antiques and a pub time forgot, but the landlord didn’t - he knows about them all. Quirky and one of a kind.
Yew Tree Inn
3 Church LnStep back in time into an Aladdin’s cave of antiques and a pub time forgot, but the landlord didn’t - he knows about them all. Quirky and one of a kind.
Thor's Cave is a hilltop cave with stunning views and history. Excavations have shown that the cave was occupied as long as 10,000 years ago and this occupation probably continued until Roman or Saxon times, making it one of the oldest sites of human activity in the Peak District. Hire Bikes at Brown End Farm and follow the cycle track, or there are lots of lovely walks, also taking in Wetton Mill Tea Shop or The Royal Oak pub in Wetton.
46 personas locales recomiendan
Thor's Cave
Thor's Cave is a hilltop cave with stunning views and history. Excavations have shown that the cave was occupied as long as 10,000 years ago and this occupation probably continued until Roman or Saxon times, making it one of the oldest sites of human activity in the Peak District. Hire Bikes at Brown End Farm and follow the cycle track, or there are lots of lovely walks, also taking in Wetton Mill Tea Shop or The Royal Oak pub in Wetton.
Atmospheric Ludd's Church (accessed from Gradbach) takes some beating, a 1000m chasm in the rocks which legend has it is the Green Chapel of Arthurian legend.
25 personas locales recomiendan
Lud's Church
Atmospheric Ludd's Church (accessed from Gradbach) takes some beating, a 1000m chasm in the rocks which legend has it is the Green Chapel of Arthurian legend.
Drinks & Nightlife
Serves a dazzling array of gins and artisan beers, along with food platters and cakes.
9 personas locales recomiendan
Artisan
33 St John StServes a dazzling array of gins and artisan beers, along with food platters and cakes.
A good dog friendly pub for a drink in town with a friendly welcome, if you sit in the window on the right you can read what Bill Bryson made of it on his visit!
The Smiths Tavern
36 St John StA good dog friendly pub for a drink in town with a friendly welcome, if you sit in the window on the right you can read what Bill Bryson made of it on his visit!
The Bridge
33-35 Dig StFun pub/cafe with a quirky layout on the bridge.
Getting Around
Ashbourne Taxis
Mayfield RoadYou often need to book in advance, especially at night.
A.C.T Taxis
30 Beresford AveBook in advance
Enterprise Car & Van Hire - Derby Mansfield Road
Mansfield RoadEssentials
ALDI
Carnation Way(1.7 miles)
Open 8am -10pm, except Sunday 10 - 4pm.
Marks and Spencer Food Hall (1.9 miles)
Open 8am - 8pm, except Sunday 10 - 4pm.
10 personas locales recomiendan
M&S Ashbourne Simply Food
Marks and Spencer Food Hall (1.9 miles)
Open 8am - 8pm, except Sunday 10 - 4pm.
Sainsburys (2.5 miles)
Free parking for 2 hrs and good access to Ashbourne town centre.
Open 8am - 8pm, except Sunday 10 - 4pm.
41 personas locales recomiendan
Sainsbury's
11 Castle Bridge RdSainsburys (2.5 miles)
Free parking for 2 hrs and good access to Ashbourne town centre.
Open 8am - 8pm, except Sunday 10 - 4pm.
(2.6 miles)
8am - 8pm except Friday 8am-9pm and Sunday 10am-4pm
21 personas locales recomiendan
Waitrose & Partners Ashbourne
(2.6 miles)
8am - 8pm except Friday 8am-9pm and Sunday 10am-4pm
The Laundry Room
2 Buxton RdLloydsPharmacy
Clifton RoadParks & Nature
lam (pronounced “Eye-lam") is a gothic chocolate box village in a stunning setting of rolling hills. Ilam hall is now a Youth Hostel and tea room. The views from here are quite magical. It’s owned by the National Trust but you only pay for parking and the tea shop, but there are lots of great walks from here, plenty of surprises in the grounds to explore and trails and activities for kids. Something for everyone.
16 personas locales recomiendan
Ilam
lam (pronounced “Eye-lam") is a gothic chocolate box village in a stunning setting of rolling hills. Ilam hall is now a Youth Hostel and tea room. The views from here are quite magical. It’s owned by the National Trust but you only pay for parking and the tea shop, but there are lots of great walks from here, plenty of surprises in the grounds to explore and trails and activities for kids. Something for everyone.
The Peak Wildlife Park is only 8 miles away. Large walkthroughs allow you to come face to face with exotic and endangered animals from across three continents.
76 personas locales recomiendan
Peak Wildlife Park
The Peak Wildlife Park is only 8 miles away. Large walkthroughs allow you to come face to face with exotic and endangered animals from across three continents.
Beautiful rock formation, great for bouldering, but also walking, clambering and a picnic on the way to or from Bakewell.
16 personas locales recomiendan
Robin Hood's Stride
Beautiful rock formation, great for bouldering, but also walking, clambering and a picnic on the way to or from Bakewell.
Great for birdwatching, lots for kids to do, a really imaginative kids' nature trail with dens, climbing equipment, fairy village and rope walkways. Dogs allowed in very limited areas.
7 personas locales recomiendan
RSPB Coombes Valley
Great for birdwatching, lots for kids to do, a really imaginative kids' nature trail with dens, climbing equipment, fairy village and rope walkways. Dogs allowed in very limited areas.
The Roaches, Hen cloud and Ramshaw rocks are a huge outcrop of gritstone rocks weathered into mystical shapes with absolutely stunning views. The area was once famous for its wallabies. These were released in World War II from a private zoo and managed to breed and survive until the late 1990s, but very occasionally people still claim sightings.
90 personas locales recomiendan
The Roaches
The Roaches, Hen cloud and Ramshaw rocks are a huge outcrop of gritstone rocks weathered into mystical shapes with absolutely stunning views. The area was once famous for its wallabies. These were released in World War II from a private zoo and managed to breed and survive until the late 1990s, but very occasionally people still claim sightings.
Shopping
The Village Rainbow
23 St John StQuirky gifts and slime, the kids love it!
Ashbourne has gorgeous gift shops, a pottery cafe, delis, cafes, great antique shops, pubs, gin and real ale bars, restaurants, outdoor clothing suppliers and wide-range of supermarkets.
148 personas locales recomiendan
Ashbourne
Ashbourne has gorgeous gift shops, a pottery cafe, delis, cafes, great antique shops, pubs, gin and real ale bars, restaurants, outdoor clothing suppliers and wide-range of supermarkets.
Antique & Collectors Market with a wide variety of items for sale held every Saturday. Good antique shops too. We like Spout Brew House.
77 personas locales recomiendan
Leek
Antique & Collectors Market with a wide variety of items for sale held every Saturday. Good antique shops too. We like Spout Brew House.
A lovely town with lovely shops, charity shops, cafes and the place to buy world famous Bakewell puddings. If you like a second-hand bargain, the Sunday car boot is also worth getting up for in Spring/Summer.
375 personas locales recomiendan
Bakewell
A lovely town with lovely shops, charity shops, cafes and the place to buy world famous Bakewell puddings. If you like a second-hand bargain, the Sunday car boot is also worth getting up for in Spring/Summer.