Exploring Baslow

a Derbyshire village close to Chatsworth House

Baslow - a charming Derbyshire village

The Cafe on The Green is popular. Image: Roland’s Travels

Derbyshire was my home county until my family moved to Wiltshire in 1971. When heading into the Peak District National Park, invariably, we would pass through the village of Baslow. I have a fondness for Baslow and enjoy visiting. We stayed at an Airbnb in the village for a few days a couple of years ago. This made a pleasant break and the opportunity to enjoy a lovely meal at Charlie’s, one of the many good places to eat that Baslow offers.

In this article, though, I will take you along with me, my wife, Annette and my grandson, Albie (age 2¾), when we visited in August 2023. 

Baslow comprises four areas: Bubnell, west of the River Derwent; Bridge End, which is by the river crossing; Over End, east of Bubnell and where most homes are concentrated. Finally, Nether End, which is close to Chatsworth Park and a good place to park your car for walks in the park. Nether End almost seems like a separate village when you travel through Baslow, and it’s here that we park in the public car park to explore the village. 

Albie loves to walk and ditched the pushchair (stroller US) ages ago. He usually pushed it rather than sat in it, so it soon became redundant. I intended to walk only some streets in the village, just a few key areas, to be able to take some photographs to show you. We can’t wear the little man out!

Nether End has a lovely triangular green where a busy bus stop is conveniently placed for walkers and others to enjoy Baslow and Chatsworth Park. I mentioned at the outset that there are plenty of places to eat and get refreshments, and this part of Baslow has many. The Cafe on the Green is a fine example, and next door is the Devonshire Arms. To give you even more choice, opposite The Green is an Italian restaurant, il Lupo (The Wolf - thanks, Google!). If the road is busy, and it often is, use the pedestrian crossing by this restaurant. A short walk from the Green going out of the village is The Wheatsheaf Hotel, offering good food and accommodation.

Click on any image in this article to enlarge it.

1. iL Lupo 2 Baslow Pottery 3 The Wheatsheaf. Images: Roland's Travels

Leaving the car park (public toilets are here), we go past the sweet shop to show Albie the Bar Brook flowing nearby. The lovely buildings around The Green and alongside the river are of stone construction. This is not surprising as Derbyshire is rich in stone and well-known for its drystone walls. See the photographs below.