Make the most of the UK’s first National Park

Chapelwood sits in the heart of the Cheshire town of Wilmslow, one of the country’s most sought after places to live. As lovely as the leafy streets of Wilmslow are with its bustling town centre, one of the great advantages is having the stunning Peak District only twenty minutes away.  

We explore some of the places to visit and activities you can get up to in this exceptional part of the world:  

Alpacas in Alfreton  

As exhilarating as abseiling 90 ft off Millers Dale Bridge might be, luckily there are plenty of more sedate activities to enjoy in this vast national park including Alpaca Trekking at Brakenfield Alpacas. It is a wonderful opportunity to get up close with these cute and curious furry creatures. You will find out how to handle an alpaca as well as the different types of alpacas followed by a walk around the farm. The experience finished up with a chance to sit with the alpacas and have a look at the latest crias (baby alpacas!) that arrived earlier in the summer.  

Miles without Stiles 

Walking in the Peak District normally means hills and more hills. Miles without Stiles are a series of walks through various parts of the national park such as Lyme Park, Castleton Peak, Derwent Dam, Torside or Dovedale where you will find well-surfaced easy access routes without stiles, steps, or steep gradients. They provide access to fantastic views, moorland expanses, intimate dales, dramatic geology, distinctive habitats, tranquil and undeveloped areas, and history. The routes are graded to show whether they are accessible for ‘all’, ‘many’ or ‘some’ and are accompanied by clear maps, photographs and videos, and a handbook. 

The Peak District in Literature, TV and film 

Literature and film are everywhere in the Peak District. For example on the Jane Eyre Hathersage Trail, which is a circular walk, you can visit places that were the likely inspiration for locations in books Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice, such as Hathersage itself and North Lees Hall. The Ladybower Reservoir in the Derwent Valley was the set location for The Dam Busters film made in 1955 and of course two famous television series, Peak Practice and the world’s longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine were both filmed in the Peak District. 

Historic towns and buildings 

Buxton, the stunning spa town is a beautiful place to visit with a crescent modelled on Bath’s Royal Crescent and the restored Buxton Opera House. Other wonderful historic attractions include Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall and Lyme Park as well as the many lovely villages. Enjoy a Bakewell pudding in Bakewell, or visit the ‘Cathedral of the Peak’, otherwise known as the 14th Century Church of St John the Baptist in pretty Tideswell. The Peak District is also famed for its industrial heritage which is represented by places like the Peak District Lead Mining Museum in Matlock Bath, the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site or find out about the area’s transport history at the National Tramway Museum at Crich and the Cromford Canal, parts of which are now restored. 

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For independent over 60’s who want to enjoy the best of life, Chapelwood, with so much on the doorstep in the heart of leafy Wilmslow, will make you think again about age-exclusive living. Call our team on 01625 569492 or email [email protected]. Prices for a one-bedroom apartment start from £350,000 to buy or £2121 pcm to rent.