Bamford Edge, Derbyshire, England

Places to visit in Derbyshire

Visit Derbyshire to explore a national park with craggy hills, sweeping dales, mysterious henges and swathes of dense woodland. This East Midlands county is all about the great outdoors. Walk the moors and tors of the Peak District and stop off in market towns Bakewell and Buxton to try the mouth-watering tart and mineral water. While you’re there, stop off at Chatsworth House, the setting for Pride & Prejudice. Or for a city break, visit Derby and climb its cathedral tower or look around the museums that give cutting insights into the role the city played in the Industrial Revolution and the Golden Age of Steam.

derbyshire towns to visit

55 Experience Results

View results as:

  • (-) Remove Derbyshire filter Derbyshire
  • Peak District (38) Apply Peak District filter
  • North East England (9) Apply North East England filter
  • Countryside pursuits (2) Apply Countryside pursuits filter
  • Cycling (5) Apply Cycling filter
  • Extreme Sports (2) Apply Extreme Sports filter
  • Going underground (5) Apply Going underground filter
  • Tours and trails (1) Apply Tours and trails filter
  • Walking and hiking (7) Apply Walking and hiking filter
  • Free (3) Apply Free filter
  • Low cost (2) Apply Low cost filter
  • Markets (1) Apply Markets filter
  • Forests and woodlands (4) Apply Forests and woodlands filter
  • Gardens and Parks (5) Apply Gardens and Parks filter
  • National Parks (24) Apply National Parks filter
  • Wildlife and Nature Reserves (1) Apply Wildlife and Nature Reserves filter
  • Arts and cultural events (2) Apply Arts and cultural events filter
  • Festivals and carnivals (3) Apply Festivals and carnivals filter
  • Literature, film and TV (3) Apply Literature, film and TV filter
  • Museums galleries and libraries (1) Apply Museums galleries and libraries filter
  • Music festivals in England (1) Apply Music festivals in England filter
  • Seasonal celebrations (2) Apply Seasonal celebrations filter
  • February events (1) Apply February events filter
  • July events (2) Apply July events filter
  • March events (1) Apply March events filter
  • November events (1) Apply November events filter
  • October events (1) Apply October events filter
  • Attractions (4) Apply Attractions filter
  • Dog friendly (2) Apply Dog friendly filter
  • Indoor Activities (3) Apply Indoor Activities filter
  • Outdoor Activities (1) Apply Outdoor Activities filter
  • Playtime (1) Apply Playtime filter
  • Toddler Friendly Holidays (1) Apply Toddler Friendly Holidays filter
  • Breweries and distilleries (1) Apply Breweries and distilleries filter
  • Eating out (2) Apply Eating out filter
  • Food markets and experiences (3) Apply Food markets and experiences filter
  • Regional specialities (1) Apply Regional specialities filter
  • Vineyards and wine tasting (1) Apply Vineyards and wine tasting filter
  • Castles and Historic Properties (7) Apply Castles and Historic Properties filter
  • Industrial Maritime And Transport (2) Apply Industrial Maritime And Transport filter
  • World heritage sites (1) Apply World heritage sites filter
  • Courses Learning and Self Improvement (2) Apply Courses Learning and Self Improvement filter
  • Shopping and fashion (1) Apply Shopping and fashion filter
  • Spa Breaks (2) Apply Spa Breaks filter
  • Picturesque places (1) Apply Picturesque places filter
  • Rural and Coastal Escapes (2) Apply Rural and Coastal Escapes filter
  • Unique Experiences (1) Apply Unique Experiences filter
  • Autumn (8) Apply Autumn filter
  • Spring (6) Apply Spring filter
  • Summer (22) Apply Summer filter
  • Winter (13) Apply Winter filter

derbyshire towns to visit

Hoe Grange Holidays

Explore the outdoors at this wheelchair-friendly holiday home near the High Peak, winner of our Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award Gold 2024.

derbyshire towns to visit

Be at one with birds of prey at Rosliston Forestry Centre

There’s something special about being close to a bird of prey; those round watchful eyes on high alert, fixing you with a dominating stare.

Location: Rosliston, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Enjoy a wild night out with bushcraft at Catton Hall

Let Woodland Ways teach you the basics of bushcraft in a fun and safe environment whilst spending time outdoors and sleeping under the stars.

Location: Catton, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Rediscover the house that time forgot at Calke Abbey

By their very nature gardens are emotional places and none more so than the surroundings of this once magnificent country estate.

Location: Ticknall, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Walk the breadth of spectacular Stanage Edge

Follow in the footsteps of your literary heroes on Stanage Edge, a dramatic rocky outcrop with equally dramatic moorland views in the Peak District.

Location: Stanage Edge, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Discover UNESCO World Heritage site at Masson Mills

Experience what life was like to work in an 18th-century mill at this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Location: Matlock Bath, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Choose between red, white or rosé at Sealwood Cottage

Sample the fruits of this Derbyshire vineyard in the charming countryside of The National Forest, and then go to sleep in a pyramid-roofed bedroom.

Location: Swadlincote, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Rekindle your romance in the Peak District

Put a spring in your step with a tete-a-tete in a country house hotel, share a walk with heart-stopping views and chill out in a relaxing spa.

Location: Castleton, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Experience the adventure and thrills of the Monsal Trail

Whizz through four former railway tunnels on your bicycle and enjoy breathtaking views on the Monsal Trail.

Location: Hassop, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Underground & over ground adventures at Go Ape

Release your Tarzan and journey to the centre of the earth on an epic double adventure in Derbyshire’s beautiful Buxton.

Location: Buxton, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Visit Derby's three National Trust treasures

Derby has a trio of National Trust treasures all within a 10 mile radius, so use the city as your base to explore Calke, Sudbury and Kedleston.

Location: Derby, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Be an apprentice brewer for the day at Derventio Brewery

Roll up your sleeves as you become an apprentice brewer for the day in one of Derby’s many micro-breweries.

derbyshire towns to visit

Explore the city delights of Derby’s Cathedral Quarter

Meander through Derby’s Cathedral Quarter, with arcades and hidden entrances, luxury hotel, specialist stores and independent retailers.

Cable cars at The Heights of Abraham red cliff

Take a flight to the Heights of Abraham

Discover famous show caverns beneath a 60-acre hilltop park overlooking a deep, dramatic limestone gorge in the Peak District.

Location: Matlock, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Take a tour of the Peak District Mining Museum

Discover the cramped and hazardous world of a Derbyshire lead miner.

derbyshire towns to visit

Discover the two sides of the Peak District

Two contrasting personalities, one national park... White Peak Vs Dark Peak.

Location: Peak District, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Explore Blue John Cavern

Take your own journey to the centre of the earth in search of the mysterious Blue John - originally discovered by the Romans.

derbyshire towns to visit

Walk barefoot through the woods at CONKERS

From teddy-bear picnics to jumping on crunchy leaves, England’s woodland is brimming with things to do with toddlers - and award-winning CONKERS, in the heart of The National Forest, is no different.

derbyshire towns to visit

Be captivated by the grandeur of Chatsworth

With its palatial surrounds and starring role in Pride & Prejudice, Chatsworth House is one of the Peak District’s most celebrated destinations.

Location: Bakewell, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Midland Railway - Butterley

The Railway’s Footplate Experience provides big kids with all the necessary know-how to drive a steam train.

Location: Ripley, Derbyshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Experience the medieval romance of Haddon Hall

Grab a loved one and visit one of the oldest and most romantic Tudor houses in Britain.

derbyshire towns to visit

Spend the day playing at Lyme Park, House and Garden

Get transported back to Edwardian times, at the mansion and extensive grounds of Lyme Park.

Location: Disley, Cheshire

  • See more results

Related Items

Nearby places to visit, peak district.

derbyshire towns to visit

Nottinghamshire

derbyshire towns to visit

Visit Nottingham to explore deep forests steeped in folklore and medieval castles that conjure up the legends of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, Dark Age-era underground caves, and the National Water Sports Centre.

derbyshire towns to visit

Visit Shropshire to see the golden age of steam, the industrial revolution, and areas of outstanding natural beauty. This landlocked western county has it all, with a UNESCO World Heritage Site to cap it all off.

We've something we want to share

Want to receive travel tips and ideas by email?

VisitEngland would like to invite you to take part in a short survey about our website, it should take no more than a couple of minutes.

Go to the survey

To add items to favourites …

… you need to be logged in.

If you already have an account, log in.

Or register a new account

Access your account

  • Inspiration
  • Destinations
  • Places To Stay
  • Style & Culture
  • Food & Drink
  • Wellness & Spas
  • News & Advice
  • Partnerships
  • Traveller's Directory
  • Travel Tips
  • Competitions

5 secret, pretty places to visit in Derbyshire

Chatsworth House. Derbyshire. Peak District Autumn

Lord Byron once wrote that Derbyshire contains attractions ''as noble as in  Greece  or  Switzerland ,” and although you may struggle for  ski slopes  and a  Peak District Parthenon , there’s much to explore in the county beyond the main draw of Chatsworth House. Yes, we adore perhaps Britain’s most lavish and bejewelled country pile, complete with its Lucian Freud’s and Gainsborough’s. But what lies beyond is a fascinating patchwork of villages, gorges, trails and caves that don’t attract a tenth of the foot traffic – here are five of our favourites.

Brothers Water in the Dovedale Valley Lake District Cumbria UK

Ashbourne and Dovedale

It was Dr Samuel Johnson no less who contended that “he that has seen Dovedale has no need to visit the  Highlands of Scotland .”

The creator of the dictionary should probably have consulted his own work for the definition of “exaggeration” but he wasn’t too far wrong. The River Dove contorts and snuggles its way from the summits to the flat lands of Derbyshire and is at its prettiest in the two-mile-long gorge that comprises Dovedale valley. Bring your wellies if there’s been rain – the walk can be boggy – but you’re only four miles or so from respite and warmth in the market town of Ashbourne.

Here, amid a pleasing jumble of old stone houses scattered around a cobbled Market Place you’ll find  Callow Hall , a venerable veteran of the  British country hotel  scene that’s recently been given a notably impressive nip and tuck by its new owners the Wildhive group. Reopened in 2022 after three years of work, the fusty old drapes and antiques have been swept away in favour of a glass cube extension, treehouses in the grounds and electric bikes for hire. All this, and yet the stout, remote vibe of the original building endures; this is still emphatically the high and lofty  Peak District  rather than a  Cotswolds  wannabe.

Stalactites at Treak Cliff Cavern Castleton Derbyshire

Blue John and Treak Cliff Cavern

Highly prized by jewellers since the Georgian era for its rhubarb and custard accented colourings, Blue John is a very rare form of mineral called fluorite that’s only found in this cave complex underneath the town of Castleton.

Awash with dagger-like stalactites and ancient fossils, the two caves are still used for mining today, though only very small amounts are hacked out of the 250 million-year-old seams. Both  Treak Cliff  and  Blue John  can be visited for underground tours with Treak making the news in 2015 when the first new seam of the precious metal in 150 years was found; the most notable discovery prior to that was three human skeletons discovered in 1921 believed to have been there since Neolithic times.

The Peak District village of Hathersage Derbyshire England UK

He wasn’t little and, to be honest, it’s far from certain that he ever existed in the first place. But if you’re in thrall to the legend of Robin Hood then the little visited  village  of Hathersage is an essential stop-off to pay homage to the grave of Little John – the second in command of the Merry Men and a man rumoured to be around seven feet tall. Clearly irony was as important to the gang as giving to the poor.

There are some cracking views to be had of the Peaks from the churchyard where John was (maybe) laid to rest while down in the stout little town centre lies  The George , an ancient coaching inn that recently underwent a half-a-million-pound refurb with a wood-fired pizza oven and local real ales on tap in the bar and a nod to a famous former patron in the form of the Lady C. Bronte suite upstairs.

For it was Charlotte Bronte who, on her trips down from remote Howarth, regularly visited this hostelry, even naming the protagonist in Jane Eyre after a former landlord and the Morton character after James Morton, the owner in Bronte’s time, who would regularly meet the author off her stagecoach before escorting her to the bar.

Chatsworth House Derbyshire

Baslow and Baslow Hall

Yep, Baslow is the home of Chatsworth House, though, rather than heading straight for the country manor car park, it’s well worth taking a  walk  through the tiny village itself whose stone houses wind along with the path of the River Derwent.

Intriguingly, there’s an infinitely lesser-known country house here Baslow Hall is a creeper-smothered Edwardian pile made from local stone and complete with its own gables and a cute-as-a-button canopy over the front door.

You can stay here too in its current guise as  Fischers Baslow Hall  whose restaurant has held its Michelin star for 29 straight years thanks to the skills of Max Fischer himself; a native of  Germany  who here has created a menu rich in hearty, technically accomplished dishes such as locally shot venison with elderberry quince and mushrooms and ox tongue with radish and hollandaise.

There are a mere 11 rooms, divided between the garden annexe and the main house; the latter has recently been spruced up with Farrow and Ball paints, Nespresso machines and Sedbergh Soap Company toiletries in the modishly furnished bathrooms.

Momphessons well at Eyam in the Peak District

When an Eyam local opened a suitcase of clothes couriered from London in the  autumn  of 1665 by his family, he could never have guessed the malady that would ensue.

The garments infected his entire family and brought the Great Plague to this tiny village. Historians believe that a mere 30 locals survived out of a population of 350, and it could have been even worse had the Rev William Mompesson not persuaded his congregation into staying in the village, surrounded by a cordon to contain the outbreak.

Today, every cottage in which people died has a plaque, and the village still contains a slightly eerie atmosphere amid the grey stone walls that line its solitary main street.  The Eyam Museum  tells the full gruesome story while there’s an almost unbearable poignancy to Mompesson’s Well, where locals from other villages would come to leave food for the fenced-off locals, who would leave money in pots of disinfected vinegar in return.

What a prickle…

We're sorry – it looks like something's gone wrong

Where To Stay All Accommodation Hotels Bed & Breakfast and Guest Houses Inns & Pubs with Rooms Self-Catering Lodges, Statics & Holiday Parks Camping, Caravanning & Touring Parks Glamping Accommodation with Hot Tubs Group Friendly Places to Stay Late Availability Things To See & Do All Things To See & Do Attractions Walking & Cycling Providers Walking & Cycling Trails Beauty Spots & Landmarks Activities & Experiences Shopping Food & Drink All Food & Drink Restaurants & Bistros Pubs & Inns Cafés, Tearooms & Coffee Shops Breweries, Vineyards & Distilleries Food & Drink Discounts What's On All Events Well Dressings Ideas & Inspiration Our Favourite Places Other Towns & Villages Blog Itineraries Offers Visitor Information Discovery Map Getting Here & Getting Around Tourist Information & Visitor Centres Travel Trade & Group Visits 0 Personalise your sustainability settings

  • All Accommodation
  • Bed & Breakfast and Guest Houses
  • Inns & Pubs with Rooms
  • Self-Catering
  • Lodges, Statics & Holiday Parks
  • Camping, Caravanning & Touring Parks
  • Accommodation with Hot Tubs
  • Group Friendly Places to Stay
  • Late Availability
  • All Things To See & Do

Attractions

  • Walking & Cycling Providers
  • Walking & Cycling Trails
  • Beauty Spots & Landmarks
  • Activities & Experiences
  • All Food & Drink
  • Restaurants & Bistros
  • Pubs & Inns
  • Cafés, Tearooms & Coffee Shops
  • Breweries, Vineyards & Distilleries
  • Food & Drink Discounts
  • Well Dressings
  • Our Favourite Places
  • Other Towns & Villages
  • Itineraries
  • Discovery Map
  • Getting Here & Getting Around
  • Tourist Information & Visitor Centres
  • Travel Trade & Group Visits

From historic houses to spectacular show caverns, discover the best days out and family-friendly places to visit.

Attractions and Places to Visit in the Peak District & Derbyshire

With so many award-winning attractions, great things to do and places to visit in Derbyshire and the Peak District, you're sure to find what you're looking for.

The area is bursting with attractions, ranging from the fascinating show caverns of Castleton, the historic National Trust and English Heritage properties dotted throughout Derbyshire, and a world-class industrial heritage site the Derwent Valley Mills.

If you’re after family fun, there are loads of family-friendly attractions and activities in Derbyshire and the Peak District too.

Featured Attractions Businesses

Gulliver’s valley theme park.

Gulliver’s Valley Resort opened in 2020 and is located next to Rother Valley Country Park in South Yorkshire. Discover rides and attractions designed…

Treak Cliff Cavern

Visit an underground wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites, rocks, minerals and fossils. Home of the unique mineral Blue John stone

Open today: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Hassop Station Cafe and Monsal Trail Cycle Hire

Cafe & Cycle Hire on the Monsal Trail near Bakewell

Buxton Visitor Centre and Buxton Crescent…

Welcome to Buxton’s Visitor Centre at the Pump Room, providing you with information on great places to visit and experiences to enjoy in our town and…

Bolsover Castle

This hilltop castle was built as a fashionable retreat for 17th-Century courtiers to entertain influential guests. Now its reputation for revelry…

Cromford Mills

Explore the history of Cromford Mills and discover the captivating story of how the Derwent Valley changed the world in the 18th Century with the…

All Attractions Businesses

Drive dads car at great british car journey.

Boasting a collection of 150+ modern British classics, Great British Car Journey tells the story of the rise and fall of the British motoring…

The National Stone Centre

Telling the story of stone; the National Stone Centre (NSC) is a 40 acre site on the edge of the Peak District featuring 330 million year old…

Thornbridge Estate

Thornbridge Hall is a Grade II listed stately home in the heart of the Peak District. It is surrounded by 12 acres of quintessentially English…

Chatsworth is a place to learn, explore and create in the heart of the Peak District National Park.

Crooked Spire Church

The 'Crooked Spire' is Chesterfield's best-known landmark.

Creswell Crags

Wooly mammoths roamed the lands around Creswell Crags, and nomadic Neanderthal man sought shelter in Creswell Crags’ caves whilst they were following…

High Peak Junction Visitor Centre – Cromford Canal

Discover some of the oldest surviving railway workshops in the world, from the former Cromford and High Peak Railway and step back in time with the…

Poole's Cavern & Country Park

Discover Poole’s Cavern, Buxton’s Hidden Wonder. Take a Journey beneath the earth with our expert guides who will reveal the amazing stories of…

Heights of Abraham

Take a cable car flight to the Heights of Abraham 60-acre hilltop park, with cavern tours, exhibitions, adventure play and much more.

Bluebells Dairy

A family farm with calves, sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, a pony, a donkey and guinea pigs for everyone to come and meet.

Sign up to our newsletter

Receive the latest news, special offers, ideas and inspiration straight to your inbox by signing up to the Visit Peak District & Derbyshire e-newsletter.

Full list of Derbyshire attractions offering huge discounts to bus passengers

Discounts range from up to 35% off ticket prices to a free hot drink

  • 04:00, 12 SEP 2024

Pictured is The Heights of Abraham in Matlock

Never miss a Peak District story and read the latest headlines with our free email updates

We have more newsletters

Derbyshire is home to a vast selection of attractions and activities all year round - so even though the summer months are coming to an end, there's still plenty of fun to be had. Now, Derbyshire County Council has launched a new green travel project that could shave off a hefty portion of your entry fees to multiple sites across the county.

Travel Derbyshire has awarded several local visitor attractions a year of Good Journey Membership. This is being funded by the Derbyshire Bus Service Improvement Plan, a government-grant initiative that is supported by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire and Derbyshire County Council.

The scheme will allow people to claim either a complimentary discount or gift following the presentation of a bus ticket that has taken them to the venue. Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for highways assets and transport , Councillor Charlotte Cupit, said: “Our Bus Service Improvement Plan is working to improve bus services across the county to make them better for everybody. We’re trying to work together with local and community bus operators, bus passenger user groups, local councils and others to ensure the plan is a success.

“By supporting Good Journey memberships for local visitor attractions, we’re hoping to reduce traffic and pollution whilst also creating better bus services.” The aim of Travel Derbyshire is to encourage residents and tourists to switch from car journeys to bus rides when they travel. This should help reduce pollution and congestion in the region.

The different sites, and their offerings, can be found below:

  • Gulliver’s Kingdom – Up to 35% off entry
  • The Children’s Country House at Sudbury - Free hot drink from the restaurant
  • White Peak Distillery - Free hot drink
  • Matlock Farm Park – 10% off entry
  • Cromford Mills – 10% off in the café
  • Crich Tramway Village – 10% discount on standard entry tickets
  • Great British Car Journey - £2 off entry
  • Heights of Abraham – 20% off entry
  • Chatsworth House – Complimentary Chatsworth guidebook
  • Haddon Hall – 20% off entry
  • Kedleston Hall – A free hot drink in the café

Jo Dilley, Managing Director, Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, said “We’re delighted to be working with visitor attractions and partners in the area to help encourage as many visitors as possible to choose the bus when making a day trip. With fares capped at £2 for a single ticket until the end of the year, there’s never been a better time to hop on a bus for a day out in the region.

Good Journey Director Nat Taplin said: “There are so many brilliant days out to be had in Derbyshire and the Peak District without travelling by car. When you travel by bus you can sit back and enjoy the views and this part of the country never disappoints! Local Good Journey Members Chatsworth, Heights of Abraham and Kedleston Hall have already been doing fantastic work to reduce the number of visitors who travel to them by car, and we’re delighted that even more attractions in the area can join their efforts, thanks to these funded memberships.”

  • Derbyshire County Council
  • Peak District
  • What's On in Derbyshire
  • Most Recent

derbyshire towns to visit

Read the Latest on Page Six

  • Weird But True
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Viral Trends
  • Human Interest
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Food & Drink

trending now in Lifestyle

Mom’s viral airplane seating hack sparks debate: 'Can't stand when people do this'

Mom’s viral airplane seating hack sparks debate: 'Can't stand...

38-pound rescue cat Crumbs gets stuck in shoe rack while trying to escape from fat camp

38-pound rescue cat Crumbs gets stuck in shoe rack while trying...

I’m an etiquette expert — you look like a snob when you do these 4 things at a fancy restaurant

I’m an etiquette expert — you look like a snob when you do...

Dating guru explains why liberal men can never satisfy liberal women

Dating guru explains why liberal men can never satisfy liberal...

I'm a heart surgeon — these are the two types of patients who should take a daily dose of aspirin

I'm a heart surgeon — these are the two types of patients who...

I'm a doctor — here are 9 simple ways to reduce your risk of dementia

I'm a doctor — here are 9 simple ways to reduce your risk of...

Court bans couple’s historical baby name over bullying fears: 'Future embarrassment'

Court bans couple’s historical baby name over bullying fears:...

NYC again beats Italy for world’s best pizza — here's where you can find the best slice

NYC again beats Italy for world’s best pizza — here's where...

This tiny town has been world’s toe-wrestling capital for 50 years: ‘people don’t realize how much skill is actually required’.

Multi-time world champion Ben Woodroffe, 35.

Talk about a “feet” of strength.

If Brazil is ground zero for jiujitsu, then Ashbourne, Derbyshire is the mecca for toe wrestling — every year, competitors flock to the tiny U.K. town to see who’ll reign supreme in the unusual sport.

“I’m currently the six-time world champion and I plan on making that seven today,” Lisa Shenton, a 14-year-veteran of the sport whose wrestling name is “Twinkletoes,” told The Independent ahead of this year’s contest.

Ben Woodroffe.

The Ashbourne resident ended up once again defending the female division title, earning a foot-shaped trophy, the BBC reported.

Shenton was one of 28 toe tusslers who competed in this test of phalangeal fortitude, which takes place on an eight-foot stage fittingly dubbed the “toedium.”

Over 200 spectators gathered to watch the recent tournament.

For those unfamiliar with the sport, toe wrestling sees competitors interlock appendages to see who can pin their opponent’s flipper — like a thumb war for the feet.

“It’s exactly like arm-wrestling, however you compete on the toe-dium and you’ve got two upright planks,” said Ben Woodroffe, 35, the current male division champion who’s known on the circuit as “Toe-tal Destruction,” previously explained.

Toe wrestling exhibition.

“The referee says ‘toes away’ and you start your battle. You want to push your opponent’s foot onto the plank,” the digit duelist said.

Contestants start with their right foot and once one of the wrestlers has scored a point, they switch and go at it with their left. This process can reportedly take up to two hours and is complicated by slippage during the bout (which overseers try to mitigate with tape).

Toe wrestling is said to have been invented in Wetton, Derbyshire in 1974 by a group of drunken revelers.

Woodroffe.

Mastering the ferocious form of footsie is said to require a great deal of dedication and training.

“I train with weights on my ankle, [do] stretches and toe wrestle with my partner, Ruth, as much as possible over the year,” said Shenton, who stumbled upon the pursuit while drinking in 2008 and is one of the few women to compete in the sport.

“Most people don’t realize how much skill is actually required in the sport — there is way more strength and core muscle required than people understand,” she said.

Woodroffe flexes his wrestling assets.

Meanwhile, Woodroffe, who first competed in the junior leagues at 14 before joining the men’s competition four years later, wrestles every day, he said.

The 6 ft. 5 in. phenom also exercises with a toe stretcher, which limbers the ligaments and thereby prevents the piggies from going to market, so to speak. He also removed his body hair to increase the amount of friction on the stage and even surgically removed both of his big toenails because they were pushing into his skin.

During this latest championship match, Woodroffe broke his thumb toe at a grisly angle while wrestling 17-time world champion Alan “Nasty” Nash, who has come out of retirement multiple times to face his rival.

Despite the injury, the would-be Toe Frazier emerged victorious.

“Toes can break and it’s common to suffer blisters and sore knees but the glory is worth it,” the champ told the BBC

While toe wrestling has international appeal — the sport has enjoyed sponsorships from the likes of Ben & Jerry’s in the past, and fans traveled from countries ranging from India to Japan and Canada to see this latest kumite — the pastime has yet to achieve widespread fame

Attempts to enter toe wrestling into the Olympics in 1998 proved fruitless, although adherents hope it will earn a second chance.

“This sport has what it takes to be in the Olympics,” declared Woodroffe, who recently went to Paris to promote his passion.

“We need to recruit enough people from different countries to get toe wrestling the worldwide recognition it deserves,” he said.

“I have no doubt that toe wrestling stands a chance if breakdancing does.”

Ben Woodroffe.

Advertisement

IMAGES

  1. 10 Best Things to Do in Derbyshire

    derbyshire towns to visit

  2. The 4 Most Beautiful Towns in Derbyshire & The Peak District

    derbyshire towns to visit

  3. 10 Best Things to Do in Derbyshire

    derbyshire towns to visit

  4. Top 15 Most Beautiful Places To Visit In Derbyshire

    derbyshire towns to visit

  5. The 4 Most Beautiful Towns in Derbyshire & The Peak District

    derbyshire towns to visit

  6. Visit Derbyshire: 2022 Travel Guide for Derbyshire, England

    derbyshire towns to visit

COMMENTS

  1. Towns and Villages of Derbyshire

    Towns. Heading out of the city there is a choice of bustling market towns such as Ashbourne, Bakewell, Buxton and Wirksworth. Chesterfield with its famous twisted spire is the largest market town in Derbyshire.

  2. 19 of the best towns and villages to visit across Derbyshire and the

    31 of the best hotels and places to stay across Derbyshire and the Peak District, based on Google reviews - perfect for a summer staycation

  3. 12 Most Beautiful Places in Derbyshire to Visit

    3. Castleton. Unearth the magic of a village where emerald hills meet cobblestone streets. Known for its caverns and the iconic Peveril Castle, Castleton is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Derbyshire. The village is famous for Blue John, a rare mineral found only here, making it a unique spot for gem enthusiasts.

  4. Towns & Villages

    Discover a world of charming market towns and picture-postcard villages. Steeped in history, surrounded by countryside and brimming with idyllic cottages, quaint shops and characterful pubs, there are so many picturesque towns and villages to explore in the Peak District and Derbyshire. Admire everything from historic houses to Georgian grand ...

  5. THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Derbyshire (2024)

    Dovedale is a National Nature Reserve that…. See way to experience (1) 2024. 7. Peak District Mining Museum. 546. Speciality Museums. Find out about the lead mining heritage of Derbyshire from Roman Times to the present. Interactive exhibits, mock tunnels and shafts to climb, moving models.

  6. 27 Most Exciting Days Out in Derbyshire

    Solomon's Temple, Poole's Cavern and Heage Windmill are also great places to visit in Derbyshire that often go unnoticed. Kedleston Hall may be less famous than Chalke Abbey, Chatsworth house and Bolsover Castle, but it's an excellent example of an English neo-classical manor house. Quicklist: best days out in Derbyshire. 1.

  7. Places to Visit

    Places to Visit. Embark on a journey through Derbyshire's rich tapestry of history and natural wonders. From UNESCO World Industrial Heritage sites like Cromford Mills to the grandeur of Chatsworth House, and ancient marvels like Arbor Low, delve into a treasure trove of exploration. Discover the magic of Derbyshire's captivating destinations.

  8. Visit Peak District & Derbyshire

    A place to refresh and recharge, with adventures to suit everyone from gentle ramblers to adrenaline junkies. Discover hiking, biking and beauty spots galore. Enjoy festival days (whatever the weather), country shows, eccentric traditions and the loudest Bhangra nights. Getting to the Peak District and Derbyshire has never been easier.

  9. 39 stunning places that everyone should see in ...

    There are some stunning places to visit that are right on our doorstep in Derbyshire and the Peak District - and with warmer weather on the way, now is the perfect time to check them out.

  10. 13 lovely villages that are perfect for a day trip in Derbyshire and

    Lifestyle Peak District villages: 13 lovely villages that are perfect for a day trip across Derbyshire and the Peak District - including Castleton, Hathersage, Baslow, Edensor and Tideswell

  11. 10 of the prettiest Peak District towns and villages

    Chatsworth is probably at the top of any list of places to visit in Derbyshire, and once the delights of its House and Gardens have been explored, the estate villages of Edensor, Beeley, Pilsley (home of the famous Chatsworth Estate Shop) and Calton Lees, and nearby Baslow, all offer alternative places to eat and drink, interesting architecture ...

  12. Places to visit in Derbyshire

    Places to visit in Derbyshire. Visit Derbyshire to explore a national park with craggy hills, sweeping dales, mysterious henges and swathes of dense woodland. This East Midlands county is all about the great outdoors. Walk the moors and tors of the Peak District and stop off in market towns Bakewell and Buxton to try the mouth-watering tart and ...

  13. THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Derbyshire

    Things to Do in Derbyshire, England: See Tripadvisor's 531,094 traveller reviews and photos of Derbyshire tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in August. We have reviews of the best places to see in Derbyshire. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.

  14. The best places to visit in Derbyshire

    Blue John and Treak Cliff Cavern. Highly prized by jewellers since the Georgian era for its rhubarb and custard accented colourings, Blue John is a very rare form of mineral called fluorite that's only found in this cave complex underneath the town of Castleton. Awash with dagger-like stalactites and ancient fossils, the two caves are still ...

  15. Locations

    Bolehill Farm Cottages. Bolehill Cottages comprise of modern dog-friendly barn conversions wrapped around a tranquil courtyard set within 20 acres of Peak District National…. Planning on visiting The Peak District & Derbyshire? Get the latest information on attractions, activities, events, accommodation and eating out.

  16. THE 30 BEST Places to Visit in Derbyshire (UPDATED 2024)

    See way to experience (1) 2024. 7. Peak District Mining Museum. 546. Speciality Museums. Find out about the lead mining heritage of Derbyshire from Roman Times to the present. Interactive exhibits, mock tunnels and shafts to climb, moving models. Then visit Temple Mine and find out what….

  17. Visit Derbyshire

    Welcome to Visit Derbyshire. Welcome to www.visitderbyshire.co.uk, your gateway to the stunning landscapes and rich heritage of Derbyshire and the Peak District. Nestled in the heart of England, this region boasts rolling hills, picturesque villages, and historic market towns. Explore the rugged beauty of the Peak District National Park, visit ...

  18. 20 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Derbyshire

    1. Tony Nicholls. 1. aetherington112. 1. Join the Ranks! Add an unusual place to Derbyshire.

  19. Places to Visit in Derbyshire

    Derbyshire is packed with a number of days out and places to visit including Gulliver's Kingdom theme park - for those aged 3 - 13yrs, Conkers - an award winning attraction in the National Forest where you can explore over 120 acres with woodland trails, zipwire and indoor interactive exhibits. Abraham Heights, accessible by cable car takes you to the two caverns of Masson Cavern and ...

  20. 15 tourist attractions in Derbyshire

    Start your visit in the exhibition in the Riding House then run wild in extensive grounds and fun play area. WHERE: Bolsover Castle , Castle Street, Bolsover, S44 6PR OPENING TIMES: Daily 10am to ...

  21. Visiting Staunton Harold

    Top things to see at Staunton Harold. Staunton Harold is a 210-acre countryside space, home to one of the largest reservoirs in Derbyshire. At this hidden gem you'll discover wildflower meadows, woodland habitat, industrial archaeology and nature reserves, along with spectacular views across open water.

  22. THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Derbyshire (Updated 2024)

    Dovedale is a National Nature Reserve that…. See way to experience (1) 2024. 7. Peak District Mining Museum. 546. Speciality Museums. Find out about the lead mining heritage of Derbyshire from Roman Times to the present. Interactive exhibits, mock tunnels and shafts to climb, moving models.

  23. Attractions in the Peak District

    With so many award-winning attractions, great things to do and places to visit in Derbyshire and the Peak District, you're sure to find what you're looking for. The area is bursting with attractions, ranging from the fascinating show caverns of Castleton, the historic National Trust and English Heritage properties dotted throughout Derbyshire ...

  24. Places to Visit Search

    Darley Abbey Park. Parks, Gardens & Nature Reserves in Derby. Darley Abbey, Derby, Derbyshire, DE22 1DR. Within walking distance of the city centre, this large popular park, given to the city by the Evans family, offers fine views of Derby.

  25. Full list of Derbyshire attractions offering huge discounts to bus

    The aim of Travel Derbyshire is to encourage residents and tourists to switch from car journeys to bus rides when they travel. This should help reduce pollution and congestion in the region.

  26. The 10 best places to live in Derbyshire and the Peak District

    4.Belper. Belper rounds out the top three places to live across the county. It was praised for its great high street and schools - and was recommended for those searching for a town that offers ...

  27. This tiny town is the world's toe wrestling mecca

    Talk about a "feet" of strength. If Brazil is ground zero for jiujitsu, then Ashbourne, Derbyshire is the mecca for toe wrestling — every year, competitors flock to the tiny U.K. town to see ...