Bolsover Castle
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Overview
For the first time in almost 400 years, from the spring of 2014 visitors to the splendid hilltop 17th-century Bolsover Castle, six miles east of Chesterfield, will be able to take the high-level wall walk. The wall walk was originally built for Cavendish family guests as a platform from which to admire the stunning landscape, which stretches west for over 10 miles across the Vale of Scarsdale towards what is now the modern intrusion of the constant buzz of the M1. It’s all part of a £1 million restoration project by English Heritage for what is known as the Little Castle at Bolsover, which is recognised as one of the most important Jacobean buildings in the country. It is perhaps best known for its exquisite interiors, which comprise an opulent ensemble of decorative finishes, including gilded panelling, carved stonework and wall paintings, some of which have recently been restored by a team of conservation specialists. Bolsover Castle was built by William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, a courtier to King Charles I, as a retreat for entertainment, cultural pursuits and horse-training facilities in the superb Riding School, deep in the Derbyshire countryside. Cavendish and his father Charles wanted to create a unique complex of buildings where they could impress their visitors. The new restoration offers visitors the chance to take a closer look at the surviving architecture and appreciate the vision and background to a cultured nobleman’s life from four centuries ago.
Features
- Opening Times
- Open all year
- Opening Times: Open Oct, daily 10-5; Nov-23 Dec and 24 Feb-29 Mar, Sat-Sun 10-4; 27 Dec-1 Jan, Wed-Mon 10-4; 13-17 Feb and 19-23 Feb, daily 10-4. Closed 24-26 Dec and 1 Jan; 2 Jan-18 Feb. See website for opening times Mar onwards (last admission 1 hour be
- Facilities
- Parking onsite
- Parking nearby
About the area
The natural features of this central English county range from the modest heights of the Peak District National Park, where Kinder Scout stands at 2,088 ft (636 m), to the depths of its remarkable underground caverns, floodlit to reveal exquisite Blue John stone. Walkers and cyclists will enjoy the High Peak Trail which extends from the Derwent Valley to the limestone plateau near Buxton, and for many, the spectacular scenery is what draws them to the area.
Places to eat nearby View all
Nearby places to stay
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Nearby places to stay
Twin Oaks Hotel
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Church Villa B&B
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Ringwood Hall Hotel and Spa
Ringwood Hall is a beautifully presented 19th-century manor house set in six acres of formal gardens, within 29 acres of peaceful parkland, between the M1 and Chesterfield. The stylish ...
Wildes Inns
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Browns
The Old Orchard Cottage was built in 1730, and Browns welcomes you to an adults-only private, tranquil retreat, with three en suite four-poster bed Garden Rooms adjacent to the cottage....
Holbeck Farm Barns, Welbeck Estate
Holbeck Farm Barns are six beautifully converted barns set in the historic Welbeck Estate, each thoughtfully designed to welcome groups of four to eight guests. Every barn has its own p...
Manor Farm Cottage
Situated on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border in the historic village of Teversal, the delightful Manor Farm Cottage sits in a secluded garden setting complete with orchard and comm...
Manor Farm Cottage
Situated on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border in the historic village of Teversal, the delightful Manor Farm Cottage sits in a secluded garden setting complete with orchard and comm...
