WITH typically erratic – and wet – weather forecast over the bank holiday weekend, here are 12 ideas to keep the family entertained, both indoors and out.
1. Go to Crich Tramway Village – This famous county leisure destination is getting musical this weekend, hosting a Bands at Crich weekend from tomorrow until Monday.
Groups and musicians from all genres will be performing but if you love brass, jazz and folk you will be particularly well looked after. Plus, there will be a small beer festival into the early evening to celebrate spring. To find out more, visit tramway.co.uk.
2. Visit a stately home – Derbyshire is blessed with a fine array of magnificent buildings open to the public, and many run special bank holiday events. For example, from tomorrow through to Monday, the sights and sounds of a First World War ground defence camp and frontline hospital will be relived in the grounds of the National Trust’s Sudbury Hall.
Costumed soldiers and nurses, tents, weapons, authentic artefacts, talks and demonstrations will bring this era back to life. There will even be the chance to meet the drill sergeant as he bellows out regimental orders. The living history camp will be in the ground of Sudbury Hall from 1- 5pm tomorrow, Sunday and Monday. The event will be free of charge, but regular hall admission charges will apply for the indoor exhibition.
3. Get on your bike – hire a bike from one of the many cycle hire centres in the county, such as the High Peak and Tissington Trails. You’ll find a list of hire centres at peakdistrictcycleways.co.uk.
4. Steaming in – Claymills Victorian Pumping Station in Meadow Lane, Stretton, near Burton, is a short hop up the A38 and it’s holding Steaming Days on Sunday and Monday, from 10am-5pm. You will find two large beam engines, five storeys high, a boiler house with five Lancashire boilers, a steam powered engineering workshop, blacksmith’s forge and joiner’s shop. The fun will include a chance to operate a steam engine, follow the rat trail, blacksmith and woodwork demonstrations, children’s activities and miniature traction engine rides. Adults £5, children £2, concessions £4 and family ticket £12.
5. Find a geocache – Gadget-loving youngsters will enjoy using technology to track down small boxes of “treasure” hidden away in our landscape. All you need is a smartphone, or a GPS device, and a sense of adventure, then you’re ready to join the world’s largest treasure hunt. Just register at geocaching.com, tap in your postcode and you’ll see dozens of hidden “caches” on your doorstep. Your GPS device will guide you to the area, then you need to use your skills to follow clues and find the cache. This could be anything from a small sandwich box to something much more quirky. Inside you may find small treasures (think party bag gifts) which you can swap for your own, then sign the log book, record your find on the internet and head off for another one.
6. Get back to nature – Derbyshire is rich in wildlife, and there are people out there eager to help you learn more about it and how to protect it. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust holds regular events and ideas to help you get back to nature, which are listed at derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk. Events this month include a guided walk at Carr Vale, one of the best bird watching sites in the county, on Saturday May 9. The walk, £1, starts at 10am. Meet at Derbyshire County Council Stockley Trail carpark, Riverside Way, Bolsover, S44 4GA. Details on 01246 234924.
7. Watery fun – Derbyshire folk have long had a fascination with water… it probably comes from being so far from the sea! Fortunately we don’t have to travel too far to enjoy some water-based activities. Carsington Water is a great place to visit for a family day out, with an extensive adventure playground, cafes, shops and, naturally, a sailing club. If you prefer to stay firmly on top of the water, the revamped Mercia Marina, near Willington (merciamarina.co.uk), could be the place for you. It’s great for coffee and cake and boat trips operate from March to October, on Thursdays to Sundays, noon-5pm.
8. Go shopping – It’s one of the nation’s favourite pastimes and a good thing to do, rain or shine. Donington Sunday Market and free car boot sale is always worth a visit. You can browse stalls galore from 8am onwards. And don’t forget to cut out the Donington Sunday Market advert on these pages as it will give you one free entry. Meanwhile Something Different, a new shop in Toton, should appeal to vinyl junkies. It stocks vinyl, CDs and record players as well as collectibles. Open throughout the bank holiday weekend, you will find it at the Japanese Water Gardens, off Bardills’ Island, 251 Toton Lane, Toton, NG9 7JA. Finally, if you love stalls to browse, why not explore Derby Market Hall?
9. Get walking – Inject some fun into your walks to keep the children entertained. As well as geocaching (see number 5), you can send younger kids on a nature scavenger hunt. Print out a list of items for them to find, such as a pine cone, oak leaf, etc, and offer a prize when they’ve discovered them all. Older children can be let loose with a digital camera and challenged to take snaps. Who wants to be a wildlife photographer and find 10 different birds to photograph? Or bugs? Or seven different types of stile?
Older children can take charge of the map and lead the way. Kiddiwalks in the Peak District by John and Anne Nuttall, is aimed at families and focuses on walks where there are interesting features to keep their attention. Or ask at a tourist information centre for routes suitable for families.
10. Fun for food lovers – Hardwick Hall, near Bakewell, plays host to the The Great British Food Festival from tomorrow until Monday. You will find more than 80 artisan producers, a generous amount of hot food, real ale and wine bars, kids’ cookery lessons, children’s activities, chef demos from Great British Bake Off finalists Howard Middleton and Luis Troyano, a cake competition and a serving of Men v Food.
Add live music into the mix and you have a foodie day out for the whole family. Tickets are £7.50 for adults, children aged five to 13 £3.50, under fives free, family ticket £20 (two adults and three children). Pay on the day or buy online at greatbritishfoodfestival.com/hardwick-hall.asp
11. Traditional summer day out – The Bakewell Showground Spectacular takes place on Sunday and Monday, from 9.30am to 5pm. You’ll find a funfair, food and bar, live music, aerobatics display, craft marquees, vintage tractor, classic and super cars – and even lawn mower racing! Adults £6, seniors £5, under15s £4, under fives free. Car park £3. More details at spectacularweekend.com.
12. Buxton brilliance – The famous Derbyshire spa town will host a Spring Fair on Monday, from 10am to 5pm. There will be masses of stalls throughout the town, art and crafts, gifts, kids’ stuff, charity stalls, health products, food and drink, plus have-a-go activities and entertainment of all kinds. More details at buxtontownteam.org/buxton-spring-fair/