Whaley Bridge: Best Things to Do

Google Maps - Photo by Chris Wilman

Whaley Bridge is a small town located in the High Peak district of Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom.

Known as the 'Gate to the Goyt Valley', Whaley Bridge, offers a quiet location at the head of the beautiful Peak Forest Canal.

The city is based around the conservation area and Grade II, listed Transhipment Warehouse, which was once the main transfer station for limestone shipped throughout the UK.

Whaley Bridge offers numerous tourist attractions, from the historical to green parks and castle around.

Plenty of interesting landscapes and scenic area you can visit with its famous canal throughout the city.

SIGHTSEEING

Whaley Bridge is a great place to enjoy in any season. It held annual events and it attracts many tourists to come. Other traditional annual events include the Rose Queen Festival and Carnival and the ancient Peak District and the Derbyshire tradition of Well Dressing, also in June. Canals lined with trees are suitable for leisurely walks and bicycles to historic Peveril Castle and Bugsworth Basin and are also a starting point for long-distance routes such as the Goyt Way and Midshires Way.

Peveril Castle

The imposing ruins of Peveril Castle stand high above the pretty village of Castleton in the heart of Derbyshire's Peak District. Mentioned in the Domesday survey, Peveril Castle is one of England's earliest Norman fortresses.

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DOWNTOWN

The downtown of Whaley Bridge is a quiet yet busy place to see community doing their business. Back at Whaley Bridge, visitors can count on the choice of small and independent shops that sell everything from bicycles and special gifts to quality wine and locally produced food, including the monthly Farmers Market, plus a choice of friendly pubs, restaurants, and cafes. You can also visit the nearby attractions like Lyme Park to learn about the old-ancient history buildings and more.

Lyme Park

Highland cattle have returned to Lyme with the purchase of a dozen animals, thanks to a generous gift made by a local family in memory of a loved one. The 'fold', as a herd of highland cattle as called, will be increased next few years.

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SHOPPING

There are several shops to buy interesting souvenirs in Whaley Bridge yet you should be smart in picking a good place. Jarva Gallery is a great little shop that sells prints and originals from local artists, all framed at home. It also has a nice selection of jewelry and gifts. This place is the best one to buy souvenirs with reasonable prices.

Jarva Gallery

Come and browse the other areas of the gallery exhibiting original paintings and prints, Sculptures and ceramics along side the bespoke framing service for your own works, photos or art.

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FOOD & DRINK

While at Whaley Bridge, treat your taste with local classics such as the famous Bakewell Pudding from the historic market town of Bakewell, sample delicious local cheeses made in Hartington village, enjoy freshly made Ashbourne Gingerbread, or try delicious local Derbyshire or Staffordshire Oatcakes. Lots of local food with delicious flavors that you must try. Many places can be visited to taste the local cuisine at Whaley Bridge.

CULTURE

Whaley Bridge is located in the High Peak district of Derbyshire, England, and of course, the language they speak is British-English.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to visit Whaley Bridge in England is from June until September when you will have a soft or pleasant temperature and limited rainfall.

HOTEL

Springbank Guest House is a comfortable, family-run guesthouse where that aims to provide a friendly, relaxing place to stay while visiting friends or family. This place is also on a romantic rural vacation or a vacation on foot or for business. They have safe overnight facilities for cyclists to store bicycles and very luxurious old bathtubs with plenty of room to enjoy a long soak after a day on the road or in the hills.

Springbank Guest House

The house was built around 1840 and retains many Victorian features. We offer period style, en-suite bed and breakfast accommodation in the beautiful Goyt valley within easy reach of Buxton, Stockport, Macclesfield, Manchester and Sheffield.

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RESTAURANT

The Judith Mary II Restaurant Canal Boat is a 72-feet narrow ship that can accommodate up to 40 passengers and sails along the Upper Peak Forest Canal with varied food choices. They are fully licensed, heated at the center and sail 7 days a week throughout the year. You can also eat at the East Lodge Restaurant. It is an award-winning restaurant; it's stylishly quiet, with a friendly and calm atmosphere. Offering the best of modern British cuisine while ensuring they reflect the traditional rural environment.

Judith Mary II Restaurant Canal Boat

All meals are inclusive of a two hour cruise along the beautiful Upper Peak Forest Canal, situated in Whaley Bridge, High Peak, only 16 miles from Manchester, 6 miles from Buxton and 29 miles from Sheffield.

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East Lodge Restaurant

East Lodge is an ideal Exclusive Use Venue for weddings, family celebrations, banquets, re-unions, and business meetings.

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CAFE

Bridge Bakehouse was opened in 2013 and has become a Whaley's best place to have meals. Bakewell cherry is better than the one sold at the actual Bakewell, grilled cheese sarnies make the perfect sticky salty lunch and the sausage rolls are legendary items. There's also Fryery Cafe, it stays open later and the curry sauce is amazing and offered hot or not. This is the right chippy, with shandy cans, and dandelions and burdock, and pickled eggs in a jar on the table.

Bridge Bakehouse

We use fresh whole eggs, pure British butter and Belgian chocolate in our treats, just like when we used to bake with our granny, stood on a chair, apron touching the floor with a dusting of flour on our cheeks.

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The Fryery

This is the right chippy, with shandy cans, and dandelions & burdock, and pickled eggs in a jar on the table.

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BAR AND NIGHTLIFE

The White Hart is a great place to have drinks in Whaley Bridge. You can order some foods or local bites with a glass of champagne, a bottle of local craft beer, or whatever you want fancy. Besides, Whaley is known locally as a city of drinkers, and you are spoiled for choice of beers. Goyt Inn is the most traditional local pub, especially comfortable in winter. You can also buy some drinks in the Whaley Nook Tap washroom since they sell craft beer from some local brewers and the best Cocks for a family pub lunch.

The Goyt Inn

The Whaley Nook Tap washroom sells craft beer from some local brewers and the best Cock for a family pub lunch.

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The White Hart

The drinks available are varied with different kinds and you can spend the cold weather inside.

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INTERESTING PLACE

Buxton Museum & Art Gallery with more than 1,200 objects on display, covering 360 million years of history. You can explore when sharks swim across the Peak District and when giant dragonflies rule the sky. You can also see ice age animals, the great power of the back legs of the cave and the death teeth of the sword-toothed cat. Everything can be found in this museum. You can follow the journey under the earth with an expert guide in Poole's Cavern & Country Park. Explore the vast limestone caves and see how Stalactite and Stalagmite crystals have been lined up in rooms for millions of years. Back on the land explore the beautiful rural forest park and end your day by taking a walk to the viewpoints of Grin Low and Solomon's Temple with incredible views of the Peak District.

Buxton Museum & Art Gallery

Visit Buxton Museum and Art Gallery to discover the archaeology, geology, art and history of the Peak District.

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Poole's Cavern & Buxton Country Park

Beneath the earth with expert guides, explore the vast limestone caverns see how crystal stalactites have lined the chambers over millions of years. Stroll though beautiful woodland trails to a panoramic Peak District hilltop viewpoint.

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INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOT

Located on the edge of the Peak District, Lyme Park, House and Garden was once home to the Legh family and, in its heyday, was a great sports district. 1,300 hectares of land with herds of red deer and medieval fallow offer fantastic walks, running and amazing views. The impressive ruins of Peveril Castle stand high above the beautiful village of Castleton in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District. This castle was not used after the Tudor period, and in the 17th century, only a barrier was used - as a courthouse. When this is abandoned the castle gradually becomes destroyed until what is left is restored this century.