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Peak District Towns and Villages: Alstonefield

An index to Peak District towns and villages including Alstonefield, Ashbourne, Bakewell, Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Leek, Matlock, Macclesfield and Wirksworth in Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire, England, UK.
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Alstonefield

Local Services:

B & B

Self Catering

Food and Drink

Local Geography:
Area Map

Nearby Villages

Local Attractions

Alstonefield is the major village of the region which lies between the lower Dove and Manifold valleys. It is a pretty village which has not been spoilt by the large number of tourists it receives each weekend.

Alstonefield village green
Alstonefield village green
The village is centred around the village green with the George Inn on one side, the church down a cul-de-sac to the south and the newer part of the village to the north and west. The church is mostly 16th century, though there are some Norman bits and there was probably a Saxon church on the site. An interesting internal feature is the unusual box pew (painted a rather garish colour) of the Cotton family, owners of nearby Beresford Hall, whose famous scion Charles Cotton featured in 'The Compleat Angler'.

From the church it is a fine walk to Milldale and the Dove. In the direction of the village green there lies the Manor House, dated 1587, and around the green there is a shop and the possibility of a cup of tea.

Hopedale and Stanshope are two hamlets situated just to the south of Alstonefield. The former lies in a valley leading down to Milldale and has a pub, the David-Watts Arms, and the latter is a farming hamlet centred around Stanshope Hall Farm, a fine 18th century building.

Nearby Places of Interest

Dovedale and Thorpe CloudDovedale is the name given to the section of the Dove valley between Milldale and Thorpe Cloud on the bounday between Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Famous for its scenery and fishing.
Ilam Church and HallIlam Church, Staffordshire, is the burial place of St Bertram and a place of pilgrimage. A lovely church with some Saxon parts. Close to Ilam Hall, once home of the Watts Russell and Port families.
Ilam Hall and ParkIlam Hall is the remains of the hall built by the Watts Russell family in the 1820s, close to Ashbourne. The Hall and Park now belong to the National Trust
Manifold and Hamps TrailThe Manifold and Hamps Trail is a Staffordshire Peak District cycle track which follows the old light railway which once ran along the valley.
Thor's CaveThor's Cave is the most spectacular sight of the Manifold valley, Staffordshire, a large cave with a fine view, which was inhabited in the Stone Age.
Tissington HallTissington Hall is the 17th century home of the FitzHerbert family in Tissington Village near Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Wonderful furniture, paintings and porcelain collection.
Tissington TrailThe Tissington Trail, a Derbyshire Peak District cycling trail follows the former railway line between Buxton and Ashbourne.
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