I've posted about this before, but now I'm seriously considering a trip to the Peak District Saturday - Monday in early July. I'd stay in Buxton and use public transport. Here are my thoughts:

SATURDAY

Arrive in Buxton around 10:30
Train to Hardwick Hall and Gardens
Buxton in evening

SUNDAY
Chatsworth (OPEN 11-6)
Haddon Hall (OPEN 12-5)

In what order? And, can I fit both in on the same day? How do I get between (my thought is taxi).

MONDAY

Buxton in morning
Bus to Lyme Park/gardens
Time for anything else?
Depart Buxton at 6 pm for Oxford

Thanks!

I thought we had come up w/ a plan for the best/most efficient plan on your earlier thread about the Peak District. Can't find the thread now - but it had how you could fit them all in.

How did your Parents' visit work out??

Some of this doesn't sound very easy without a car - are you set against driving?

Buxton to Hardwick Hall is not going to be easy - the nearest station is Chesterfield wich is 8 miles away and to get to it would take several changes of trains and about 3 hours.

I think there is a bus from Buxton to Chatsworth that only goes once a day, so what you have time to do is limited by that. I'd allow a good few hours at Chatsworth, the house and gardens are extensive.

Lyme Park shouldn't be a problem. There is a bus along the A6, or it isn't too far to walk the back route from Disley station, if you are reasonably fit. We have done it in the past and it's about a couple of miles.

Thanks, janis. I'll track down my previous post. I had a nice weekend with my parents, thank you for asking. Will post a report.

Thanks for the advice, Maria. I'll have to look more carefully at transport. I am set against driving. I do know Lyme Park would be easy and that Chatsworth has a limited bus. Not sure about Hardwick ... maybe there is a coach there as well? I'll keep searching.

If you like opera, music or literature, the Buxton Festival is on from 2nd to 22nd July. The programme is at
http://www.buxtonfestival.co.uk/

Chatsworth's gardens open at 10:30, so you can walk around them for a while, then tour the house.

We left Chatsworth around...1:30 or 2:00 and spent the rest of the afternoon at Haddon Hall.

I remember from your earlier thread that there is a walking path between Chatsworth and Haddon Hall. They are not too far apart - just a few minutes' drive.

They are both lovely houses and I think you'll enjoy your weekend.

Lee Ann

Although just a short distance by car, the walk between Chatsworth and Haddon is 3 - 4 miles, a good hours walk each way. The 58 bus from Buxton on a Sunday to Chatsworth gives you just over 4 hours, not enough time (in my opinion) to see both, even with a taxi, unless you can find alternative busses or other transport.

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry to do this to you all again, but I think I may skip out on the Peak District this time around, as I hope to visit a friend in Yorkshire.