Before moving to Spain in 2023, my wife and I used to live in Wirksworth, Derbyshire. A place I affectionately used to call ‘Quirksworth’ given its unique charm and quirkiness - a place we often talk about potentially retiring to one day.

On this trip we spent time visiting some of our favourite Derbyshire spots - including Wirksworth, soaking up the nostalgia and enjoying the seasonal moment where winter says goodbye and the early signs of spring start to appear. We also visit, Tissington, Ashford on the Water and Hardwick Hall.

Tissington is a picturesque, "picture-book" estate village in Derbyshire known for its 17th-century Jacobean hall (Tissington Hall), stone cottages, and historic well-dressing traditions. When we arrived in Tissington, it was very cold, damp and misty giving the place a quiet etherial atmosphere.

Ashford in the Water is a picturesque, "chocolate-box" village in the Derbyshire Peak District, located near Bakewell on the banks of the River Wye, famous for its medieval Grade II listed Sheepwash Bridge. There is a wonderful Tea Room (Aisseford Tea Room) that bakes the best “Bakewell Scones” and a must try if you appreciate an afternoon tea.

Our final stop - Hardwick Hall is a favourite of mine that stems from childhood. Hardwick Hall is an Elizabethan "prodigy house" built by the formidable ‘Bess of Hardwick’ in the 1590s. Famous for the phrase "more glass than wall". The house is typically very dark inside (to prevent UV damage to the many old tapestries hanging around the place) and flash photography is prohibited, hence only a handful of shots outside of the hall.

Enjoy!!!