Only a ten minute drive from Curlew cottage is the quaint village of Eyam. Famous for the 1665 plague outbreak, it is steeped in history and is well worth a visit. Whether it is to take a tour of the beautiful Eyam Hall, a Jacobean style manor house

Here we started our lovely circular walk to Stoney Middleton, another interesting Peak District village, full of fascinating heritage, many listed buildings, and intriguing legends. The scenery is amazing with its deep and dramatic limestone gorge. Stoney Middleton was originally recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086! The Romans mined here for lead two thousand years ago. Believe it or not, the steel toe capped boot was invented here!

The dramatic crags have made Stoney Middleton world famous for rock climbing, and climbers come from far and wide to enjoy the challenging limestone rock faces and some of Derbyshire’s finest network of caverns and caves.

We eventually walked on and returned back to Eyam. The famous stocks were last used in the late 19th century and were a form of public humiliation where stinking missiles were thrown at scoundrels and the like! Happy to say they were empty this morning!

We stopped for a nice coffee in one of the Eyam cafes and managed to resist the delicious looking cake!

The newly refurbished Peak District pub, The Miners Arms is definitely worth a visit, and the new menu looks amazing.