Curbar

Curbar village is the ‘smaller’ sibling of Calver in the Peak District. Situated in far southwest part of the beautiful Hope Valley region, in an ideal spot between Sheffield and Bakewell, it was destined to become one of the most expensive places to live in the national park. Vast space filled with natural beauty along the steep but popular Curbar Edge hillside gives residents plenty of privacy and peace, despite visitors flocking there for a hike.

There aren’t techincally any shops or facilities in Curbar. And yet, it’s rich with things to do in the surrounding area that make it worth a visit.

Curbar Edge is a magnificent gritstone edge that serves as one of the best backdrops of any Peak District village, and can also be seen from Froggatt, Calver and Baslow. Enjoy a 30 minute stroll along the top to Froggatt Edge with incredible landscape views overlooking Hope Valley and towards Bakewell. To the other side heading to Sheffield, you’ll find Dark Peak moorlands that turn into a sea of brown in autumn. There lies Barbrook Stone Circle, but more importantly, Little Barbrook, a discontinued Peak District reservoir that remains protected for wildlife there to flourish. If you’re an experienced swimmer who’s going with someone, stay above the deep water, and are careful not to disturb water vole nests, it’s a nice spot for a bit of wild swimming for adults.

Baslow Edge is a continuation of Curbar Edge that can be accessed by the same Curbar Gap car park on the other side of the road, but it’s a different type of walk. The main path is further from the edge, it’s home to the famous highland cows, which have thick brown fur coats and large horns. The descent from Baslow Edge is more pleasant with countryside adventures through fields. You can head down to the quirky Eagle Stone rock formation and into Baslow village, then loop back round into Curbar village via the River Derwent.

As you first walk into Curbar across the old Calver Bridge, a great parking spot, The Bridge Inn stands to your right. The elegant building is covered with a stunning display of ivy that turns red in autumn. The inside feels less like a typical pub and instead boasts a refurbished decor that blends a rustic, industrial style with a homely touch including book displays and sofas. The Bridge Inn is an ideal summer venue with a large beer garden beside the River Derwent. This stay-in ‘pub’ is the most tourist-friendly in the area while other places in the neighbouring Calver tend to be more resendential. The food is delicious, well presented, locally produced, and the establishment is dog friendly.

All Saints’ Church is located opposite The Bridge Inn, whose past owner did the carpentry for the church as well. The Victorian Church was built in 1868 by William Cavendish, the 7th Duke of Devonshire. To this day, descendants of the Cavendish family reside in Chatsworth House close-by. Services mostly cater to locals, although it’s open to visitors. The inside is small and simple compared to surrounding churches such as the noteworthy St Martin’s in Stoney Middleton, and even St Anne’s in Baslow.

Follow the river underneath for a stroll north to Calver Weir, an outstanding Grade 2 Listed structure built in the 19th century to provide water for Calver Mill. From the Bridge Inn in Curbar, go left up Dukes Drive, past the scouts huts and stunning Calver Mill used for spinning cotton in the 1920s and as a WW2 storage facility. Soon, you’ll encounter a signposted gate on the left. Go through and up the dirt path for a more intimate walk along the river until you reach the weir and A625 bridge heading to Froggatt. You can then cross to the other side and walk back Derwent Valley Way to where you parked. Or, go straight on through the wetlands (cross bridge first) to Froggatt bridge, and go right (east) through Froggatt and Curbar’s residential hillside (Riddings Lane). Go back down Dukes Drive or continue down The Bent road until you reach the crossroad to The Green where you’ll find a cool little well surrounded by cut millstones. Follow Curbar Lane back down to your right shortly after until you reach The Bridge Inn pub and Calver Bridge.

The Derbyshire Gift Shop is a stone throw from Curbar just over Calver Bridge in Calver. It’s attached a nice eating house called Matilda’s where you’ll find specialty coffee and top notch cakes. Despite the strange placement with no other shops in sight, it has thrived since opening in 1978, a testament to the quality of their selections. They sell everything from cushions, teapots and toiletries to greetings cards, toys and books. Sadly, it’s not dog friendly but if parking here you can keep them in the car.

Chatsworth house is one of the finest stately homes in Britain. Home to the royal Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Its rich history and ties to famous films draws crowds, especially during summer and the Christmas market. For centuries, untold millions have been spent on crafting the estate, including house, garden, lakes, and a farmyard, into an incredible English heritage site.

The ‘capital’ of the Peak District, Bakewell is perhaps most known as home to the Bakewell Tart. The original pudding shop remains open for you to try their freshly baked recipe. While Bakewell is often busy, the vibrant town embraces of a slower pace of life with Friday markets, independent shops and restaurants, river walks, and is a relaxing end point to the popular 8.5 mile Monsal Trail.

Stoney Middleton stirs up a sense of mystery and intrigue. The village is full of dramatic local tales, an octagon shaped church, a suspected roman bath house, and multiple heritage trails. Most notably, a limestone crag runs through the village which is beautifully eery. It’s also surrounded by abandoned quarries for climbing and a surprising amount of good food places.

Eyam is one of the more popular Peak District villages. Its very existence is juxtaposed between a picturesque getaway spot that is full of charm and a dark history that wiped most of the village out during the bubonic plague. You can visit Eyam museum to learn more about it, enjoy more traditional afternoon tea, or head up to Eyam moor for Dark Peak moorland walks.

Curbar is situated furthest in the southeast part of the Hope Valley region in the Peak District, which is rural Derbyshire in central England. You can spot it between Sheffield and Bakewell to the southwest.

By car: Use your GPS or Google Maps to find the village. Park in the bay or roadside by Derbyshire Gift Centre. If visiting The Bridge Inn or Matilda’s @ The Eating House, off-street parking is available to the side of both venues. Alternatively, park along Dukes Drive closer towards The Bridge Inn but be mindful that too many parked cars can obstruct oncoming vehicles. For Curbar Edge, head to Curbar Gap car park or enjoy free parking on lay-bys along Clodhall Lane. There’s a BP garage in Calver a few minutes away if you need to refuel.

By bus: The 257 bus (now operated by Andrews of Tideswell) is your go to option. From Bakewell, take the 257 bus from Rutland Square towards Sheffield Centre and get off by Calver Bridge in 15 minutes. If you’re in Hope Valley e.g. Castleton or Hathersage, take the same bus towards Bakewell to arrive within ~20 minutes. This bus takes ~50 minutes from Sheffield Interchange but there is also a quicker Stagecoach 65 bus towards Tideswell that can arrive in ~40 minutes.

By train: Take Northern Rail from Sheffield station (towards Manchester piccadilly) to Hope or Bamford within 30 minutes and then get the 257 bus from the nearby bus stops or from Manchester Piccadilly station (towards Sheffield) in 45 minutes and get the same bus  to Curbar.