We planned another winter break to the Peak District National Park, this time basing ourselves just outside Chesterfield. The area is located high on the moors and surrounded by dramatic rocky scenery. Although rugged and rural it’s easily accessible being just 12 miles from J29 of the M1.
Before checking into our accommodation we called into Stanedge Golf Club which is located nearby. Approached along a narrow lane just off the main Darley Road, the club enjoys an idyllic setting. We’d actually pre-booked a golf lesson but unfortunately the weather wasn’t on our side and the course was closed that day. Our disappointment didn’t last long though as we were warmly welcomed into the cosy clubhouse and soon afterwards were tucking into their award winning bacon baps which were extremely tasty.
The clubhouse is home to Tyzack’s Bar and Restaurant where everyone is welcome and you don’t need to be a member to call in. The dining area is pleasantly styled with checked upholstered seating. The varied menu is reasonably priced and ranges from breakfasts to hearty lunch options including pie of the day, skewers and burgers. With barista coffee and a wide selection of drinks from the bar it’s a great place to call in if you’ve been out walking on the moors as it has a large car park.
From the clubhouse windows there are stunning views across the parkland course which is beautifully maintained and was looking immaculate even in mid-winter. Sharing a coffee with Claire, the club manager, she explained that the course suits all levels of ability with coaching opportunities available from individual to small group. Hopefully we’ll get back in the summer to be able to enjoy our lesson then as when I was in Lapland last summer I visited Levi Golf Club in northern Finland and you can read about my golf lesson here.
On leaving, the rain had eased slightly so we were able to take a few photos of the course before getting back into the car and driving the short distance to the Peak Edge Hotel where we had arranged to stay for the next two nights.
The hotel’s history dates back to 1788 with a small pub on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District. It’s where the current owner grew up and after his father restored the pub in the 1960’s it has more recently been extended into a luxurious hotel and rural retreat.
Just expecting to drop off our bags, we were delighted to discover that our room was ready and Josh on reception soon had us checked in and in no time at all we were settling into our superior room with its sumptuous furnishings. With a Juliet balcony boasting views across the hotel’s grounds and a spacious room with a refined country house feel, we felt very cosy despite the miserable wintry weather outdoors. After making ourselves cups of tea and relaxing in the comfortable armchairs awhile we ventured out again into nearby Chesterfield.
We’d been invited to an afternoon of tea tasting at Northern Tea Merchants about a 15 minute walk from the town centre. The tea merchants/cafe has its own large car park so we didn’t need to search for anywhere to leave the car. The family run business was established in 1926 and through the generations the family have sourced the finest tea, coffee and cocoa worldwide. Director and owner, James Pogson regularly travels to plantations around the world to purchase what he believes to be the best teas available. Today the business supplies more than 3,000 establishments with its high quality products.
Before our tea tasting experience we enjoyed afternoon tea in their charming tearooms. The cafe is traditionally furnished, decorated with tea and coffee pots and has friendly, welcoming staff. Although it’s located on the edge of town, it’s a popular place for locals and visitors to pop in for lunch or afternoon tea. I can’t resist a traditional afternoon tea and the one at Northern Tea Merchants was up with the best.
With over 90 teas to choose from and the aroma of speciality roasted coffees we were spoilt for choice. The cafe incorporates a shop with their vast selection of teas and hand selected coffee beans freshly roasted in house lining the walls. These are all beautifully packaged with an outline of Chesterfield’s famous crooked spire on the front. As well as a large book detailing each variety, helpful assistants are on hand with recommendations depending on preferred strengths, aromas and flavours.
Pots of loose tea arrived first and we were informed that we could have unlimited refills whenever we wished. After enjoying a refreshing cup of Earl Grey, our three tier cake stand arrived filled to the brim with dainty crust-less finger sandwiches, large fruit scones with individual pots of clotted cream and raspberry jam and if that wasn’t enough the top tier was filled with an assortment of delicious cakes.
It felt blissful sitting in the window of the cafe slowly working our way through the delicious selection set out in front of us. We couldn’t manage to eat it all so our lovely waitress popped the leftovers into a box for us to take away and enjoy later. That was just as it should be with a perfect afternoon tea, plenty of choice but with slightly too much on offer resulting in an extra supper time treat.
Filled with tea, cakes and sandwiches we were then introduced to owner/director James Pogson who invited us into the tea tasting room upstairs. We sampled a range of ten varieties of tea learning how to slurp a spoonful around our mouths before swallowing to extract the flavour.
Our tea tasting began with the mild Kukicha Japanese tea and we gradually worked our way along the line of Gunpowder, mid-season Darjeeling, traditional breakfast tea, an Assam Tippy Orthodox from Northern India through to Rose Congou, Red Berry Mix and finally ending with a smoky Lapsang Souchon. It was very interesting and we learnt so much. I will definitely be more adventurous and rather than sticking with my normal range of English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Green tea, I’ll be drinking more of these delicious varieties in the future. I asked about views on adding milk and whether it detracted from the flavour as I always add milk to my tea except when drinking green or fruit teas. The response was that it was just a matter of taste and the most important thing is to simply enjoy your favourite cuppa.
We learnt that the company have been producing tea bags for over 50 years and that they pack enough tea each day to fill a staggering 3 million cups each week in addition to roasting around 300 tonnes of speciality coffees every year. If ever you are in the Chesterfield area, I’d definitely recommend popping in for a bite to eat and to pick up some of their teas and coffees. They also sell online and more details can be found here.
Darkness had fallen whilst we were indoors so we decided to postpone our look around the charming market town of Chesterfield to the last day of our visit. Back at the hotel I luxuriated in the deep slipper bath pampering myself with the fragrant toiletries supplied.
After a little rest we took the lift downstairs to enjoy dinner in the hotel’s Red Lion Restaurant. With roaring log fires to curl up around in the bar whilst sipping glasses of wine, we perused the menu and a little later were taken into the restaurant which oozed rustic charm. During the evening we were looked after by Chloé and our starters of pan fried scallops and Thai fish cakes were both delicious and flavoursome.
For mains I couldn’t resist the rack of lamb which was served pink just as I like it and was extremely tender. Across the table my husband was also enthusing about his venison served on a bed of winter vegetables.
As is usually the case, we couldn’t resist a dessert and surprisingly we both opted for apple dishes – apple and plum crumble served with vanilla ice cream for me and tarte tatin for Mr. C. These were both mouth-watering and perfect comfort food for wintry weather.
Back in our room we relaxed with cups of coffee and I read a few pages of my new Isabel Dalhousie novel before bed.
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