Baslow, United Kingdom

BASLOW is an inconsequential little village, whose oldest stone cottages string prettily along the River Derwent. It is, however, handy for visits to nearby Chatsworth House, especially if you're travelling by bus. Plus it's the site of one of the Peak District's finest hotels, Fischer's Baslow Hall (Tel:01246/583 259, Web: www.fischers-baslowhall.co.uk ; Price: 151-200), a mile or so out of the village back towards Eyam along the A623. In its own grounds, the hall is picture-postcard perfect, a handsome Edwardian building made of local stone with matching gables and a dinky canopy over the front door. The interior is suitably lavish and the service attentive with rooms both in the main building and in the Garden House annexe next door. The restaurant is superb too, and has won several awards for its imaginative cuisine – caramelized pork belly with peanut brittle and escabeche salad, for instance – set meals cost £65. Alternatively, you can pop back into Baslow for a bite at the excellent Avant Garde Café (daily 10am–5pm), where they serve a delicious range of salads and light meals in bright, modern surroundings; the café is opposite St Anne's Church.