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Tideswell
The ancient village of
Tideswell is situated in the heart of the Peak District National Park
six miles from Bakewell. Located in a large valley it’s surrounded by
scenic hills and dales crisscrossed with the traditional dry-stone walls
long associated with this area of northern England.
The original settlement
of Tideswell predates the Roman occupation and become a thriving market
town in the Middle Ages when its magnificent church was constructed.
Although not actually a cathedral, St John the Baptist is known locally
as the ‘Cathedral of the Peaks’ due to its
 impressive
architecture that dominates the village.
In the 19th
century with the growth of the textile industry Tideswell’s small
factories produced silk scarves and handkerchiefs for the Macclesfield
silk industry while nearby mills in Cressbrook and Litton produced
cotton.
The mills have long since
closed but with the establishment of national parks in the 1950s
under the ‘National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act’ along with
increased popularity of
 recreational
walking and activity holidays, Tideswell remains a lively place rich in
rural heritage.
In the Spring and Summer months the
Peak District
tradition of Well dressing takes place with many towns and villages
participating in this very old practice of dressing the village wells and
springs to give thanks for the purity of the water. Tideswell’s well
dressing takes place on the Saturday nearest to the 24th June
and kicks off a week of activities including, brass bands and guising (a custom
of acting out traditional plays based on local folklore), and culminates
in a carnival and torch-led procession through the village on the
following Saturday.
 A
popular destination for hillwalkers and hikers, Tideswell enables easy
access to the Peak District’s large network of public footpaths. Several
long-distance trails are also available in the park which are popular with cyclist,
horse riders as well as
 walkers.
While the many grit-stone outcrops , Peak limestone cliffs, caves and
caverns are popular with
rock climbers and cavers alike. Water and air sports are also popular
with nearby lakes and reservoirs provides opportunity for
sailing, fishing and canoeing while gliders, hang-gliders,
paragliders, and balloonists are a common sight in the local skies.
Whatever you reasons for
visiting the Peak District, Tideswell
is an ideal base for exploring the National Park along with its charming
villages and many local attractions. Click here
to enquire about availability of bed and breakfast or holiday apartment
accommodation at Rockingham Lodge.
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