Tissington Hall

It’s best to make the most of decent weather in Manchester if and when we get it. With that philosophy in mind amidst the heatwave last week I decided to explore the peak district once more with a few friends. Accessible far more easily if you live near stockport (Which I do) it takes between 20 – 50 minutes to reach various parts of the district. There’s so much to discover even if you don’t intend to.
I randomly selected a spot on the map to visit and off we went. Half an hour later, upon reaching said spot we discovered there was nowhere to park. So we drove further down the road and took a slip road to do a U-​turn so we could return and find a spot.
We didn’t do a U-​turn!
The slip road led to Tissington Hall.
We stayed there the whole time and we had a blast.
Upon first entering the slip road it appears to be a very long drive to a palace/​mansion of some sort. It’s narrow and gives you the feeling you’re tresspassing on private property. Don’t worry it’s not and you’re not. You drive down this meandering road for a few minutes and then like a car entrance panoramic scene in a film the narrow road takes a sharp left to reveal an incredible view. The road expands, with huge and immaculately cut lawns on each side, an old church, a procession of trees, a cute café, majestic Tissington Hall sitting on a hill and a village full of cottages visible in the distance.
After parking up and enjoying a peaceful leisurely stroll around the hall a visit to the café revealed a brilliant menu full of home cooked foodie options. (I was fasting so missed out on the food but I have it on good authority that the Chicken baguettes and jacket potatoe were sensational) In such a remote part of English countryside it was refreshing to see American, French and German tourists. That might sound like the place was packed but that was it! Four groups of people sitting outisde surrounded by peace and quiet (And perhaps the occasional farmer driving past in a Range Rover) It was such a lovely way to spend a Summer afternoon. Once fed and watered we ventured into the village. It felt like Lord of the rings, the cottages were adorable and the gardens in prestine condition. We discovered two of the best examples of old school private vendors. One was antiques/​souvenir shop and the other an old school sweet shop. Both with arguably the best proprietors I’ve ever come across. It felt like traveling to a different simpler time. I can’t recommend this place highly enough. I’ll definitely be introducing this hidden treasure to friends visiting Manchester. A stark contrast from the concrete jungle in the city centre. Proving once more that Manchester really does have EVERYTHING but a beach. But hey who cares about that… St Anne’s is less than an hour away ;)