When you drive across the surrounding park and see Chatsworth House for the first time, a sumptuous pile of yellow stone surrounded by gardens, fronted by the River Derwent and backed by a tree-covered hillside, it fairly takes your breath away. It is not hard to see why this is the premier tourist attraction of the area.

The original house here was the work of Bess of Hardwick in the late 16th Century. Though no trace of this can now be seen, the modern house retains many of the Elizabethan interior walls and the Huntingtower on the hill above the house dates from the 1580s.The first Duke rebuilt Chatsworth in Classical style between 1686 and 1707, with the Library and North Wing added by the 6th Duke between 1790 and 1858.

The park was landscaped by the 4th Duke (1720-1764), who engaged 'Capability' Brown to reshape the formal garden into the more natural one you see today. The 6th Duke engaged Joseph Paxton as the head gardener, resulting in the enrichment of the gardens and the creation of the Emperor Fountain as well as the now demolished Great Conservatory. The house and gardens have remained little changed since the 6th Duke's time.

The house itself is magnificent, if a little overwhelming, while the gardens are a treat, and the surrounding park is a superb area of open space with fine scenery, woods and views of the house and surrounding area - an excellent place for relatively gentle walks.

It is also possible to visit the farmyard behind the house, where typical farm animals can be seen in context; with milking demonstrations and other insights into life on a farm for both the people and the animals. Next to the farmyard there is a small adventure playground.

Car parking is provided alongside the house at a charge of £1 and free at Calton Lees at the south end of the park (about 1 mile or 1.5 km from the house, but a very pleasant walk across the park).