MAY 

26th April to 12th May Peak District Walking Festival A two week festival of walking, which provides something for everyone, ranging from challenging hikes across open countryside to relaxed city, and town strolls. There are numerous guided and themed walks, including: historical, wildlife, ghost, literary & folk tale.

9-15 May Tissington Well Dressing Tissington is known as the mother place of well dressing, with visitors arriving from all over the world to witness the annual well blessing ceremony on Ascension Day. Dressing consists of erecting boards covered in clay, into which thousands of flower petals are pressed to create a colourful tableaux of a biblical or topographical scene. It is probable that well dressing took place here in 1348, in thanksgiving for the village's escape from the Black Death, which the villagers attributed to the purity of its water.

10-12 May Chatsworth International Horse Trials Chatsworth provides a spectacular setting for its International Horse Trials, with a cross country course running through the beautiful 1000-acre park on the banks of the river Derwent. This three phase event is extremely demanding, as both horse and rider have to show obedience and grace in the dressage phase, courage and athleticism across country and accuracy in show jumping. There are also pony club events, and displays.

16-19 May Pavilion Gardens, Buxton - Antique and Collectors Fair One of the largest antique and collectors fairs in the area with absolutely everything you could imagine. Well worth a visit

16 May Dambuster Museum, Derwent Valley The Dambusters Museum, (situated in the west tower of Derwent Dam), are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the daring RAF mission to destroy the Ruhr Dams in Germany during World War Two.

The reservoirs in the Upper Derwent Valley were famously used by 617 Squadron, 'the Dambusters', to practice firing the unique “bouncing bombs” invented by Dr Barnes Wallis which had to be released precisely at a height of 60ft and a speed of exactly 222mph.

The rigorous training runs resulted in many furious locals who presumed the crews were just joy-riding. The bombers rattled roof tiles off farmhouses and were blamed for the reduction in egg and milk production!

18 May White Peak Marathon This is an off road full marathon using the old railway lines which now form the White Peak Trails. Setting off from Thorpe Cloud at 11am along the Tissington Trail to Parsley Hay and then downhill along the High Peak Trail to finish at Cromford Meadows. For those who want to take a short cut the Swift Marathon goes from Friden direct to Cromford Meadows!

JUNE 

3 June Dovedale Fete A traditional country village fete with cakes, stalls, entertainments, maypole dancing, morris men, fair rides and much more. It is held in the picturesque village of Ilam from 12pm onwards. A good event for entertaining the children!

9 June Open Farm Sunday Open Farm Sunday is a fantastic opportunity for everyone, young and old, to meet the farmers who grow their food and care for the countryside - check the website for local events.

18 June -29th August

(check opening dates) Summer Gardens at Hopton Hall Formal gardens including a 1 acre walled garden with over 2000 roses in 40 individual beds surrounded by 5000 neatly trimmed box plants. Follow the meandering path to the croquet lawn & rosewalk, around 2 ornamental ponds leading to the wildlife lake, Arboretum, Laburnum tunnel, and Birch Avenue. A gardeners paradise. Open Tues, Wed and Thurs, admisson £4. tasty cakes and tea available

29 June - 7 July Bakewell Well Dressings An ancient custom, only found in Derbyshire & Staffordshire, where 5 wells in Bakewell are dressed by pressing flower petals and natural materials onto clay backboards to produce stunning displays. Blessing Service Sunday 30 June 2013 at 2.30 pm at the Garden of Remembrance, Bath Garden, The Square, Bakewell.

23 June Derbyshire County Show A traditional County show near Borrowash, Derby, with plenty of animals, horse classes and a farrier competition.

 JULY