Derby Museum and Art Gallery

No entrance fee. Open every day except Monday.

Downstairs has a lovely display of Derbyshire pottery and sculptors dating back to the 17th Century. I am not usually very interested in this sort of art, however i did find myself drawn towards the colourful circus collection and the farm animal section.The detail of the figures was incredible and the beautiful porcelain crockery of the 18th Century made me feel as though I was back in the Victorian times. This section would usually not be very interesting for children, however Derby Museum have introduced a children's activity area in this room where puzzles can be solved and simple facts about the Elizabethan gentry can be learnt. I learnt that most Elizabethan upper class women used a fan to hide their rotting teeth at the dinner table, due to the excessive consumption of sweets at that time!

There is also an Egyptian section where one can see the mummified body of one of the King's priests during (I think) the 6th dynasty.

I think the visual presentation of a mummified human (above left), an Egyptian casket (above right) and a mummified cat (left) in Derby help adults and children learn about history from close to home.





There are other sections including past and modern military uniforms and information on warfare, the fossils of a rhino and the wildlife of Derby. Each section is interactive and child friendly. The picture below shows part of the interactive dinosaur section.

The wildlife section contains a children's library of nature books and tables where they can colour pictures and draw animals. The picture below shows one of the many children's interactive areas; this section has a dress-up wardrobe where the children can become their favourite animals.

The astronomical section is small but interesting and the contemporary art section was a highlight for me. The image of a bible with a mirror inside it was very effective!

The only negative comment about the day was inside the 'viking boat' room. There was no sign to say what the room was about, there was no information on what the displays were and generally it looked like a random assortment of objects including glass and bone. If this room had more information it would have probably made sense, however without it the room was mediocre.

Overall the day was interesting  and a great place to take the family. This free day out proved a lovely, educational trip which had a bit of every thing a museum should have.

Ripley Greenway to Butterley Reservoir

Ripley Greenway found in the heart of Ripley is an enjoyable and peaceful walk away from the noise of the street traffic. The area is diverse with wildlife, architecture and includes a children's play area. The Greenway is perfect for a Sunday stroll and some exploring.

The trial starts as an open pathway through tunnels and under bridges, which are well lit.

 This path leads to a woodland area, which makes one feel close to nature. When travelling through the trees prepare to climb over a large tree which lies suspended on the path. This area of the walk is lovely and reminds me of the setting of 'The Lord of The Rings.'

If you decide to walk from Ripley Greenway to Butterley Reservoir, a short walk through the small village of Hammersmith is a quick alternative to the main roads.

Butterley Reservoir is a scenic and peaceful area to go fishing or go exploring. I explored the woodland surrounding the reservoir and came across wooden steps leading to a door....

I was too frightened to open this door, however if you are very brave you may check it out and get back to me about it!

The view over the reservoir is interesting, as the Midlands Railway Centre is beside it.

The reservoir was built in 1794 and remains in great condition. If you want to enjoy the view from all sides you can climb over the rocks below the railway tracks, however they stop aburptly and you must turn back to reach the railway station or get back on the main path.

Although I did not go into the station, the trains were visable from across the reservoir and one can walk to it on the trail over the reservoir.

I crossed the track and walked along the side of the station, through the Midlands Railway car park and onto main road to go home after.

Pennytown Ponds, Somercotes

I visited Pennytown Ponds on Sunday for a relaxing walk and found a lovely area of natural beauty.
The ponds are hidden among Cotes Park Industrial Estate and can be quite hard to find from the main B600 road. The walking trial leading to the ponds is located behind a housing estate of the main road. The trial is covered with overgrown plants, so do not be disencouraged about the destination. Continue down this trial where you will probably be met by horses and their riders, who are frequent passers on this path.
The factories surrounding the ponds can be distracting when walking towards the ponds, however when you reach the nature reserve, all memories of the urbanised estate evaporate.

The main pond is surrounded by people fishing or people sitting on a bench reading a book. The area is peaceful and the view is very scenic. If you walk to the end of the main pond you will come to a bridge connecting the other ponds. I took these pictures on Sunday, when one river was frozen over.

Conservation groups maintain the beautiful native plants and animals, making the area a lovely place to relax and enjoy nature.
Birds and native plants surround the ponds and we came upon some colouful friends in one pond.

If you plan to explore every area of the reserve, I would advice you to bring boots as the path does not continue on both sides of the pond.
Overall the walk was relaxing and scenic, free and enjoyable.

Denby Visitor Centre

The place of Denby Pottery.

Located north of Derby, the building is an obvious feature on a quiet rural area of Derbyshire. There are two main areas for tourists: The Factory and the Denby Stores (including a restaurant).

It is free to have a look around the stores however there is not a lot of things to keep children entertained. When we visited,  Santa and Mrs Clause were entertaining guests by walking around the complex and there was one Snowball game free to play. I had a go and it was quite fun. The aim was to knock off the snowman's hat with snowballs! However there was not much else regards children's entertainment.

I also expected to get an interesting tour around the pottery and design factory. Unfortunately the tours had stopped for Christmas and were not beginning again until February. This was a bit of an anti-climax for me, as I find the history of a building and its manufacturing process quite interesting. So I shall return in the summer to go on this tour.

The shops had many interesting items and pottery designs, including hand carved diamonds and it is worth while having a good look around the shops. I found the art work impressive and creative, however the prices where beyond me. Unless you have a lot of money, many of the items are only there for aesthetic reasons. 

Overall, the day was an average day out. There are some activities held throughout the year for children but the focus on Denby ceramics and shopping suggested this place was for adults more than children.

For more information visit http://www.denby.co.uk/visitor-centre+factory-shops/visitor-centre/pcat/visitor_centre/

Strutt's Mill, Belper

I have been living in my rented house for 3 months in Derbyshire and last week decided to explore what the county has to offer. I have promised that every Sunday I would find the cheapest tourist destinations around Derbyshire and post them here.

First stop. Belper's North Mill
Many times I have driven past the mill on my way to work, however the stark size of the building made me intrigued to explore the inside.

Entrance to the mill:£3 including a tour guide. This is a great price for a World Heritage Site!
The tour lasts approx 1 hour, however visitors can stay longer.

Unfortunately most of the building has been closed to the public, but the small area that remains open is very interesting. The original building was built in 1784 but was burnt down in 1804 and was re-erected afterwards with fire proof material. What impressed me was that the building was still held by these (original) materials, such as the wooden flooring and the iron pillars. Unfortunately the huge water wheel has been taken down, however the outline of the structure is clearly visible on the wall below the mill, which is included in the tour.

The history of the mill is impressive and the philanthropic nature of Jedidiah Strutt and how he built Derbyshire's economy was educational. It was interesting to learn his work ethic 'Happy homes make good workers' (in my own words) and how important he was in building homes around Belper.

Learning how to use the Cotton machines and how patterned stockings are made was great fun and would be very educational for children. However the day we went, one of the children had damaged one of the machines.
Overall the trip was very rewarding and enlightening, not to mention cheap!

The Mill is run by volunteers and depends on the donations of visitors to keep it open. For more information on Strutt's North Mill visit: http://belpernorthmill.org/

2 minutes walk from the mill lie the River Gardens. Free to walk around and explore the natural habitat of many birds and plants. Overlooking the Derwent River, it is a lovely spot for scenic relaxation.

Travelling Europe on a low budget.

Ever thought of seeing all the cities of Europe but could not afford to do it? This was my worry when I realised my desire to travel was too great but lack of funds stood in my way. In a moment of desire, my friend and I decided to book tickets to Amsterdam, travelling out in mid-September 2009....I do not know what we expected to happen then. So we would be in mainland Europe...then what? Did we expect thumb lifts to each country? Yes, we were two excited girls, with no plans past this flight. However, in a miraculous moment we found a Saviour, InterRail!

Interrail prices vary, depending on the number of countries you intend to visit, and how long you want to travel. We opted for the 1 month travel costing £350. This ticket included travel with most trains (except for the train between Bari and Rome)  and also cut the price of a boat from Athens to Bari to 20Euro. The ticket was posted out with a map of Europe and an advice booklet.

Ticket prices can be found: http://www.interrailnet.com/interrail-passes/interrail-global-pass


The rail card is cheaper for under 26 year olds and I would recommend it for those wanting to travel during the summer holidays. The ticket allowed us to visit 17 cities in Europe, including Macedonia and Serbia in Eastern Europe. You can travel as far north as Norway, and as south as Greece. Basically it gives you the freedom to go wherever you want and the ticket is recognised in every European country.

The map outlines the roads in each country and the train routes, with the main stops between each country. The pack also includes a route planner: We flew to Amsterdam 2 days before the start date for our train passes, and stayed in Paris 2 days after it ended. It was that easy!


It is worth the student loan or overdraft!