Buxton
Buxton is known primarily as a spa town, its warm mineral-charged springs welling-up from between 3500-5000ft underground at a constant temperature of 28 degrees century. These natural springs were first recorded by the occupying Romans in the 2nd century AD, and they named the site Aquae Arnemetia - The Spa of the Goddess of the Grove. Since then Buxton has become a place of pilgrimage, its pleasant tasting water, unusual in a spa, is still drunk and sufferers of rheumatism still bath in it.
The spring's medicinal properties were popularised during the late 18 th century by the 5 th Duke of Devonshire. He commissioned the building of the elegant Doric-style Crescent, standing opposite St Anne's Well with the deliberate intention that it should rival fashionable Bath. The beautiful architecture of the Crescent compares favourably with that found in Bath, but Buxton could never realistically compete with its fashionable southern counterpart, most particularly because of the harsh Derbyshire climate. The Duke of Devonshire also built a huge riding school and stables, later to become the Devonshire Royal Hospital. Opened in 1859, it had the widest unsupported dome in the world, at 156ft in diameter.
The Victorian Pump Room, a splendid octagonal construction in glass and iron, houses the Micrarium museum, where microscopes explore the natural world. Originally built in 1905, the ornate Opera House was restored to its former glory in 1979, standing beside the town's theatre and concert hall. The Old Hall Hotel, located in the Town Square, is the oldest and most celebrated hotel in Buxton; now tastefully refurbished, the Old Hall has lost none of its genteel charm. Constructed around a spa water well in the 16 th century, Mary Queen of Scots resided at the hotel on several occasions in the 1570's. Laid out in 1871 by Edward Milner, the Pavilion Gardens incorporate 23 acres of formal gardens, serpentine walls and decorative iron bridges - there is also a Conservatory and Octagon within the grounds. Buxton Museum houses a collection of Blue John ware, made from a rare multi-coloured translucent stone that used to be mined locally.
Although Buxton is one of the highest towns in England at 1007ft, it is sheltered by even higher hills surrounding it. On the shoulder of one of these hills, Grin Low, stands a 19 th century folly, a tower built by Solomon Mycock and known as Solomon's Temple; from this vantage point there are spectacular views across the grey-roofed spa resort. Located in the centre of the Peak District National Park, Buxton is ringed by glorious countryside, full of sweeping hillsides falling away to wooded valleys, peaty moorland, oak and conifer woodlands, reservoirs, coal mines and quarries. The town is often used as the starting-point for many of the Peak country trails, where peaceful walks are the ideal antidote for city stress. Corbar Woods, Axe Edge Point and Ashwood Dale are all natural beauty spots within short distance of the town.