Our two nearest towns are Ashbourne (5 miles) and Uttoxeter (7 miles).
Uttoxeter is good for all things everyday and practical – with a traditional town centre and a small retail park. You will find small versions of High street names such as Wilko, Focus, Argos, Woolworths, Superdrug, a Friday market and a reasonably big Tesco food store. There are one or two gift and occasional shops. Good for charity shop bargain hunting.
Ashbourne is more for browsing, with many small
and varied independent shops, gift shops, boutiques, art and crafts and antiques.
Boots, Partners,
WH Smiths, Co-op, Edinburgh Woollen Mill are some of the High St names. Two
good charity shops. Good selection of cafes and tea rooms. There is also a
modest Sainsbury’s store. A small market on Thursdays.
Ashbourne is a Fairtrade town, which means there is a significant commitment
from retailers to include fairtrade products in their range.
Clothes and shoes – a new designer discount outlet
in the maltings, Uttoxeter. Try Dorothy Helen, Uttoxeter for occasional ladies
wear. Trendy boutiques in Ashbourne, as well as Dorothy Perkins and Mackays.
Try Sacs, and New Ideas in Ashbourne, for something special and different.
Pachacuti,in Dig St Ashbourne, is a fair-trade, award winning boutique with
south American products, including alpaca.
Bookshops – a bargain bookshop in Uttoxeter, near to the market place, and a really good quality ‘Bargain books’ in St John St, Ashbourne.
Cookshops – try Emma’s in Carter St, Uttoxeter – also good kitchenware in County China, in the Maltings, Uttoxeter. Try Ashbourne house and Bennett’s in Ashbourne for a cookshop fix!
‘Go take a look’ shops! – all the rest all fit into this category – there are plenty to browse round.
Don’t forget the two local garden centres, Fairways and Doveleys for a wide range of quality gifts (see places to go for location details)
Standard shopping malls and high St fashion stores are to be found at Burton
on Trent, Derby, and Hanley (the Potteries.)
Tutbury - is 17 miles away – a quick and direct journey along the A50 – you’ll be there in less than half an hour. Interesting gift type shops, down the high St, and craft shops, and ceramics café in the Tutbury Mill mews at the bottom of the High st. Also Tutbury Crystal. Visit Tutbury castle if you have time – also a good play and picnic area for little ones. Public toilets in car park in the town, at the top of the hill.
You MUST call in at Spectra while you are in Tutbury – situated at the top of the high street, next to the clock shop on the corner. It is a small shop absolutely full of everything to do with fossils, crystals, gemstones, beautiful objects and fairies. Ann the proprietor, is better than any museum curator. Ask her politely, say you are staying with us at Dove farm, and she will explain what all the crystals and fossils are. Children can hold a mammoth’s tooth or a hadrosaur’s egg, or whatever Ann has in stock. But don’t forget, it is a shop and items do get sold!
Leek – is a very old and historic market town, a varied mix of the quaint and interesting, and that includes the shops too! Plenty of antiques and collectables, with regular general markets on Wed, Fri and Sat. Fine food markets every 3rd Saturday. Profusion of pubs and tucked away tea rooms to keep you going!
Wirksworth Factory Shop
North end Mills, Wirksworth, Derbys DE4 4FG (opp fire station.) 01629 824731
www.wirksworthbusiness.co.uk
the largest, independent factory shop in England. Large selection of mens,
womens and children’ clothing and household textiles. Café and
toilets on site.
Peak Village
Rowsley, Derbys DE4 2JE (on the way to Chatsworth, also close to Caudwell’s
mill)
www.peakvillage.co.uk
The Peak District’s only factory outlet shopping centre. Variety of
brand names on site.
Masson Mills
Matlock Bath, DE4 3PY
www.massonmills.co.uk
Based at Sir Richard Arkwright’s 1783 mills. Interesting shops in an
impressive and unusual converted mill setting. (working textile museum on
site) there is plenty of car parking, which extends below ground under the
mill buildings.
Trentham Gardens
Situated at Trentham, on the A34 Stoke-Stafford road. Well signposted.
www.trenthamleisure.co.uk
Wide variety of specialist outlets, including food, clothing and gifts. Don’t
forget the garden centre itself. Various food outlets too. Pleasant ‘shopping
village’ environment.
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