Welcome to Amber Valley, England
Amber Valley is located in the heart of Derbyshire Country, and consists of four communities: Alfreton, Ripley, Heanor and Belper. With its heavy ties to the Industrial Revolution and Samuel Slater, the region has been designated a World Heritage Site and offers many attractions, recreational activities and a wide range of accommodations, including many historic mills. Thanks to heavy tourism promotion, economic development and environmental initiatives, more and more tourists are visiting the Amber Valley, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere and historic nature of the regions.
There is beauty and history at every turn. Attractions such as the Midland Railway-Butterley, where visitors may enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of this remarkable heritage railway with its unique collection of restored locomotives and rolling stock. Also on the transport theme, at Crich Tramway Village, home of the National Tramway Museum, you can take a trip down memory lane on one of the beautifully restored trams that run through a period townscape to open countryside high above the Derwent Valley. At nearby Heage you are able to discover the only working stone-towered, multi-sailed windmill in England.
At South Wingfield, visitors may also admire the dramatic ruins of Wingfield Manor which stand high above the Amber Valley countryside.
The beautiful scenery forms the setting for tranquil villages and vibrant towns, some with weekly markets and regular farmer’s markets. A growing number of antique and craft shops are becoming ever more popular with locals and visitors alike.
As the River Derwent passes through the County of Derbyshire the route it follows has been established as the National Heritage Corridor®. Meanwhile, industrial history is celebrated with the mills that have been designated as a World Heritage Site. Here visitors can see different sites and gain a fascinating insight into industrial and social life during the 18th and 19th centuries. At Belper, Strutt’s North Mill has examples of early cotton spinning machines amongst its exhibits. The Mill is located adjacent to the beautiful River Gardens which form the setting for band concerts during the summer months.
Visit Amber Valley in the Heart of Derbyshire and you will find an ideal destination whatever time of year you choose to visit. Amber Valley is centrally situated and easy to reach with excellent transport links and has so much to see and do. So why not stay a while and relax, we offer a wide range of inspected accommodation with something to suit all tastes and price ranges, from farmhouse B&B’s and country house hotels to unique self-catering properties.