Come rain or shine, this is a county where you are always guaranteed a great day out. Derbyshire curiosities can be divided into two types: those that are best seen in good weather, and those for which it doesn’t matter. In rainy weather, head for the show caves. Poole’s Cavern, in Buxton, offers a fascinating range of underground treasures. Don’t miss the Flitch of Bacon, otherwise known as the longest stalactite in Derbyshire. If that gives you a taste for the subterranean, make your next stop Castleton and Treak Cliff cavern – home of the rare Blue John stone. Also in Castleton is the Peak Cavern, which bears the charming nickname of The Devils’ Arse and has the largest cave mouth in the British Isles. And if the weather clears up, enjoy a breath of fresh air by climbing Mam Tor, the Shivering Mountain: the views from the top are unparalleled. If history is more up your street, visit Arbor Low and Eyam Moor stone circles, to discover man’s ancient heritage. Wherever you go, bear in mind that all these attractions require sensible footwear, and most caverns require you to stoop so might not suitable for adults with back problems – do phone ahead to check.

1 Arbor Low Henge and Stone Circle
Also known as the Stonehenge of the Peak District, Arbor Low is one of the finest stone circles to be found in the north of England. The site consists of a circular outer bank, a silted ditch and a grassy plateau, on which lie 46 large stones and 13 smaller ones made from weathered limestone: they resemble gigantic fallen teeth. For a bird’s eye view of the fallen stones, take a stroll along the top of the bank. The scope of this gargantuan project is astonishing when you consider that the type of tools that would have been used by the henge’s Neolithic/early Bronze Age creators would have been picks made from antlers and shovels made from animals’ shoulder blades. The site also provides some amazing views out across the rolling Derbyshire scenery. If you are more interested in the mystical aspects, the site is said to be crossed by ley lines.

2 POOLE'S CAVERN
Taking its name from a medieval outlaw named Poole, who used the cave as his hide out, Poole’s Cavern offers a walk on the wild side. It’s home to the county’s longest stalactite (2.5m), which was missing its tip for 150 years. This pointy piece of calcium was recovered just five years ago, and can now be seen in the museum. A highlight of the guided tour is the poached egg chamber. ‘Poached egg’ stalagmites (named because of their deep yolk yellow colouring) grow quickly, with the largest one (The Big Drip) advancing by a centimetre each year. Other natural rock formations include one that resembles a cat, and another that resembles a cauliflower.

3 TREAK CLIFF CAVERN
A designated site of special scientific interest, Treak Cliff Cavern is one of only two caverns in the world where you can find Blue John stone. The other, Blue John Cavern, is on the same hillside. The stone is a unique form of fluorspar striped with yellow and blue; the name Blue John is an 18th century corruption of the French bleu et jaune. As you enter the passageway leading to the Witch’s Cavern, look out for the largest Blue John vein in the world, The Pillar. Other caverns of note include Aladdin’s Cave and Fairyland. Aladdin’s cave reveals a cascade of coloured flowstone, though the romance is shattered when the guide explains that miners nicknamed this formation, ‘miners’ snot’. But the Dream Cave delivers on its promise, revealing surreal formations such as The Stork; a natural sculpture consisting of a stalactite and stalagmite that one day, in many centuries’ time, will join together.

4 PEAK CLIFF CAVERN
Mentioned in The Domesday Book, Peak Cliff Cavern has a rich history. In 1621 Ben Johnson referred to Peak Cliff in his ballad ‘Cock Laurel’. The poet Lord Byron visited both Peak Cliff Cavern as well as nearby Speedwell Cavern, and both men wrote extensively about their visits. In 1990, Peak Cliff was the setting for the The Silver Chair, part of the BBC’s serialisation of CS Lewis’s Narnia books. You can still see props such as the fibreglass rock and a small slide – handy for escaping rock monsters.

5 EYAM MOOR
This series of stone circles and burial mounds are not marked on road maps, and you will need a detailed map of the local area to help you track down. Wet Withens is a large embanked stone circle in the centre of Eyam Moor (OS reference: SK226790), consisting of ten standing stones. You’ll know you’ve got the right place if one of the stones resembles a large chair: very welcome if you’ve been hunting around for some time. Near the footpath is Eyam Moor II, an embanked stone circle (SK232790), while Eyam Moor III is a freestanding circle of more generous proportions (SK232788). There are also cairns to look out for, although deciding what constitutes a cairn and what is just a big pile of rocks can be a challenge. All in all, Eyam Moor makes a lovely walk, full of bouncing heather and impressive views, with the added bonus of discovering a little piece of history.

6 MAM TOR
From underground to overground, this impressive vantage point is the perfect contrast to Castleton’s caves. The Shivering Mountain (so called because the shale expanse below the face is constantly slipping downwards) gives amazing views of Edale to the north and the Hope Valley to the east. A good route up it is to take the main road towards Hope, and then when the road takes a sharp right continue along Hollowford Road in the direction of Castle Ridge. When you reach the top at Hollin’s Cross, it gets easier. Just saunter along the ridge towards the peak of Mam Tor and enjoy. Once you’ve made it to the summit, look out for the remains of an Iron Age settlement.