Hit the trail in Derbyshire

What links Bess of Hardwick, bluebell woods and a revolution? Grab your walking boots and discover the connection at the fourth Peak District's Historic Border Country Walking Festival taking place over seven days from 15 to 23 May 2010.

Stretching from the Elizabethan splendour at Hardwick Hall past the dramatic hillside ruin of Sutton Scarsdale Hall to the fairytale heights of Bolsover Castle and centred around the market town of Chesterfield, the Historic Border Country is where The Peak District meets Robin Hood Country.

History, heritage and exercise come together in the north east Derbyshire festival, which for 2010 features 39 walks.

And after the success of a pilot scheme last year, the festival will again offer the chance to take to the saddle with cycle rides along quiet roads, bridleways and greenways on the Chesterfield Round Ride.

Walkers can follow in Elizabeth Shrewsbury's footsteps around Hardwick Park, tour Sutton Scarsdale Hall or find out how Whittington is connected to the Revolution of 1688. Or how about discovering the pretty village of Ashover or exploring the beautiful bluebell woods round Linacre Reservoirs?

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Chesterfield's twinning link with Darmstadt in Germany with the ‘Grenzgang’, Starting off on a Chesterfield Transport double decker bus to Spitewinter, an area of sloping woodland on the edge of the Peak District, visitors then walk to local brewery Brampton Brewery for English beer and German food before heading back to Chesterfield town centre.

No festival would be complete without the chance to climb the tower of the famous Chesterfield 'Crooked Spire' Church, then pick up an audio trail from the Tourist Information Centre for a self-guided tour of this historic market town. For a more challenging route, try the Chesterfield Round Walk, a 34-mile trek round the outskirts of the town, keeping the famous Spire in view for most of the way.

The full Festival programme, along with details of walk charges, times and venues are available at the Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre, Rykneld Square.

For full details of all walks and to book them, visit visitpeakdistrict.com.

For accommodation suggestions and short break ideas see visitchesterfield.info.