Historic hall to open to public for snowdrop walk

The historic Hopton Hall Estate will be opening its doors to the public next month for its annual snowdrop walk.

From Sunday 1 February, people will be able to enjoy this winter spectacle every day throughout the month at the hall, which is situated between Wirksworth and Ashbourne.

The event typically attracts more than 5,000 visitors, although numbers are expected to be higher this year following the opening of the hall’s new café.

The arrowed snowdrop walk takes in woodland, passing kennels once home to the hall’s greyhounds and a pet cemetery, before arriving at the walled garden where visitors can learn more about the estate’s features including the Crinkle Crankle Wall and 11-metre-high summerhouse.

The event marks the first month of the estate’s annual opening; the second being July when visitors are invited to participate in the Month of Art competition and take in the sights and scents of the walled garden, which is home to the one-acre rose garden and over 2,000 rose bushes.

This year, visitors will also get to see local artists in residence in the new café, where they’ll be working on capturing their wintry surrounds.

Celebrations of art continue during the year, not only through the well-established Month of Art competition in July but also with the opening of the Hopton Hall Gallery in Ashbourne in the spring.

To plan your visit, click here.