A thriving community right on the doorstep of Matlock, Darley Dale is a popular location for people to live, owing to its advantageous location on the edges of the Peak District and close proximity to several towns and attractions, as well as its beautiful rural setting, nestled within a valley.
With a population of over 5,500, Darley Dale is perhaps most recognisable to visitors as a pleasant section of A6 road heading south towards Matlock or north towards Rowsley and Bakewell, however this sprawling village is made up of a number of lovely settlements, such as Two Dales, South Darley, Churchtown and Northwood.
With the rugged cliffs of neighbouring Matlock giving way to wonderful green vistas, Darley Dale is incredibly picturesque, with the River Derwent flowing to one side and the regular sight of a steam train making its way through the countryside to Matlock.
With river, rail, woodland, open fields and walking routes aplenty, it’s an ideal location for people of all ages – from young families, professionals and those who are retired.
Darley Dale is more or less equidistant between the cities of Derby and Sheffield while there are a number of attractions and landmarks within easy reach, such as Chatsworth, Haddon Hall and some of the Peak’s prettiest villages.
It’s unsurprising, then, that a number of housing developments, some of which include high-end properties, have sprung up in recent years as the area continues to evolve.
The site of the first ever DFS store, Darley Dale is nevertheless most synonymous with Joseph Whitworth, a 19th century engineer, philanthropist, entrepreneur and inventor.
There are numerous nods to Whitworth’s influence on the village, not least the beautiful Whitworth Park, which is named after him.
AMENITIES
Given Matlock is right on its doorstep, Darley Dale is surprisingly well served.
The village has a petrol station along the A6, a Post Office and a medical centre, while the Whitworth Hospital offers some medical services, such as minor injuries and physiotherapy.
There is a Cop-Op store on the site of an old bank and a number of pleasant cafes as well as a central pub, Barringtons, which also serves food.
Other pubs in and around Darley Dale include the Three Stags and the Square and Compass just to the south, in Darley Bridge, and the Church Inn.
There are plenty of recreational spots in Darley Dale, such as the Tippin playground and, most notably, Whitworth Park, a beautiful open space with a café, playground, boules pitch, football pitch and pond.
At the bottom of the Whitworth Park is Darley Dale Station, operated by Peak Rail, which runs regular trips to Matlock and back.
Darley Dale also has its own cricket club, established in 1863, whose Station Road ground once hosted a professional match between Derbyshire and Hampshire in 1975.
The club has three senior teams, a woman’s team, and a thriving junior section for girls and boys of all ages and abilities.
PROPERTIES
According to Rightmove, the UK’s largest online real estate property portal (rightmove.co.uk), properties in Darley Dale had an overall average price of £367,628 over the last year.
The majority of sales in Darley Dale during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £454,840. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £260,664, with terraced properties fetching £230,045.
Overall, sold prices in Darley Dale over the last year were 13% up on the previous year and 18% up on the 2018 peak of £310,325.
Darley Dale is home to a number of established yet modern housing estates, such as Morledge on the edge of Matlock, as well as new developments, including Normanhurst Park, a brand-new group of premium properties.
Darley Dale is also the location of St Elphin’s Retirement Village, 127 properties set in 14 acres of land.
Schooling in the town comes in the form of Darley Dale Primary School, rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted. There are a number of smaller primary schools in neighbouring areas. Senior school options available at Highfields School, which has Academy status, in nearby Matlock. Depending on where you reside in Darley Dale, Bakewell’s Lady Manners may also be in catchment.
DID YOU KNOW?
Recorded in the Doomsday Book as ‘Derelie’, the village was known as just Darley for some 800 years. The fact it is now universally known as Darley Dale is thanks in the main to the Rev. Daniel Vawdry who, in the late 19th century, argued that ‘Dale’ should be added to publicise its beautiful location within the Derwent Valley – thus making it a more attractive and appealing proposition to potential visitors.
