If you have never been to an English country show, we would thoroughly recommend attending one of our local shows. Picture a field given over for the day to prize cattle and sheep, heavy horses in the ring, vintage tractors, local food and craft stalls, and a marquee of homemade cakes being judged with great seriousness. They are relaxed, family-friendly days out, and you do not need to know a thing about farming to enjoy one.
The Peak District and Derbyshire Dales have some of the best,
and several are within easy reach of the lodge. Here are our favourites for the diary this year.
The shows worth a place in your diary
Leek & District Show — Saturday 25 July. The traditional season opener, just over the Staffordshire border and always a friendly day out.
Manifold Valley Show — Saturday 8 August. A small, very traditional show in the beautiful surroundings of Ilam, a short drive from the lodge.
Ashover Show — Wednesday 12 August. A midweek favourite at Rectory Fields, and one of the largest one-day shows in the country.
Ashbourne Show — Saturday 15 August. Our own local show at Osmaston, and the highlight of the season: around 150 trade stands, livestock and horse classes, a crafts tent and food hall, all in a warm country atmosphere.
Hope Show — Monday 31 August. A classic Bank Holiday show in the Hope Valley, with sheep, cattle, sheepdog trials and a proper Peak District backdrop.
Chatsworth Country Fair — 4 to 6 September. The grandest of the lot: less a traditional show, more a full country weekend of grand-ring displays, food and shopping. A great way to round off the summer.
Why we love Ashbourne
Ashbourne is the one we look forward to most. It is on our doorstep, and it is where many of our neighbours and friends will be. If you only make it to one show while you stay with us, make it this one.
Our shires at the shows
We are not just spectators. Alongside our Belted Galloway herd, we keep a small line of shire horses at Mulino, and the summer shows are where they earn their keep.
Upper Delves Lady Rose — Rosie to us — is Craig’s ridden mare. Last summer she competed for the first time in the Ridden Heavy Horse class at Ashbourne, and Aaron also showed her at Manifold. The photographs from both days are among our favourites of the year, and we are proud to play a small part in keeping this magnificent rare breed going.
Rosie is part of a wider family on the farm: her retired mother, Upper Delves Sunflower, still lives out with us, alongside her full sister, Upper Delves Lady Lily. Read more about the shires and the farm on our farm pages.
Make a stay of it
A show day is best enjoyed slowly, with somewhere quiet to come back to. Our four dog-friendly lodges and pods sit on a working farm on the edge of the Peak District, a short drive from Ashbourne and well placed for every show on this list.
We still have some late-summer availability. Check dates and book directly at mulinolodge.co.uk.