A is for Ashbourne

Yesterday's warm summer evening felt like the perfect moment to kick-off our A-Z of Derbyshire, where we plan to celebrate some of our favourite places in this incredible county. There are many brilliant A's but we thought we'd start with Ashbourne, the "gateway to Dovedale".

This picturesque town, 15 miles NW of Derby, is packed with history with more than 200 listed buildings from coaching inns and alms houses to handsome Georgian terraces and stunning steeples. The town is also packed with independent retailers including the excellent House of Beer.

Many establishments are dog-friendly making it a perfect location for an afternoon pottering with the pooches!