museum
Great British Car Journey
Interactive museum in Ambergate telling the story of the British car industry through 130+ vehicles, from Austin 7 to Aston Martin: many of which you can actually drive on site.
4 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Heage
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Heage
Heage works well as a base: 5 minutes from Ripley, 22km from Dovedale.
Heage is in England, United Kingdom, with about 2,700 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Ripley, about 4 km away.
Heage is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Ripley, in the Amber Valley district, in the county of Derbyshire, England. It is situated midway between Belper and Ripley. The village is in the Heage and Ambergate ward, which in the 2011 census had a population of 5,013.
Heage is known for itsRead more
six-sailed windmill; building work started in 1791 and it was first recorded as working in 1797. Each of the six sails weighs nearly one ton, and the tower is built from local sandstone.
The name Heage is derived from the Old English hēah and ecg, and means 'high edge' or 'high ridge'. In 1817, the Lysons recorded that "Heage, alias High-edge, lies about five miles from Duffield, upon the road from Chesterfield to Derby. The manor, which had been parcel of the Earldom and Duchy of Lancaster, was granted, with Duffield, to Ditchfield and others. In 1629 it was conveyed to the Stanhope family. Sir William Stanhope bequeathed it, in 1703, to Godfrey Wentworth, Esq. his nephew, whose son of the same name sold it, in 1767, to Francis Hurt, Esq., grandfather of Francis Hurt, Esq., of Alderwasley, who is the present proprietor."
Also located in Heage, at Morley Park, are the remains of two coke-fired blast furnaces for the smelting of iron, built for Francis Hurt of Alderwasley. The first, built in 1780 was the earliest in Derbyshire. The other was built in 1818 and they represent very early coke-fired blast furnaces. They closed in 1874, and most of the site has returned to nature, but the furnace towers still exist and can be seen next to the A38.
The present school was built about 1862 to replace two much smaller schools that were managed by the Church and the Storer Charity. Later it became a secondary school and is now an infants and primary school. The original old Victorian buildings still form part of the school and the old Church school and Charity school are located nearby. When the school was a secondary school it received pupils from three other schools, The Green school (now demolished), Ridgeway school, which has been converted to a house and Ambergate school that is still an infants and junior school. There are a number of recent housing developments in the village.
Heage has two bus services, the 6.2 and 6.3, both of which are operated by TrentBarton. Service 6E operates Monday to Saturday evenings (not Bank Holidays). The services link the village to the nearby towns of Ripley and Belper, as well as the City of Derby.
The first mention of a post office in Heage was in 1847, closed in 2008. It has three pubs, the Eagle Tavern, the Green man and the Black Boy Inn.
Heage is also home to St. Luke's Church, situated on Church Street. It was originally built in 1646. In 1836 the church was enlarged, this created an unusual 'T' shape which is a rarity in Derbyshire. Services are held every Sunday, varying in traditional and contemporary styles.
Where to Stay in Heage
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Heage.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Heage.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Heage?
Within an hour or so of Heage: Great British Car Journey (4 km), Matlock Bath Motorcycle Strip (11 km), Haddon Hall (21 km), Dovedale (22 km).
Are there any good drives near Heage?
The nearest famous roads are Monsal Trail, Cat and Fiddle Road and Goyt Valley road, Peak District.
Where is Heage?
Heage is in England, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Ripley.
Road trip
Drive to Heage
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Heage. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 2,698
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 53.0505, -1.4469
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Heage
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Matlock Bath Motorcycle Strip
The entire riverside parade at Matlock Bath transforms into the UK's most famous bike meet every sunny weekend.
11 km · about 20 min drive
castle
Haddon Hall
A remarkably unaltered fortified medieval manor house on the Wye near Bakewell, much used as a film location.
21 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Dovedale
A limestone valley of caves and pinnacles crossed by famous stepping stones over the crystal River Dove.
22 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Dovedale and the Stepping Stones
A limestone ravine of caves, spires and the famous stepping stones across the River Dove.
22 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Chatsworth House
Magnificent stately home of the Duke of Devonshire set in expansive parkland, housing one of Europe's most significant art collections.
23 km · about 25 min drive
film location
Chatsworth House (Pemberley)
The Derbyshire seat of the Dukes of Devonshire is Pemberley in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice and appears in The Duchess.
23 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Bakewell
A handsome stone market town on the River Wye, home of the original Bakewell pudding and a graceful medieval bridge.
24 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Heage
8 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- 26 kmMonsal TrailAn 8.5-mile traffic-free walking and cycling route along a former railway through the Wye valley, passing through four lit tunnels.
- 26 kmCurbar EdgeA gritstone escarpment above the Derwent valley with sweeping views and long-established bouldering and climbing.
- 28 kmMonsal HeadA viewpoint above the Wye valley looking down on the five-arch Headstone Viaduct, now carrying the Monsal Trail.
- 28 kmFroggatt EdgeA wooded gritstone edge north of Curbar, home to classic climbs and an easy level walk along the escarpment top.
- 33 kmHigger TorA flat-topped gritstone tor above Burbage Valley, looking across to the Iron Age hillfort of Carl Wark.
- 38 kmBamford EdgeA short gritstone edge with what many consider the finest view in the Peak District, straight down onto Ladybower Reservoir.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Heage.
Plan a trip around Heage
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Heage.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.