To the manor born

For a small county, Derbyshire has a remarkable number of grand houses, says Anthony Gardner in the Sunday Telegraph – "from the medieval gem of Haddon Hall to the Palladian grandeur of Chatsworth". Many are open to the public during the day; now, several owners are going a step further and welcoming overnight guests. These visits, which include hosted dinners and personal tours, are billed as cultural events, but "the simple fact is that visiting stately homes is more fun if you can use the doors marked 'Private'".

Stately Home Vacations (01335 310 438) has four-day visits for £2,000. ·