Tucked away in the rolling hills of Derbyshire, people from all over the UK take the drive down winding roads to find themselves at Chatsworth Christmas Market – and now I know exactly why.

Albeit a bit of a journey for those not living in villages nearby, unlike some of the rest of the UK’s most popular Christmas markets which tend to sit smack bang in the middle of a city centre, Chatsworth Christmas Market offers something different. I felt as though it was a truly festive event, exactly as intended, full of traditional offerings, with a warm and fuzzy feeling, and a lot more class over tat.

Many people’s complaints from some of the UK’s most frequented markets have all been down to high prices, overcrowding and the lack of offerings outside of festive food. A lot of the comments I’ve read online have seen people asking what is on offer, aside from food, and why it’s all so expensive at other destinations.

Instantly it was clear to me that Chatsworth was ready to dismiss these beliefs and instead opt to use local vendors and small businesses with their gifting and food creations. Moving away from the viral food trends and fairground rides, they stuck to providing visitors with local vendors.

From Bakewell tarts made right there in Bakewell to Derbyshire-made honeys and jams, local cheesemongers, and butchers – and that’s just the food alone. Alongside it was a wide range of hand-crafted gift stalls, from hand-knitted scarves and gloves to jewellery, candles, customisable notebooks, home decor, fashion and more – totalling over 100 individual stalls, all housed by local brands.

I opted for trying, frankly, the biggest focaccia I’ve ever seen for just £9, which I thought was reasonable considering the ever-popular Yorkshire pudding wraps can cost up to £15. My sweet tooth was further treated to chunky cookies, one stuffed with Dubai chocolate and the other Milkybar, for £4.75 each – again what I’d consider to be a fair price for the size and flavours they had to offer.

Other food available, I thought, matched this with its reasonable prices, with bacon rolls for £7.50, loaded fries for £10, crepes starting at £7.50 and coffees ranging from £3.95 to £5.50. Of course, you’re always going to pay more within an enclosed market, similar to that of festivals, and it’s safe to say I didn’t even scratch the surface with the delicious dishes you can choose from.

What is undeniably special about this market is, of course, that it’s set against the backdrop of the gorgeous grounds of the estate. As you stand at the top of the market, you’re looking out at luscious greenery, with the House itself towering over it, for unmatched views of Chatsworth.

Whilst you take a stroll around the market, which admittedly took longer than I anticipated as I was surprised with just how big the space would be, you are serenaded by live music. There was a traditional brass band playing some classic Christmas tunes, as well as a humming street organ adding to that wholesome festive feeling – as opposed to screaming children or booming music from rides.

Although, the elephant in the room with this event is the sheer price, and let’s face it, it’s not cheap. It now costs £30 for a parking spot at Chatsworth House Christmas Markets, and this acts as your entry fee, so it’s recommended that you pile as many friends into one vehicle as possible to get your money’s worth.

On top of this, visitors can experience a festive tour of the famed house itself as a part of ‘Chatsworth at Christmas’ for £40. If you choose to book this experience, your entry to the market perched upon Lodge Hill is also included – if you’re travelling far, I think it’s worth making a day out of it.

The overall atmosphere, in my opinion, was one that felt far more inviting and especially tailored for adults than that of the UK’s busiest markets.

Having visited London’s landmark Winter Wonderland numerous times now, there’s only so much heavy drinking, loud music, expensive rides and long queues that one can take. Chatsworth offers a higher-end version of this experience for those who are there for the sweet treats and mooching, not just a day of drinking beer out of a stein glass.