For several years now, our family has been taking an annual holiday in Derbyshire. We stay in a cottage in the Hope valley, and spend much of the week walking in the hills and enjoying the scenery. It was partly the beauty of this scenery that inspired me to write ‘Derbyshire Deception.’ Like Freya, I have climbed Mam Tor, sometimes in good weather, but on one occasion in such torrential rain that we were obliged to turn back, eventually arriving at our car soaked to the skin. On another occasion, we climbed one of the other hills in the area, but retraced our steps quite quickly, because the mist was coming down.

Whenever I am in Derbyshire, I make a point of visiting Castleton. It’s such a beautiful town, and its position, nestling in the valley amongst the hills is delightful. The climb to Peveril Castle is still quite a hike, although the path has been improved considerably since Freya negotiated it.

The cavern with which Daniel Defoe was so unimpressed, and which Freya went to see, can be visited and the guided tours are excellent. It is now known once again by its pre-Victorian name of ‘The Devil’s Arse.’ It is possible to view the remains of the cottages inside, and to learn how the rope-makers worked. Boats like the ones in which Freya and Daniel travelled can be seen, but thankfully these days they are simply a museum feature.

The story about the lovers murdered in Winatts Pass, with which Piers Bryce sought to frighten Freya, is a true one. Some young relatives of mine insist on being taken there by night in the car by their father each year, so that they can stop, switch the lights off, and frighten each other to death!

A rich source of inspiration to me was Quarry Bank Mill at Styal. The mill is administered by the National Trust, and gives the visitor a fascinating glimpse into how such mills were run. Quarry Bank Mill was established in the 1780’s, and I imagine that Piers’s mill must have come into being at much the same time. There is an apprentices house at Styal, which can be visited, and it is quite sobering to think that the conditions in which the children lived here were considered to be quite humane.

Ravendale is a real place as is Cressbrook, but I have taken some liberties with the geography there in order to create a suitable site for the mill, Bryce’s house and Ravendale’s house.