Chatsworth House in the Peak District and its glorious grounds is one of my favourite places to spend a sunny day in the Midlands. This year it’s made even better by the addition of the Burning Man Sculpture Trail at Chatsworth. Titled Radical Horizons the Art of Burning Man, the uber popular festival in a Nevada desert may seem worlds away from an English stately home but as soon as you see it, it will make perfect sense. Set against the green and pleasant land of the Estate the 9 sculptures (soon to be 12) stand out with contemporary modern lines against the pale stone opulence of the house.
In total, eight of these sculptures have been displayed at Burning Man prior to arriving in the Peak District. There will also be installations by local artists and groups. This is the first time artwork from the nine day festival has been shown in the UK and I’m exceedingly grateful we don’t have to travel all the way to Nevada to see it.
You can get up close to all of the sculptures. Touch and sound is encouraged and many of the pieces of art can be clambered on. It’s positively encouraged. My eleven year old daughter absolutely loved this and took full advantage.
La Attrata by Margaret Long and Orion Fredericks
We all loved this installation. It’s definitely one of the larger ones at Chatsworth and features three moths sat atop a three towering metal spites. The base of the sculpture include a couple of benches which make it a great place to rest your legs after following the Burning Man Trail at Chatsworth.
Lodestar by Randy Polumbo
Lodestar is absolutely fabulous. When you see it from a distance it sort of looks like a spaceship. Up close you discover this is a shiny steep World War II jet nose down with its tail blossoming into a beautiful flower decorated with hand blown glass flowers. Sounds a bit bonkers but it honestly is beautiful.
Stone 40 by Benjamin Langholtz and Amihay Gonon
Stone 40 is a truly interactive installation. Visitors are encouraged to climb up the slightly wobbly stones which definitely feel a lot higher than they are when you reach the top. The stones used were sourced from a nearby quarry and chosen to match the stonework of the house.
Wings of Wind
Another brilliant interactive part of the exhibition is the wings of wind. Visitors can climb into the central circle and be slowly spun around. It feels super fun and makes for a really great photo.
Mum by Mr & Mrs Ferguson
Mum was created exclusively for the Burning Man at Chatsworth exhibition in California. It is a very sweet sculpture of a bear and bear cub made from polystyrene and concrete and is covered in 55,000 Canadian and US pennies. Kids will love climbing aboard this mum and don’t worry, the pennies don’t feel too sharp.
Transmutation by Arturo Gonzalez & Maru Izaguirre
This gloriously colourful winged sabre tooth tiger Stands proud on it’s stand forcing visitors to look up to take it all in. The installation aims to raise the question, does extinct mean forever, an artistic comment on the possibility of cloning an extinct species. Although I didn’t really get that message I found the artwork really moving. Transmutation appeared at Burning Man in 2019.
Wings of Glory by Adrian Landon
This proud pegasus stands twenty feet high and seems to guard the main house. It’s one of the first things you’ll see as you drive into the carpark. The wings do move although we didn’t see this. The giant Pegasus appeared at Burning Man in 2019.
The Flybrary by Christina Sporrong
This is one I remember from images from previous Burning Man festivals, you might recognise it too. The Flybrary is a 20 foot head with what looks vaguely like books flying out of the top. You can’t miss the head as you pass across the bridge over the River Derwent on your approach. I absolutely love how the rusted steel looks against the backdrop of the house. The Flybrary appeared at Burning Man in 2019 and hosted the human library project creating a safe space for human dialogue.
Burning Man Sculptures soon to arrive at Chatsworth
Murder, Inc. by Charles Gadeken is soon to be added to the collection.
Coralee by Dana Albany will be added sometime in May. This is based on Peak District local legend of the mermaid at Kinder Scout.
A new sculpture titled Releve by Rebekah Waites will be installed in July. I’ll update here once we’ve had a chance to see it.
When does the Burning Man sculpture trail at Chatsworth close?
The exhibition runs from the 9th April unit the 1st October 2022.
How much is a visit to Radical Horizons at Chatsworth?
The exhibition is absolutely free to explore. You can wander the grounds at Chatsworth, enjoy a a picnic on the grass, visit the restaurants and shops and use all the facilities all without paying a penny. If you arrive by car you’ll just need to spend £5 on parking. You can book parking in advance. Or if you book a visit to the house or gardens then your parking is included. Or you could park at one of the carparks outside the grounds and walk in.
Is the Burning Man sculpture trail dog friendly?
Absolutely! We took our pup with us to explore the exhibits and she loved exploring the grounds. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor resatuarant area and there’s even a dedicated dog area in the Carriage Restaurant.
I recommend keeping dogs on a lead to avoid disturbing other visitors and Chatsworth livestock. Make sure you clean up after your dog, there are plenty of bins around the car park area.
What else can I see at Chatsworth
There’s loads more to see art the Chatsworth Estate so don’t restrict your visit to the Burning Man trail. We spotted loads of other pieces of art, some gorgeous Follies and sculptures scattered around the grounds. You can of course visit the main house to explore the glorious interiors and roam through the perfectly manicured formal gardens. If you’re visiting with kids then they will love the outdoor play area and farmyard.
Where to eat on a visit to Radical Horizons at Chatsworth
There are plenty of options for eating at Chatsworth. And everything we’ve tried has always been delicious. The Carriage Restaurant is the largest, and most popular. It has plenty of seating indoor and out and serves a small selection of soup, sandwiches and cake. They also have several hot options available each day.
We also found a rather charming cocktail truck in the main stables terrace. The gin and tonics were fabulous!
If you don’t fancy eating on site then the Devonshire Arms at Beeley just outside of Chatsworth is a lovely, cosy country pub.
How to get to Chatsworth for the Burning Man exhibit
The Chatsworth Estate is located in the Derbyshire Peak District. To reach it by car use the postcode DE45 1PN. It is possible to use public transport to reach Chatsworth House. You’ll want the number 218 bus if you’re visiting from Bakewell or the number 58 if you’re arriving from Buxton. If you do travel by public transport you can even get £5 off your ticket to the house or gardens using the code ‘CARFREE22’ when you book.
How long should I spend at the Burning Man sculpture trail at Chatsworth?
We spent around two hours completing the walk around the sculptures and enjoying a couple of breaks for food and drink. A simple walk around the sculptures will take you just over an hour.
If you’d like to add on a walk in the beautiful Peak District before or after your visit to Burning Man at Chatsworth then this Three Shires Head walk is just half an hour away from the estate. Or you could try this Ladybower walk from the reservoir up the glorious Win Hill.
Have you visited Radical Horizons at Chatsworth? Let me know your favourite sculpture in the comments below.
My good friends Dana Albany and her wonderful husband Flash Hopkings are there constructing the Mermaid piece. Flash is quite the character…worth meeting.