UK Edition
The hidden corners of Britain’s most accessible national park
Though enduringly popular, the Peak District still has the power to surprise
Travelling north from the Midlands, the Peak District signals the first appearance of highland Britain.
Its landscapes are a dramatic combination of gritstone edges (Dark Peak), steep limestone dales (White Peak) and rolling hills and farmland (South West Peak).
Much of the park sits above 300 metres – with Kinder Scout (636 metres) being the highest point. The word ‘peak’ itself is thought to refer to the Pecsaetan, an Anglo-Saxon tribe who once inhabited the area.
Famously, the Peak District was the scene of a mass trespass on Kinder Scout in 1932 which paved the way for the creation of Britain’s National Parks and the rights of walkers to access uncultivated uplands.
The Peak District later became the first of Britain’s 15 national parks, designated in 1951. Currently, more than a third of the national park is Open Access land with 1,600 miles of public rights of way on footpaths, bridleways and tracks.
Covering 555 square miles (roughly the size of Greater London), it is easily reached from Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby, making it the most accessible national park in the country – and one of the most popular.
Walkers, cyclists, climbers, cavers, anglers and wildlife lovers are drawn to its diverse landscapes while its historic houses, country pubs and tearooms attract visitors from all over Britain.
Even with its ever-growing number of visitors, there are still plentiful ways to enjoy the park away from the crowds – from extensive long distance walking trails to unique village festivals.
Where is the Peak District National Park?
Located at the southern end of the Pennines, most of the national park is in northern Derbyshire with other sections in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Yorkshire.
The area is surrounded by major cities, including Huddersfield, Manchester, Sheffield, Derby and Stoke-on-Trent. An estimated 20 million people live within one hour’s journey of the Peak District while more than 50 million people live within four hours’ journey.
What is the Peak District known for?
The Peak District receives around 13.25 million visitors annually, making it one of the most popular national parks in the UK. The area’s many well-known walking trails and landscape features include the village of Edale, the most southerly point on the Pennine Way, Britain’s oldest long-distance national walking trail; Jacob’s Ladder ascending to the Kinder Scout Circuit; and both Mam Tor and Cave Dale.
The national park supports rare and endangered plants and animals – and boasts a long ecological history. Millions of years ago the Peak District was a tropical lagoon. The fossils of tiny sea creatures can be found today, even at the highest points. The land was first farmed for sheep, cattle and crops 6,000 years ago with traces of fields and terraces cultivated in Roman times still visible.
Three-quarters of the world’s heather moorlands are found in the UK with a large proportion of them in the Peak District. Several orchid species including the scarce frog orchid can be also found in the dales of the White Peak. And it is estimated that the park contains 26,000 miles of dry stone walls, the equivalent of the circumference of the planet.
What to do in the National Park
Visit a heritage building
On the banks of the River Derwent you’ll find the striking Chatsworth House. The seat of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, the house has been in the Cavendish family since the 1500s, passed down through 16 generations.
The 30 rooms of the house contain significant collections of artwork, ancient artefacts and sculptures. Surrounding the house are 105 acres of gardens (parts of which were designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown), parkland, and woodland walks. Features include the Victorian rock garden, a maze and a water cascade with stone steps over which water flows from fountains at the top.
Other famous buildings include mediaeval Haddon Hall and Peveril Castle in Castleton, one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses with a stone keep built by Henry II in 1176. The Peak District is also home to more than 450 historic monuments including the Bronze Age Nine Ladies Stone Circle on Stanton Moor and the Neolithic henge at Arbor Low.
Follow an iconic trail
The Peak District offers hikers and walkers peaks, lakeside paths and vast expanses of moorland to explore.
The Pennine Way (Britain’s oldest long-distance national walking trail), Kinder Scout, and Mam Tor are just a few of the famous routes which offer epic views and immersion in nature. Other well-known walking trails in the area include the Monsal Trail, the High Peak Trail and the Tissington Trail.
Take to two wheels
Bridleways, quiet lanes and traffic-free trails that are perfect for cycling criss-cross the Peak District passing through beautiful villages and with superb views, interesting history and unique wildlife and geology.
The Park has 65 miles of off-road cycling routes and 34 miles of disused railways, ranging from peaceful country lanes to challenging mountain bike trails. Cycle-hire centres can be found at Ashbourne, Parsley Hay, Derwent Valley and Middleton Top.
Spot local wildlife
More than a third of the national park (35 per cent) is designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) where important plants, wildlife and geological formations are protected. The park is also home to the only population of mountain hares outside the Scottish Highlands; water voles, the fastest declining UK mammal; and the ring ouzel or ‘mountain blackbird’. The numbers of birds of prey are now recovering through local initiatives, with regular sightings of peregrine, goshawk, buzzard, kestrel, short-eared owl and merlin.
Attend a ‘well-dressing’ festival
The Peak District is also famous for the ancient tradition of well-dressing, the art of decorating wells with intricate displays using natural materials like flower petals, leaves and seeds – a tradition which started as a thanksgiving for pure water. The world’s earliest recorded example was in the Peak District village of Tissington in 1349 and more than 70 area villages still take part, with annual spring festivals showcasing the creations.
Explore cliffs and caverns
The most popular locations to climb in the Peak District include Stanage Edge, Froggatt Edge, Curbar Edge, and Burbage, with climbing routes varying depending on skill level.
Titan Cave, which was only discovered in the year 2000, is the highest natural cavern in the UK at 141.5 metres – taller than the London Eye.
Many caves can be accessed on foot, the most famous being Poole’s Cavern. In Castleton’s Blue John Cavern, bring home caving souvenirs of rare Blue John stones made into jewellery and ornaments.
How to get there
By car
With its central location near to several major cities, driving to the Peak District is simple:
From the South-east – M1, leave at Junction 25 and take A52 to Derby. Then take A6 north through Duffield and Belper or stay with A52 to Ashbourne.
From the North-east – M1, leave the M1 at Junction 30 or 29 and take A619 from Chesterfield (to Baslow) or the A632 (to Matlock).
From the South-west – M5, M42, A42, M1 then follow the same directions from the South East.
From the North-west – M6, M63. At Stockport, follow the signs for Buxton.
Inside the national park the A6 is a key road for accessing the east and north, while the A515 from Ashbourne is good for accessing the west. Be aware, the central area is difficult to travel across as the roads are few and narrow due to the terrain, which is hilly, rough and uneven.
By public transport
The nearby cities all have regular Intercity rail services from destinations across the country. Northern Railways Hope Valley Line between Sheffield and Manchester links to stations adjacent to beauty spots including Padley Gorge and Jacob’s Ladder, the start of the Pennine Way. The Derwent Valley Line from Nottingham to Matlock links to local bus services.
There are rail stations within the national park and buses from the surrounding cities. Away from the main roads, public transport is patchy. For help navigating the area, Traveline (0800 952 0002) is a public transport route planner service.
Where to Stay
The Blind Bull (01298 211949; theblindbull.co.uk) is a 12th Century Inn with six rooms all newly renovated serving fresh, local produce. Rooms from £130 including breakfast.
Shrigley Hall Hotel & Spa (01625 575757; shrigleyhallhotelandspa.co.uk) is a Georgian country house hotel set in 262 acres with 154 bedrooms of various sizes and styles and a championship 18-hole golf course. Rooms from £114 with breakfast.
Sykes Cottages (01244 352369; sykescottages.co.uk) have a range of properties to suit most budgets from a romantic cottage retreat in Bakewell, a barn conversion in Whaley Bridge and a grand country house in Matlock.
On a budget
Avoid the main tourist hotspots like Castleton, Bakewell and Buxton. Atmospheric budget accommodation options include Peak District Pods (01335 310311; peakpods.com), Upper Hurst Farm (01298 687 273; upperhurstfarm.com) and Ernest’s Retreat Glamping Site (0300 124 6499; ernestsretreat.co.uk) a few miles to the east of the national park.
There are plenty of free attractions to enjoy in the Peaks even beyond the walks and cycle routes, such as the Plague Village of Eyam and its museum, and the Derwent and Howden Reservoirs sometimes referred to as ‘Derbyshire’s Lake District’. Creswell Crags (home to Britain’s only Ice Age cave art) is only a short drive (17 miles) to the east of the Park.
When to Visit
Avoid peak season periods such as school half-terms and consider early spring and late autumn during term time. Winter (excluding Christmas and New Year) is also cheaper and can be a highly atmospheric time to visit.
Need to Know
Weekly Parking Permit: £15 (Insider tip: You can buy ahead online.)
Bike Hire Centres: Ashbourne at the southern end of Tissington Trail (01335 343156) and Derwent Bike Hire (01629 816526) in the north near the popular cycling trails around Derwent Reservoir
When raining: Go Underground at Castleton Caverns; or visit museums in Bakewell, Castleton or Eyam.