Introducing the Peak District
Five fab counties, one national park
Like voyaging through varied landscapes? Straddling the border between Central England and the North, the Peak District is spread across all sorts of scenery, from highlands to lowlands.
Created in the 1950s after the hardy hikers of the Kinder Trespass demanded open access to Britain’s moorland, Britain’s oldest national park mostly lies in Derbyshire, although parts of it spill over into nearby attractive areas like Cheshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire and Greater Manchester. This makes it one of the most easily accessible parts of the English countryside, with almost a third of the British population believed to live within about an hour’s drive of the Peaks.
Hikes, bikes and traffic-free trails
Despite its popularity, if there’s one thing the Peak District has, it’s space. Rambling over both the southern White Peak area – characterised by its gentler limestone hills – and the Dark Peak’s gritstone-dotted moors is a sure-fire way to experience a tremendous sense of freedom.
There are over 200 square miles of access land here where you’re free to roam in any direction you like, plus around 1,800 miles’ worth of waymarked paths and trails to tread. Popular picks include the Tissington Trail – a former railway line starting in Ashbourne that once shuttled milk and limestone to the North’s industrial cities – and the High Peak Trail, a similarly flat north-south route running starting in Hurdlow near Buxton. Both of these traffic-free routes meet at Parsley Hay, where a handily-placed bike hire centre is on hand to facilitate two-wheeled trips.
For a more challenging jaunt, you might like to take on the hillier landscapes along the Pennine Way, a long-distance path starting in Edale that runs for 268 miles northwards into the Yorkshire Dales, Cumbria and beyond.
Stunning stately homes and castles
Chatsworth House near Bakewell gets the lion’s share of attention for many a reason – an annual Christmas market sees its gorgeous grounds transformed into a winter wonderland, while in September a county fair brings fairground rides, brass bands and the finest foods to its 35,000-acre estate.
But don’t limit yourself to the Peak District’s best-known historic house: there’s also Haddon Hall (also near Bakewell) – a more low-key Tudor mansion that’s ideal for those looking to avoid the crowds – and the more rugged ruins of Peveril Castle in Castleton.
The Peak District’s best visitor attractions
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Got the kids with you? Families could easily combine a countryside trip camping in the Peak District with adventures at Alton Towers, just across the Staffordshire border.
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Camping in the Peak District is particularly fun for thrill-seekers. Go climbing on the limestone and gritstone crags or try caving around Castleton (in the Blue John, Treak Cliff and the Peak caverns, or while on a subterranean sailing trip in Speedwell Cavern).
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At Matlock Bath, take a cable car to the limestone caves at the Heights of Abraham.
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Earmark a day or two for exploring Buxton, a fashionable spa spot where you can head to the opera house, sample the finest mineral water or take to the trees at Go Ape in the town’s very own country park.
The unexplored Peak District
Terrific transport
The Peak District has plenty of unusual ways of getting around, whether you’re after hot air balloon rides with Wickers World or see yourself riding in a peloton of vintage bikes at the Eroica Britannia festival.
Just outside the national park, there’s also the ever-popular Crich Tramway Village near Matlock for kid-friendly days out.
Unexplored sports
The Peak District is home to a surprising number of unusual sporting traditions. Perhaps the weirdest of them all is the World Championship Hen Race, an event that takes place at the Barley Mow pub in Bonsall every August when the speediest hens strut their stuff down a purpose-built track.
A short drive down the road, head to Ashbourne at the start of Lent to experience Shrovetide Football, a long-established two-day game when thousands turn up to watch and have a kick-about.
The Prehistoric Peaks
The national park has several cracking prehistoric sites that are often overlooked:
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Explore Bronze Age ruins at the Nine Ladies Stone Circle near Matlock
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See one of the best-preserved stone henges in England at Arbor Low, 15 minutes’ drive west from Bakewell
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Head to Thor’s Cave near Ashbourne, a Stone Age site with fantastic views over the Manifold Valley
Here’s how
Ready to start your Peak District getaway? We’ve got something to suit all tastes and budgets, from simple grass pitches to luxurious Peak District glamping.
It’s not legal to go wild camping in the Peak District, but if you’re after something windswept and remote you’ll find it one of our Peak District farm campsites. Many of these rural sites also sell fresh local produce that you can grill up over a campfire.
It’s easy to find your ideal Peak District trip – use our filters and the map to browse by price, area, facilities and themes, or check whether one of the options below match what you’re looking for:
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Find a Peak District site with back to basics amenities like toilets and showers
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Plug yourself into a Peak District campsite with electric hook-ups
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Do your dog a favour and pick a pet-friendly site in the Peak District
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Looking for the best in the business? Browse tried and tested Peak District campsites and glampsites with a user rating of eight out of 10 and above
Ready to roll on to your next national park? It will take you just over an hour to drive from the northern edge of the Peak District to the start of the Yorkshire Dales, while the varied vistas of the Lake District begin about 90 minutes away to the north.
