Explore the Peaks
A local guide to the Peak District
In 1951 the Peak District became Britain's first National Park. It holds two different landscapes: the White Peak of limestone dales, drystone walls and villages, and the Dark Peak of gritstone edges and open moorland. This is the guide we give our guests.
Areas
Choose your corner of the Peaks
Tideswell and the Hope Valley
Tideswell, Eyam, Hathersage, Castleton, Hope and Edale. Limestone villages to the south, the Great Ridge and the caves of Castleton to the north.
Bakewell and Monsal
Bakewell, Ashford-in-the-Water, Monsal Head, Haddon Hall and Chatsworth. Riverside towns, the Monsal Trail and two of England's great houses.
Buxton and the High Peak
Buxton, the Pavilion Gardens, the Opera House, Poole's Cavern, Chee Dale and Hayfield. A spa town with dales and moorland close by.
Matlock and the Derwent Valley
Matlock, Matlock Bath, the Heights of Abraham and Cromford. A wooded river gorge and the birthplace of the factory system.
Dovedale and the south
Dovedale, Hartington, Ashbourne and the Manifold Valley. Gentler walking, river valleys and quieter villages.
Kinder and the Dark Peak
Kinder Scout, Edale, Ladybower and the Derwent reservoirs, and Bleaklow. High moorland for experienced walkers.
Walks
Walks for every pace
Grades are a guide only. Weather, mud and daylight change how a walk feels, so check a current route description and carry a map.
| Grade | Walk | Area | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Monsal Trail and Headstone Viaduct | Bakewell and Monsal | A former railway line running for about 8.5 miles between Bakewell and Wye Dale, flat and surfaced, through lit tunnels and over the Headstone Viaduct below Monsal Head. It suits families, cyclists and anyone wanting big views without a climb. |
| Easy | Dovedale stepping stones | Dovedale and the south | A short walk from the car park below Thorpe Cloud to the stepping stones across the River Dove, then on up the limestone gorge as far as you like. Arrive early at weekends. The stones can be under water after heavy rain. |
| Moderate | Lathkill Dale | Bakewell and Monsal | A quiet limestone dale and National Nature Reserve near Over Haddon, known for its clear river and wildflowers in early summer. Paths are rocky in places and can be slippery near the old lead-mining remains. |
| Moderate | Chee Dale stepping stones | Buxton and the High Peak | A dramatic stretch of the River Wye below tall limestone cliffs, with stepping stones set along the riverbank. Rocky and narrow in places, and the stones flood after rain, so check conditions and wear good boots. |
| Moderate | Mam Tor and the Great Ridge | Tideswell and the Hope Valley | A paved path leads from Mam Nick to the summit of Mam Tor, with an Iron Age hill fort on top, then the ridge runs on to Hollins Cross, Back Tor and Lose Hill. Exposed and very popular, so go early. |
| Steep | Cave Dale and Winnats Pass | Tideswell and the Hope Valley | Cave Dale is a narrow limestone gorge that starts in Castleton below Peveril Castle. A loop taking in Winnats Pass is short but climbs hard, and the rock is slippery when wet. |
| Steep | Win Hill from Hope | Hope Valley | A short, hard climb from Hope to the rocky summit of Win Hill, with views across Ladybower Reservoir and along the Great Ridge to Mam Tor. |
| Challenging | Kinder Scout from Edale | Kinder and the Dark Peak | The highest ground in the Peak District, a gritstone plateau reached from Edale, where the Pennine Way begins. Easy to get lost on in mist. For experienced walkers with map, compass and the right kit. |
| Challenging | Kinder Downfall from Hayfield | Hayfield and Kinder | Follows the route of the 1932 Mass Trespass up onto the plateau and on to Kinder Downfall, the tallest waterfall in the Peak District. About 8 miles and 5 to 6 hours. |
Days out
Stately homes and days out
Bakewell and Monsal
Chatsworth House
The seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, in parkland beside the River Derwent. Allow a full day for the house, gardens and farmyard. The park itself is free to walk. Book house tickets ahead in busy months.
Bakewell and Monsal
Haddon Hall
A medieval and Tudor manor above the River Wye, south of Bakewell. Smaller and quieter than Chatsworth, with terraced gardens. Opening is seasonal, so check dates before you go.
Castleton
Peveril Castle
The ruined Norman keep stands on a ridge above Castleton, looking down into Cave Dale. A short, steep climb from the village.
Kinder and the Dark Peak
Ladybower Reservoir
Built in the 1930s and 1940s, it drowned the villages of Derwent and Ashopton. The dams above were used by 617 Squadron to practise for the 1943 Dambusters raid. Easy waterside paths and cycle routes.
Buxton
Buxton Opera House
An Edwardian theatre by Frank Matcham, opened in 1903, beside the Pavilion Gardens. A matinee pairs well with a walk.
Eyam
Eyam Museum
When plague reached Eyam in 1665, the villagers isolated themselves to stop it spreading. The museum tells the story, and plaques on cottages name the families who lived there.
Caves
Caves and caverns
The limestone of the White Peak is full of caves, and several are open for guided visits. Most involve steps and stay cool all year, so bring a warm layer.
Castleton
Peak Cavern
Entered through a vast natural cave mouth below Peveril Castle, where rope makers once worked. A good first cave for families.
Castleton
Speedwell Cavern
Visitors travel by boat along a flooded lead miners' tunnel. There are many steps down to the boats.
Castleton
Blue John Cavern
One of the places where Blue John stone, a banded mineral found only around Castleton, has been mined.
Castleton
Treak Cliff Cavern
A smaller show cave with Blue John veins and formations.
Buxton
Poole's Cavern
A natural limestone cave on the edge of Buxton, with woodland above leading up to Solomon's Temple.
Matlock Bath
Heights of Abraham
Cable cars climb from Matlock Bath across the Derwent gorge to hilltop grounds with show caverns and views.
The year
The year in the Peaks
Shrove Tuesday
Royal Shrovetide Football
Ashbourne. A two-day game played through the town.
29 May
Garland Day
Castleton. The Garland King rides through the village beneath a cone of flowers.
May to September
Well dressing season
Villages decorate their wells with pictures made from petals pressed into clay. Tideswell Wakes in late June, Buxton in July.
July
Buxton International Festival
Opera, music and books across the town.
Last Sunday of August
Plague Sunday
Eyam. A service remembering the villagers of 1665 and 1666.
Early September
Chatsworth Country Fair
A large country fair in the park.
November and December
Christmas markets
Chatsworth and Haddon Hall.
Dates change each year. Check with the organisers before you travel.
Good to know
Questions guests ask us
What is the best area of the Peak District to stay in?
It depends on what you want to do. Tideswell and the Hope Valley put Castleton, Mam Tor and the Great Ridge on the doorstep. Bakewell suits Chatsworth, the Monsal Trail and easy walking. Buxton has the theatre, gardens and shops. Kinder and the Dark Peak suit experienced walkers.
Can I bring my dog on Peak District walks?
Yes, but many walks cross farmland with sheep and cattle. On open access land from 1 March to 31 July, and near livestock at any time, dogs must be on a lead no longer than 2 metres.
Is there phone signal in the Peak District?
Coverage is patchy in the dales and on the moors. Download maps before you set out.
What is the weather like?
It changes quickly, and the tops are colder and windier than the villages. Pack layers and waterproofs whatever the forecast says.