Why The Peak District?
The Peaks, a mesmerizing landscape
The Peak District was designated a national park in 1951. It covers 555 sq miles (1,438km) in the heart of England. It reaches into five counties and is the most accessible national park in the country – close to Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham and Derby. It receives more than 13 million visitors each year and an estimated 20 million people live within an hour’s travel.
The Peak District is made up of impressive gritstone edges, steep limestone dales and rolling hills and farmland. The highest point is Kinder Scout at 2,086ft (636 metres). There are 26,000 miles of dry stone wall in the Peak District – equivalent to a wall around the Earth.
Villages
The best villages to visit
Bakewell
Situated on the banks of the river Wye in the Derbyshire White Peaks, Bakewell offers a lovely day out. Surrounded by glorious countryside, the town offers tea rooms set in cosy courtyards, impressive stone buildings, a traditional weekly market, a quaint five-arched bridge that goes back to Roman times, a Grade I listed church, a museum, historic almshouses, and various riverside attractions.
Located
53.214°N 1.676°W
What I like about it
I love to have fish and chips down by the river with, of course, Bakewell tart for pudding
Castleton
Castleton is a beautiful village situated at the head of the Hope Valley in the heart of the Peak District National Park. The village is popular for its caves, which produce Blue John stone that looks great in jewellery, history, shops, Christmas lights, garland ceremony, Winnats Pass, Cave Dale and for the numerous footpaths. Surrounded by hillsides and overlooked by Mam Tor and the ancient Peveril Castle.
Located
53.344°N 1.775°W
What I like about it
It's great to visit the castle and climb the hill to the castle, and finishing the day with a drink at the Bull's Head.
Edale
Edale is a small village or, to be more correct, a collection of small hamlets or “booths” in the Derbyshire Peak District. Nestled beneath Kinder Scout and tucked away at the end of the Hope Valley, Edale is very popular with walkers and runners due to its beauty and accessibility. You can see the annual well-dressing. The wells are decorated from May to September according to tradition and is unique to the Peak District.
Located
53.366°N 1.816°W
What I like about it
Going for a walk in the countryside is beautiful and the view from Kinder Scout is amazing.
Gallery
Photos from The Peak District
