70 Best Days Out in the Peak District
The Peak District National Park was founded on 17 April 1951, the first national park ever to be created in the UK. It covers 555 square miles of the most beautiful parts of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Yorkshire and even parts of Greater Manchester.
To celebrate the 70th birthday of our very favourite place, we’ve collected together what we consider to be the 70 Best Days Out in the Peak District to inspire you to visit more of this wonderful area. Have a browse through our collection below to get suggestions for entirely new spots to discover, or to remind yourself to revisit old favourites.
You’ll find all the region’s best attractions in here, as well as the most popular beauty spots and a few hidden gems as well, not to mention some wonderful little villages and many of the vibrant towns on the borders.
Join us in celebrating the very best that the Peak District has to offer, not just in this special birthday year but in every year to come!
70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: Castleton
We believe that a day in the lovely village of Castleton in Derbyshire is a must for all visitors to the Peak District National Park. It’s surrounded by beautiful scenery, nestled in the hills of the Hope Valley, and there’s something here to suit pretty much everyone. There are no less than four impressive show caverns to please adventurous kids of all ages, and visitors who prefer a gentle pace of exploration will enjoy wandering the narrow lanes, browsing the independent shops and sampling the fare in the many tea rooms, restaurants and pubs.
Read More
70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: Tideswell Dale
Just to the south of the pretty Peak District village of Tideswell you’ll find Tideswell Dale. This limestone valley with a stream running through its centre is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life, including many rare varieties of orchids and butterflies. It's a beautiful, sheltered spot with easy access paths throughout, and makes a great spot for a family picnic and walk. There's an obvious and accessible path through the dale, completing a circuit around 0.5 km in length around the inner perimeter of the dale.
Read More
70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: Birchover and Rowtor Rocks
The lovely village of Birchover lies on the south eastern border of the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire, surrounded by the most stunning scenery. Although only five miles out of the town of Matlock, it stands amid the most magnificent open moorland that's steeped in history. On the edge of the village you'll find the mysterious cave complex of Rowtor Rocks, consisting of numerous interlinked tunnels, passages, viewpoints and caverns, some man-made. Many of the rocks have been carved with symbols and pictures, including serpents, circles and cups. The modifications and carvings reputedly date from the 17th Century and are the handiwork of a very intriguing individual, the village...
Read More
70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: Matlock Bath
Matlock Bath was one of England’s first true tourist destinations in the late 17th Century, when the healing properties of its warm spa waters were first discovered. Access to the area was improved in the 18th Century, and by the 19th Century Matlock Bath was a place for society’s finest to visit. And little wonder, for it occupies a beautiful position in a limestone gorge on the River Derwent, with attractive riverside gardens and steep wooded hillsides.
Read More
70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: Edensor
There’s only one place in the Peak District where you can find a Georgian mansion, an Italian-style villa, a Swiss cottage and a miniature castle all on the same street, and that’s Edensor! This pretty little village lies within the Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire. It’s a picture-perfect place, with its eclectic mix of housing styles laid out around a wide village green, in the centre of which stands the graceful church of St Peter’s.
Read More
70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: Wyming Brook
The beautifully wooded ravine of Wyming Brook is an absolute gem. It lies on the edge of the Peak District in Yorkshire, and it's a perfect spot for photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, hikers, or those who just want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Wander among the trees here and discover a clear brook tumbling over mossy stones and part-submerged tree roots, criss-crossed by a series of a picturesque wooden footbridges. It's a stunning place to explore at any time of the year.
Read More
70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: The Roaches
The Roaches is a stunning gritstone ridge that rises up from moorland close to Leek in Staffordshire, on the south west edge of the Peak District. At its highest point the ridge reaches 505m and provides spectacular views over Staffordshire, Cheshire and even into Lancashire and Wales. it's a great place to spend a day in the Great Outdoors, with more than 975 acres of rocky upland to explore, providing a perfect playground for walkers and climbers.
Read More