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: Dovedale
Many visitors to the Peak District may already know or have been to Dovedale; it's one of the most popular beauty spots in the National Park and indeed one of the most visited natural sites in Britain, attracting over a million visitors every year. The easy access paths through the valley and the delightful river with its pretty stepping stones make it a firm favourite with families and day-trippers. Despite its popularity it's still not difficult to escape the crowds, however, particularly if you walk a short distance away from the main valley, and the nearby dales of Hall Dale and Milldale will reward you richly for just a little...
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70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: Eyam to Stoney Middleton Walk
This beautiful 5.5 mile walk between Eyam and Stoney Middleton is a great way to see this area. The route is a Figure of 8, with historic Eyam providing the start, middle and end point. You could do both circles with a break in the middle, or choose to complete either one on its own. The first half of the Figure of 8 takes you out of Eyam, past the Riley Graves and down into Stoney Middleton. The second half takes you through Eyam and out in the other direction, offering splendid views over the village from Eyam Edge before returning to your start point.
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70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: Alton Towers
Alton Towers, on the edge of the Peak District in Staffordshire, is the largest theme park in the UK and covers a whopping 910 acres, with more than 40 rides and attractions split across 10 themed areas of action and adventure. There's something here to suit guests of all ages, sizes and levels of thrill-seeking!
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70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: Padley Gorge
The truly beautiful wooded ravine known as Padley Gorge is only a stone’s throw from civilisation, but it feels like another world entirely. Located on the border between Derbyshire and Yorkshire, it lies at the eastern edge of the Peak District National Park. Padley Gorge is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), recognised in 1972 as being “the best example of the remnant oak and birch woodland that once covered much of the edges of the gritstone uplands of the Peak District.” Here, ancient trees grow along gentle slopes, forming the most wonderful twisted shapes, and in the valley below a clear stream, Burbage Brook, tumbles over rocks...
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70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: Nine Ladies Stone Circle
Dating back to the Bronze Age, around 4,000 years ago, the stone circle known as the ‘Nine Ladies’ stands in a clearing on Stanton Moor in the Derbyshire Peak District. It's a place of myth and mystery, surrounded by clusters of ash, silver birch and beech trees. According to popular legend, the stones are believed to represent nine ladies who were turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath. The King Stone represents the fiddler who provided the music for their revelry.
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70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: Gulliver’s Kingdom, Matlock
For those with younger families, the wonderful theme park of Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock Bath is a real treat. It’s especially designed for children aged between 2 and 13, with a wide range of rides, attractions and themed areas – from the Western World to Smuggler’s Wharf. There’s an exciting Log Flume and Drop Tower, as well as a Log Roller Coaster and a Pirate Ship. Aspiring digger drivers will also love the JCB Zone in Lilliput Land!
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70 Best Days Out in the Peak District: Mam Tor
Mam Tor, literally meaning ‘Mother Hill’, is an iconic peak just outside the pretty Peak District village of Castleton in Derbyshire. The views from the top are well worth the walk - taking in the whole of the Hope Valley on one side and the whole of the Edale Valley to Kinder Scout and the Derwent Moors on the other.
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