11 Best Things to do in The Peak District
Hiking amongst beautiful mountain scenery, great outdoor adventures, scenic drives through magnificent limestone peaks, hearty dinners in cosy pubs and ambling through quaint picturesque market towns. There are many incredible things to do in the Peak District; continue reading for more and everything you need to know for one of the most beautiful places to visit in the UK!
In 1951, The Peak District was declared Britain’s first national park and today is one of the most popular to visit.
It’s not hard to see why.
Rugged moors, picture-perfect market towns, endless sweeping valley views, gorgeous rolling countryside, magnificent stately homes, enchanting castles, independent boutiques, fresh and delicious local food and drink, cosy pubs and so much more make the Peak District one of the most beautiful places to visit in the UK!
With 1,437 square kilometres, there are many fantastic things to do in the Peak District and endless adventures to be had.
Grab your hiking shoes and explore the trails from challenging multi-day hikes to short gentle strolls, experience some of the best climbing spots in the UK, learn about the area’s industrial past with ancient millstones on the moors, see a different perspective of the Peak District through caving, end the day with a hearty pub meal and discover amazing viewpoints.
In this guide to the best things to do in the Peak District, we’ll share everything you need to know for your visit including where to stay, how to get there and the best time to visit, then move on to the best places to visit in the Peak District. Feel free to use the contents as you wish.
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Contents
To Know Before You Go
Where to stay in the Peak District
If you feel like being completely adventurous, braving the north UK weather and getting back to nature, we’d recommend camping in the Peak District. There are campsites all over the national park with facilities ranging from a porta-loo in the corner of a field to upmarket glamping and everything in between.
If camping’s not your thing but you want to feel adventurous and experience the true tranquillity of the national park, why not book this luxury Shepherd’s Hut in Bakewell?!
If you’d like to be based in a town so you can walk out easily in the evening, Bakewell and Buxton are great options.
Bakewell is a small market town ideally located on the River Wye full of old stone buildings and narrow lanes. Bakewell has a lot of the best places to visit in the Peak District right on its doorstep and it’s easy to explore further afield.
Buxton is an elegant thermal spa town renowned for its Georgian and Victorian architecture located in the heart of the Peak District making it a great base to explore.
Alternatively, look at the map below and decide where’s going to be best to base yourself on what you plan to do.
The best time to visit the Peak District
The best time to visit the Peak District for the weather is May – September although the temperature and rain can be unpredictable at any time of the year so pack for every eventuality!
We’d recommend avoiding the school summer holidays (mid-July to early September) as the most popular places to visit in the Peak District become overcrowded, roads are incredibly busy and accommodation prices soar.
Getting around the Peak District
The easiest way to get around the Peak District is by car. This gives you complete freedom and flexibility in your plans and you can beat the crowds at tourist hotspots.
If driving isn’t an option, the Peak District is very well-connected by rail and coach to the north and south of the country.
- By train: the Peak District has great connections from Manchester, Sheffield, Derby and Stoke-on-Trent. From these stations, you can connect to various towns and villages around the national park.
- By coach or bus: National Express runs a direct service from London and Leicester to Derby where it’s possible to jump on a TransPeak bus to some of the smaller towns including Bakewell and Buxton. Megabus and National Express run various services around the UK to Manchester and Sheffield where you can make onward connections.
If you’d like to leave the hassle and organisation to someone else, one of the best ways to see the best things to do in the Peak District is with Get Your Guide.
Various tours depart from Manchester, your transport and accommodation (if applicable) are sorted for you and you travel with a very knowledgeable local guide. Take a look at some of the tour options below.
Things to do in the Peak District
Here’s our list of the top 11 things to do in the Peak District.
Hike Kinder Scout
Kinder Scout is the highest peak in the Peak District so undoubtedly one of the best things to do in the Peak District is to hike it.
If you’re up for a great outdoor adventure and don’t mind some potential wading through bogs and rock scrambling, make sure you set aside a day to hike Kinder Scout.
Unfortunately, the weather was less than ideal during our visit to the Peak District, (it is one of the wettest places to visit in the UK after all…) however, when the clouds decided to let up now and again we were presented with lush, gorgeous valleys, footbridges that belong in fairytales, unique and vast moorland and unforgettable views.
Kinder Scout is one of the best walks in the Peak District and the best route to hike is the 13-kilometre loop from Edale. It’s challenging but rewarding. Wear proper footwear.
Our Top Tip: reward yourself at The Old Nag’s Head for a well-deserved pint afterwards!
Drive Winnats Pass
One of the most scenic places to visit in the Peak District is Winnats Pass. It’s hard to convey just how spectacular this road is but we thought we’d left the UK and somehow been transported to New Zealand!
One of the best things to do in the Peak District is to drive through this steep gorge as tall, green mountains and luscious fauna envelop you and you’re surrounded on either side by magnificent limestone peaks!
The narrow windy road of the valley is full of fossils from the sea creatures who inhabited the tropical sea that was here more than 350 million years ago!
Because of this, Winnats Pass is a protected site known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Visit Bakewell
Bakewell is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Peak District. It’s a cosy, picture-perfect market town known for its delicious Bakewell pudding. If you have a sweet tooth, make sure you put a visit to Bakewell on your list of things to do in the Peak District.
The town sits peacefully on the banks of the River Wye; perfect for a relaxing afternoon stroll.
Bakewell is the largest town in the Peak District and an interesting place to explore. However, if you’re short on time like we were, spend a couple of hours ambling about the narrow lanes and picturesque courtyards and admiring the old stone buildings before heading to a historic pub for a drink or meal.
Our Top Tip: the car park to the Monsal Trail (below) is a 15-minute walk to the centre of Bakewell so you can leave the car and stroll in for a visit.
Walk the Monsal Trail
Walking along the Monsal Trail is one of the best things to do in the Peak District if you’re looking for a nice, relaxing, peaceful walk and nothing too strenuous.
The Monsal Trail runs along a former railway line through some of the Peak District’s most spectacular limestone dales. You’ll pass through tunnels and over viaducts; it’s hands-down one of the most gorgeous places to visit in the Peak District!
If like us, you’re limited on time, we’d recommend parking at the Monsal Trail Car Park in Bakewell and walking to the striking Headstone Viaduct; this is the real highlight and what makes the Monsal Trail one of the most beautiful walks in the Peak District.
This will take about an hour. It’s flat the whole way except for the last 7 or so minutes up to the viewpoint where there’s a cosy pub waiting for you!
The entire Monsal Trail runs between Chee Dale and Bakewell for 13.6 kilometres. If you want to see it all, we’d recommend renting a bike as it’s point-to-point so you’ll need to return to where your car is parked unless you have two cars or you’re using public transport. You can hire bikes at either end of the trail.
Our Top Tip: after you’ve finished your hike, walk 15 minutes from the car park into Bakewell for a well-deserved Bakewell pudding.
Hike Mam Tor
Another of the top walks in the Peak District is Mam Tor which is also one of the most well-known hills in the national park. One of the best things to do in the Peak District is to spend a few hours hiking it and enjoying some incredible scenery.
Mam Tor stands at 517 metres so although not a huge climb, it is one of the highest peaks in this part of the Peak District.
The most popular route to hike Mam Tor is the 9-kilometre loop from the pretty village of Castleton that’ll lead you through some of the most spectacular spots in the Peak District.
You’ll climb through the hidden gorge of Cave Dale and be rewarded with a wonderful view of Peveril Castle and as you hike along the iconic Great Ridge, enjoy incredible panoramic views over the Edale and Hope Valleys and even to the edge of Kinder Scout!
Our Top Tip: the route can be quite slippery when wet so proper hiking shoes/boots are recommended.
The difficulties of trying to get a good photo in the rain!
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House is a magnificent stately home close to Bakewell on the banks of the River Derwent. It’s set in expansive parkland and wooded hills, looking across to the low hills between the Derwent and Wye Valleys.
The House is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family since 1549!
Chatsworth House contains major collections of art dating back 4,000 years. From ancient Roman and Egyptian sculpture to distinguished modern artists including David Nash and Lucian Freud.
There are over 25 rooms to explore including the regal staterooms, the lavishly painted hall and the exquisite sculpture gallery.
Chatsworth House has been chosen as Britain’s favourite country house on numerous occasions and so has become one of the most popular places to visit in the UK.
Make sure you allow for time to saunter about the delightful 105-acre gardens. They’re a marvellous area of open space with beautiful scenery, a rich history, sculptures, water features and even a Victorian rock garden!
Thor's Cave
Thor’s Cave is an impressive natural cavern located in the Manifold Valley. Set in a steep limestone crag, the towering arched cave entrance is prominently visible and easily accessible from the footpath below.
Evidence has been found of human occupation dating as far back as the end of the Old Stone Age, with more intensive use during the Iron Age and Roman periods. Excavations have uncovered pottery, amber beads, bronze items, stone tools and even the burial sites of at least seven people!
The cave is a very popular tourist spot and the views across Manifold Valley are breathtaking.
Go Camping
There’s nothing quite like being completely immersed in nature and appreciating the silence. Unplugging from technology and getting away from your screens. Having endless amounts of fresh air and cooking your food over a campfire.
In the Peak District, you can pitch your tent in the heart of the national park, as close to nature as possible with a network of footpaths on your doorstep.
It symbolises everything a national park stands for; giving access to open countryside to the public while protecting its beautiful landscapes. Camping is great value and eco-friendly and as long as you clean up after yourself, you won’t leave a lasting footprint.
The Peak District has some great options for camping, given it’s a hive of outdoor activity. From back-to-basics sites with minimal facilities in secluded surroundings to fabulous glamping retreats in yurts, shepherd’s huts and cabins there’s something for everyone!
Have a Pub Lunch
One of the best things to do in the Peak District is to have a pub lunch. The national park is home to LOADS of cosy countryside pubs and historic inns, each with its unique quirks.
After a long walk or a day out adventuring in the fresh (and probably cold and wet) air, you’ll need a warming pub where you can enjoy a local beer and a well-deserved hearty meal surrounded by spectacular views.
The Peak District is a great place to incorporate walks with pubs. If you know you’re going to need some motivation to keep you going, make sure there’s a pub somewhere along the trail.
One we’d recommend is the Monsal Trail; one of the top walks in the Peak District. The Monsal Head Hotel boasts superb views over Monsal Dale and the famous viaduct and offers visitors great food, seasonal menus and real ales from local microbreweries.
We had a lovely pub lunch in the hospitable, family-run Greyhound Inn after our wet and windy hike up Kinder Scout. Set in the little village of Warslow, they pride themselves on supporting local breweries and using local meat from the farm behind the pub!
The Dog and Partridge is set in delightful surroundings and has been owned by the same family for over 30 years. Where possible, the ingredients are locally sourced and the majority of the meat and poultry is locally farmed.
They also have rooms to stay in which make for a great base to explore the Peak District.
Ladybower Reservoir
At the heart of the Peak District National Park is the large Ladybower Reservoir in the Upper Derwent Valley.
It was constructed between 1935 and 1943 due to the heavy demand for water from industrial towns in the nearby area. Ladybower was seen as an ideal location for the storage of water because of its long, deep valley, low population level and high average rainfall. It was officially opened by King George VI on 24th September 1945.
Ladybower Reservoir is one of the most stunning places to visit in the Peak District. It’s surrounded by charming countryside with striking views of the water, woodland and moorland. There are many outdoor activities in the area including walks treating you to breathtaking viewpoints.
One of the best walks in the Peak District is the High Neb-Bamford Edge Walk with magnificent views over Ladybower Reservoir, ancient millstones and old wells which serve as a reminder of the area’s industrial past, vast marshland and enchanting forests.
A shorter and flat walk we’d recommend is the gentle 8-kilometre Circular Ladybower Reservoir Walk which takes you around one-half of the reservoir and passes the impressive Derwent Dam.
It consists of well-made paths suitable for cycling, hiking, all-terrain wheelchairs and pushchairs and dog walking.
Visit Alton Towers
To round off our list of things to do in the Peak District is something you probably won’t immediately think of. Alton Towers; a theme park and resort complex with a water park, spa, mini-golf and hotel.
From adrenaline-pumping experiences including ‘Rita’, which shoots you straight to 100 kmph in 2.5 seconds, to the family-friendly, ‘In The Night Garden Boat Ride’ where you journey through a real night garden, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
If you need a break to catch your breath from the twists and turns of the thrill rides, enjoy a gentle stroll through the elegant gardens. They’re a beautiful place for a family picnic or to get to other areas of the park without using the Skyride Cable Car.
We hope this post has been useful in helping you decide the best things to do in the Peak District. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or contact us 🙂