Derbyshire’s Peak District National Park was the UK’s very first national park, created in 1951, and now covers more than 555 square miles. Crisscrossed by miles of footpaths and cycle trails, and with moors, dales and spectacular views, it’s a wonderful destination for hikers. And not just hikers – other highlights include caves, forests, historic homes and country houses, and medieval towns and villages.
Which all goes some of the way to explaining why we just couldn’t resist introducing a new UK tour for 2025 that combines the Derbyshire Peaks with the glorious Yorkshire Dales. Our stay in the Peaks intersperses magnificent hikes with visits to Bakewell and Buxton, to Haddon Hall and to the fascinating village of Eyam. But we couldn’t fit everything into four days and if you are able to stay a bit longer, these are some of the places and attractions which we just couldn’t squeeze into our itinerary! They may be busier than some of the places on our itinerary but are definitely worth a visit.
Chatsworth House
Magnificent Chatsworth House is the Peak District’s top visitor attraction, and one of the UK’s most recognized stately homes. Home to the Cavendish family since the 16th century, and the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, this extraordinary English country house looks out over 1,000 acres of parkland with formal gardens. Allow plenty of time – there are over 25 rooms to explore in the stately home, including the Painted Hall, State Rooms and Sculpture Gallery.
But for outdoor enthusiasts, the 105-acre garden which includes lakes, a rose garden, maze, kitchen garden and ‘Great Cascade’ is even more compelling. Beyond the garden, choose from several circular walks through Chatsworth Park. And if all that walking makes you hungry, treat yourself to a traditional pub lunch at the Devonshire Arms at Pilsley, in the heart of the Chatsworth Estate.
Hardwick Hall
Set on a much smaller scale, Hardwick Hall is a National Trust owned Elizabethan country house, built by ‘Bess of Hardwick’ in the late 1500’s. Amongst the Hall’s treasures are a unique collection of 16th and early 17th century needlework, furniture and original portraits. Outside, there’s an attractive garden with orchards and borders and beyond that, some wonderful walks in Grade I listed parkland peppered with ancient trees.
Ilam Park & Dovedale
If you’re looking for a traditional picture book English village, look no further than Ilam which comes complete with a church, river, pretty cottages and a lush green backdrop. And, of course, a tea room! Nestling on the fringes of the Peak District National Park, enjoy a traditional cream tea at the Manifold tea room, looking out over Ilam Park’s Italian Garden.
The Park is an excellent access point to the White Peak area, including the well-signposted and extremely popular Ilam Dovedale walk which takes you through some of the area’s loveliest landscapes. Sections of the walk can get busy, particularly around Dovedale’s iconic stepping stones.
Walking and cycling trails
If you want to cover more ground than is possible on foot, the Peak District’s cycle routes are a great option. Built on disused railway lines, the trails at Monsal, Tissington, High Peak and Thornhill are an excellent traffic-free way to explore the countryside. Bike hire is available at Parsley Hay cycle hire centre, convenient for the Monsal and Tissington trails. The trails are also open to walkers.
Villages in the Peak District
You can access two of the Peak District’s most charming villages directly from the Tissington Trail. Alongside the mandatory duck pond, pretty stone cottages, well and tea shop, Tissington is home to Jacobean Tissington Hall which has been the seat of the Fitzherbert family for over 400 years. The village in fact has six wells and is said to be responsible for the centuries old tradition of well dressing – the decoration of local wells with intricate floral designs. Tissington’s well dressing is in May, but the practice now takes place in over 80 towns and villages throughout the summer months.
Hartington is also close to the Tissington Trail. With stone cottages clustered around the village square, and a smattering of cafes and pubs, the village is certainly worth a detour, not least for its wonderful cheese shop. The village is also a popular walking hub, with plenty of footpaths to choose from.
Castleton and Peveril Castle
Surrounded on three sides by steep hills, including the famous Mam Tor, Castleton village in the Hope Valley has a dramatic setting, overlooked by the impressive Peveril castle. The village provides access to several superb walks, with the hike to Mam Tor probably the most popular. As well as wonderful sweeping views of the Hope Valley and Edale, Mam Tor has the remains of an Iron Age hillfort at its summit.
The other point of interest in Castleton are the four caverns – Blue John, Treak Cliff Cavern, Speedwell Cavern and the largest, Peak Cavern which has four miles of passages and the option of taking a boat trip to a large water-filled natural cavern, the so-called Bottomless Pit. Any of these places are a great add-on to our UK tour to the Derbyshire Peaks and Yorkshire Dales, our first tour in the UK.
More information on the region is available from Visit Peak District & Derbyshire.