PeakDistrict
3
Day Itinerary •
UK
Three days in the Peak District reveal the full extraordinary contrast between the wild Dark Peak gritstone moorlands and the gentler White Peak limestone dales. The Mam Tor Great Ridge walk, the Blue John caverns of Castleton, Chatsworth House, the Bakewell pudding, the Monsal Head viaduct viewpoint, Stanage Edge gritstone escarpment and the Derwent Dambusters reservoirs are all within reach of a single Hope Valley base. This route covers the finest of both Peak Districts from the dramatic ridgelines of the Dark Peak and the underground geology of the Castleton caves through the stately grandeur of Chatsworth and the market town of Bakewell to the gritstone edges of the east. Three days that reveal why the Peak District was Britain's first National Park.
Best Time To Visit
April to June or September to October
Getting There
Train to Hope or Hathersage from Sheffield
Getting Around
Car essential, Hope Valley train useful
Budget Per Day
Approx 80 to 225 GBP per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate, moorland and dale walking
DAY 1
DARK PEAK NORTH
MORNING
MAM TOR AND THE GREAT RIDGE, THE FINEST RIDGE WALK IN ENGLAND
Mam Tor at 1,696 feet is the most accessible and dramatic summit in the Peak District, its extraordinary shivering mountain of shale and gritstone giving a view over the Hope Valley, Edale and Castleton that is the finest panorama in the Dark Peak. The Great Ridge walk from Mam Tor to Lose Hill at 1,563 feet is the finest short ridge walk in England, 4 miles of open moorland edge with views on both sides throughout. Entirely free. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
CASTLETON AND THE BLUE JOHN CAVERNS
Castleton is the finest village in the Dark Peak, its extraordinary Norman castle of Peveril perched on a cliff above the village and its four show caves giving access to the most extraordinary underground landscape in England. Blue John Cavern contains the only known deposit of Blue John stone in the world, a unique purple and yellow fluorite mineral. Cave entry approx 12 pounds. The village itself with its Winnats Pass backdrop is extraordinary. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
EDALE AND THE START OF THE PENNINE WAY
Edale is the finest walking village in England, the southern terminus of the Pennine Way national trail and the start of 268 miles of upland walking to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland. The village itself, hemmed in by Kinder Scout to the north and the Great Ridge to the south, is extraordinarily atmospheric. The walk up Jacob's Ladder onto Kinder plateau gives the finest moorland landscape in the Peak District. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Odin Mine near Mam Tor is the oldest documented metal mine in England, with records dating to 1280, and is accessible via a public footpath from the Mam Tor car park past extraordinary mineral veins of galena and calcite visible in the exposed rock faces. The gorge through which the ancient mine track runs is one of the most extraordinary small geological features in the Peak District. Entirely free to visit on the public right of way.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Penny Pot Cafe, Castleton The finest breakfast in the Hope Valley. Outstanding local eggs and Derbyshire sausages. | Lunch: The Rambler Inn, Edale Outstanding walkers' lunch at the finest pub in Edale. Local pies and Derbyshire ales. | Dinner: The George Hotel, Castleton Outstanding Peak District food. The local Hereford beef and Blue Vinny cheese are extraordinary.
DAY 2
THE WHITE PEAK
MORNING
CHATSWORTH HOUSE, THE FINEST STATELY HOME IN ENGLAND
Chatsworth House is the finest stately home in England, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire since 1549, its extraordinary collection of Old Masters, sculpture and decorative art surpassing any country house outside London. The cascade waterfall, the Emperor Fountain and the extraordinary Capability Brown landscape garden are remarkable. The farm shop sells the finest estate produce in the Peak District. Entry to house and garden approx 26 pounds. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
BAKEWELL, THE FINEST MARKET TOWN IN THE PEAK DISTRICT
Bakewell is the finest market town in the Peak District, its extraordinary Monday market, the medieval bridge over the Wye and the Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop where the famous pudding was invented by accident in 1860 all essential. The extraordinary Church of All Saints contains some of the finest Saxon stonework in the Peak District and a remarkable collection of medieval grave slabs. Entry to church free. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
MONSAL HEAD AND THE FINEST VIEW IN THE WHITE PEAK
Monsal Head above the Wye gorge near Bakewell is the finest viewpoint in the White Peak, its extraordinary Victorian railway viaduct crossing the gorge below while the Monsal Trail cycling path runs through the tunnel beneath the viewer. The Wye valley walk from Monsal Head to Miller's Dale through extraordinary limestone gorge is 4 miles of the finest White Peak walking available. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Via Gellia valley between Matlock and Newhaven, largely unknown to visitors who stay in Bakewell and Castleton, is the finest hidden valley in the White Peak, its extraordinary limestone gorge clothed in ancient ash and sycamore woodland with the Via Gellia mill at its centre. The valley is particularly extraordinary in late April when the ramsons wild garlic carpets the woodland floor in white. Public footpaths throughout. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Bloomers, Bakewell Outstanding bakery in Bakewell. The finest Bakewell tarts and scones in the Peak District. | Lunch: The Monsal Head Hotel Outstanding pub lunch above the extraordinary Wye gorge. Local game and Derbyshire ales. | Dinner: Fischer's Baslow Hall The finest restaurant in the Peak District, adjacent to Chatsworth. Outstanding tasting menu. Book ahead.
DAY 3
EASTERN EDGES
MORNING
STANAGE EDGE AND THE GRITSTONE EDGES OF THE DARK PEAK
Stanage Edge is the most magnificent gritstone escarpment in England, a 4-mile wall of dark millstone grit rising to 1,502 feet above the Hope Valley with extraordinary views south over Sheffield and north to the moors. The edge path is the finest moorland walk in the Dark Peak and the finest outdoor rock climbing venue in the country. The millstones abandoned on the hillside below are extraordinary industrial archaeology. Entry free. Drive/Travel: 15 min drive
MIDDAY
HATHERSAGE AND THE ROBIN HOOD CONNECTION
Hathersage is the finest village in the eastern Dark Peak, its extraordinary setting below the gritstone edges, the grave of Little John in the churchyard, the connection with Charlotte Bronte who set Jane Eyre here as Morton and the extraordinary 15th-century Haywarden Hall make it the most literary village in the Peak. The outdoor swimming pool cut from a millstone grit stream is the finest in England. Entry to pool approx 5 pounds. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
DERWENT DAMS AND THE DAMBUSTERS CONNECTION
The Derwent and Ladybower reservoirs in the Upper Derwent Valley are the most extraordinary man-made landscape in the Peak District, their drowned villages visible in drought years and their connection with the 617 Squadron Dambusters who practised low-level flying over the twin towers of Derwent Dam before the 1943 raid giving them an extraordinary historical resonance. The valley road circuit is remarkable. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Carl Wark, a natural gritstone outcrop above Hathersage that may be a 5th-century hillfort, is one of the most extraordinary and least visited prehistoric sites in England, its extraordinary defensive wall of stacked gritstone blocks sitting on a natural promontory above the Burbage valley with remarkable views over the Dark Peak. The walk from the Fox House Inn takes 30 minutes and reveals one of the most mysterious places in the Peak District. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Little John Inn, Hathersage Outstanding Peak District breakfast in the finest pub in Hathersage. | Lunch: Outside Inn, Hathersage Outstanding local food at the finest independent cafe in the eastern Peak. Local produce throughout. | Dinner: The Plough Inn, Hathersage The finest old inn in the eastern Peak. Outstanding Derbyshire beef and local game. Excellent ales.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Hope Valley, All 3 Nights Best central base. Losehill House Hotel, Hope or The George, Hathersage. Approx 100 to 200 GBP. Bakewell option The Rutland Arms Hotel, Bakewell. Approx 90 to 160 GBP. Ideal for White Peak days. Budget Option YHA Castleton or YHA Hathersage. Approx 25 to 45 GBP per night. Excellent locations.
Top Tips
1. Mam Tor car park fills by 9am on summer weekends. Park at Edale and walk up to avoid the crowds.
2. Chatsworth House: book tickets online before visiting. The garden is extraordinary even without the house ticket.
3. Stanage Edge: the gritstone climbers are most active on weekends. The edge at dawn midweek is extraordinary.
4. Blue John Cavern: book ahead in summer. The cave is cool year-round. Bring a layer.
5. Monsal Head viaduct view: finest in morning light looking east. Park in the small car park above the pub.
6. Grindleford Station Cafe: cash only, no card machine, unchanged since
1979. The best breakfast in the Peak.
Total Budget
80 to 220 GBP/day