The Peak District is an English highland area located approximately between the cities of Manchester and Sheffield. It is famously known for a national park as well as an excellent place for recreation and outdoor activities. 

There are countless opportunities for walking and cycling for all the globetrotters who want to breathe in the best of UK nature. The Peak District also presents some of the best parties and fairs as well as several idyllic villages and historical buildings that are well worth visiting.

In the following lines, we will present to you all the attractions of the Peak District as well as some ideas that you can do while you explore this part of the British Islands.

The Overview of the Peak District and its Attractions

For centuries this district was known for the party spirit that has been heard for far and wide. From January to December, there are numerous engaging events to capture your mind. Derbyshire hosts excellent Christmas office party in Derby where hundreds of people gather every year to enjoy Christmas wonders at best. 

This district is also offering opportunities for both locals and visitors to enjoy customs and uniquely local tradition. 

Every Christmas this lovely town hosts some of the best office parties in the UK with the attendance of hundreds of satisfied partygoers that can’t wait until next year to come again. For anyone looking to spend this holiday while partying all night in the circle of colleagues, Derbyshire has everything needed for a comfortable and unforgettable experience. 

The name Peak District gives associations to hilly terrain and sharp peaks, but this could hardly be further from the truth. No one knows how the name came about, but it is probably ancient and has nothing to do with “peak.” Even Kinder Scout, the national park’s highest point at 636 meters, is more of a plateau than a peak. The Peak District covers a relatively large area and can be divided into two distinctive regions. 

In the north, there is an uninhabited and wild Dark Peak, which mainly consists of heather moors and marshes. While in the south we have White Peak, a limestone area with rolling green valleys and villages, as one would imagine the English countryside.

Find an Ideal Bag to Carry All the Stuff Needed for Full-On Peak District Experience

Did you know that out of fifteen national parks in the UK, ten are based in England? Established way back in 1951, The Peak District was the very first national park to be officially recognized in the UK. This area also contains thousands of kilometers of hiking trails, and hiking is probably also the main activity for the majority of visitors. 

Therefore its highly advisable that you get your durable brown leather duffle bag and stuff it with all your hiking gear before the start. Find the one that is like the I Medici model, and you won’t have to worry about reliability and comfort while carrying all that stuff. 

Remember that you will be bringing not just party clothing but also some hiking and possibly biking gear. So don’t hesitate to bring with you another sturdy bag so that you don’t forget anything essential for the full-on Peak District experience!

Besides, there are many suitable bike trails, and the park has bike rentals in several places. Another possibility is horse riding which is also well adapted. The park administration has a lot of information about popular hikes and activities on its website. The problem is with the size of the national park, and the many opportunities make it difficult to get an overview of the highlights. 

Therefore, as an introduction to the Peak District, we will outline a selection of activities in different areas of the park.

The Best Outdoor Activities

The village of Castleton in Hope Valley is an excellent starting point for exploring the Peak District. The idyllic town is an attraction in itself, and its located approximately on the border between Dark Park and White Peak. 

It allows you to find some of the national park’s most beautiful scenery. This is arguably next to the fantastic fairs and parties of Derbyshire the greatest attraction of this area. For it, you will need proper equipment and clothing that will help you conquer all the peaks of this district. 

Therefore, bring top stockings for the trip that will make your feet and legs warm during the flight, but it will also regulate your blood pressure during the hike. Once you put too much effort in climbing these charming hills, you will be glad that you have a pair of them.

A good start is to stroll up Mam Tor, the highest peak near the city, where you have glorious views of the entire Hope Valley. It’s here where the most popular paragliding point of the district is. Especially on weekends, there will often be dense paragliders in the air.

From Mam Tor, it is wonderful to stroll along the northern valley ridge and down to the village of Hope, where several other hiking trails lead back to Castleton. Along this tour, you get to see the open English countryside at its best. There are many different topical hiking trails based in Castleton. Once you get close to the city are also numerous caves that can be visited (both natural and man-made).

A little further south in the national park is the Monsal trail, a slightly different hiking trail, at about 14 km from Blackwell to Bakewell. This follows the route of the abandoned railway, including walking through several (illuminated) tunnels and over the large Monsal viaduct. 

Along the way, there is also some information about both the railway and England’s industrial history. The trail is an entirely flat and consists of relatively wide dirt road, so for pure walking, it is perhaps a bit boring. But for cycling, it’s simply amazing (there is a bike for rent at the start). 

Right at the southern end of the Peak District is the village of Matlock Bath, which is also a good starting point for comfortable hiking. The terrain here is quite hilly, and an excellent tour is to follow the cliff edge along the Derwent River to the nearby town of Matlock. Then you will return via the Heights of Abraham Park on the opposite hill. 

In addition to incredible vantage points, the Heights of Abraham includes two caves to visit and an exhibition of ancient fossils. Visitors who are more interested in the park than walking can also get up by a gondola from the village. 

Guests interested in hiking over several days have many opportunities in the Peak District. This is because several of the most famous UK’s long-distance hiking trails are located in this National Park. 

Examples of trails within the park are the 74 km long Limestone way from Castleton to Rocester and the 88 km long Derwent Valley Heritage way from Ladybower Reservoir to Shardlow. 

Also, the 431 km-long Pennine Way from Edale goes through the “Black Peak” area and further up to Scotland.

It’s Not Just the Nature That Captures Everyone’s Mind

Everything is well signposted and organized in the national park. However, not all the attractions in the Peak District are about nature and outdoor activities. The area’s mix of life and culture is one of the most fascinating. 

Most of the park’s villages and small towns are incredibly idyllic, drawn straight out of the children’s TV series about Postman Pat. Often Castleton, Bakewell, Edale, and Tideswell are highlighted as fairytale-like, but, strictly speaking, all villages are beautiful and well kept. The Peak District also has some historic mansions and castles that are open to the public. Most famous are Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall, both near Bakewell.

The Peak District is very well organized for tourism and together with the excellent accessibility has helped to make the Peak District National Park the most visited in England. However, the park covers such a large area that the influx of tourists rarely becomes a problem. Tourism is mainly limited to weekends, while on weekdays you can have the city almost to yourself.

Although the villages of the Peak District are small, they contain a good selection of hotels and “Bed and Breakfast” places. The public transport inside the park is also good enough that you do not need your car to get around. The Peak District is also very easily accessible by public transport from all major cities nearby. This makes it easy to visit the National Park on a one day trip.

Especially from the big cities of Manchester and Sheffield, there are perfect connections to the whole district and the national park. A city break combined with a day trip to the Peak District can provide a pleasant overall experience. Manchester has already become a popular destination for international visitors and not least because of the city’s two good football teams. 

Also, a charming place of Derbyshire creates the picture with the colors from the writing of J.R.R Tolkein, and the surrounding area is stunning to say at least. If not for the previously mentioned parties then worth to visit this lovely town for the beautiful natural surroundings.

In Conclusion

Diving into Peak District scenery doesn’t have to involve special occasions. Once you arrive at Mam Tor and look below your feet, you will instantly realize why all the effort to get there was more than just typical hiking. 

This area will prove to be a unique experience for you and your friends regardless of the purpose of arrival. Let the Derbyshire party sink in and spend the rest of the next day in admiring the nature that is simply stunning more and more as you observe it.