Planning a new break can sometimes be tricky. To help you decide which areas you don’t want to miss during your stay, here are a few real life Peak District fans talking about their favourite areas, activities and places.
If you would like to feature in our Peak District Fan Picks section please contact us.
Beth
(Beth developed her love for the Peak District when she worked at Castleton’s YHA during her gap year)Favourite Place in the Peak District
My favourite place in the Peak District is Monsal Head. Here you can sit in the beer garden of the pub and look out over a beautiful valley, the focal point of which is a viaduct which spans all the way across. On a clear and sunny day it’s exceptionally beautiful.
Favourite Walk in the Peak District
My favourite walk is along the old railway from Ravenstor hostel to Monsal Head. It’s a nice easy walk, not too far and a good wide path. All of this with a promise of a drink at the end of it, what more could you ask for?
Favourite Pub or Tearoom in the Peak District
My favourite pub is ‘The Peaks’ which is located Castleton. It’s a great pub and I love the friendly service there. I also love the Monsal Head Hotel (right on top of Monsal Head) the views are incredible and the food is pretty good too!
Favourite Activity in the Peak District
My favourite activity has got to be walking but only because I haven’t tried any of the others!
June
(June has lived in Manchester for many years and has visited the Peak District many times)Favourite place in Peak District
I really love the Wye Valley because it provides such a wide range of scenery – from neck-breaking limestone rock cliffs to streams that follow through deep forest. There are also beautiful meadows and rolling grassland. The valley is definitely an eye pleaser.
Favourite walk in Peak District
My favourite walk has to be Cressbrook to Monsal Dale via Millers Dale. It’s a challenging walk but in an enjoyable way. Being a non-athletic person I prefer to walk without breaking a lot of sweat and this walked seemed perfect for me. The fantastic variety of scenery along the way means I get to take lots of great photos on the way!
Favourite pub or tearoom
My favourite tearoom is Cintras Tearoom in Hathersage. It’s a charming and traditional tearoom and I would definitely recommend the hot chocolate and steak butty they serve there.
Favourite activity in the Peak District
I love walking and hiking in the Peak District as it offers some of the best scenery in England. I also love cycling and birdwatching.
Ben
(Ben has lived and worked in the Peak District for many years, is a keen rock climber and is currently studying Adventure Tourism at Derby University in Buxton)Favourite place in the Peak District
It’s a tough choice, but I think I would say Water-cum-Jolly Dale. It’s got the finest (in my humble opinion) natural limestone crag in the peaks on one side, and on the other the River Wye. The Rubicon Wall located here is a steep crackline that splits a corner of the crag and it’s a climbing ambition of mine. It’s very pleasing on the eye, but at the moment just a little bit too hard on the muscles! The Rubicon is at the end of the dale where the river opens out into a small lake. Here you see little water voles, all different kinds of ducks and the occasional swan. When in season and when the water’s clear, you can look in the river and even see wild rainbow trout hanging out in the sun. It’s always a very peaceful spot and during summer there’s no finer place to to spend a day!
Favourite Pub or Tearoom in the Peak District
There are so many good pubs I could recommend in the Peaks. The White Hart in Bradwell and The Old Clubhouse in Buxton are definitely worth a visit but my favourite pub has to be the Red Lion at Litton. The food here is exceptional, the beers are good and they are always served with a smile and a chat. It’s also in a lovely location. Litton’s a cute, quiet village and if you’re staying here walking or climbing in the White Peak it’s never gonna be too far to drive!
Favourite Walk
This is also a tricky to choose from the many great walks in the Peak District, the one that I’ve repeated the most starts in Castleton village and then goes to Cave Dale, then Mam Tor, Hollins Cross, Back Tor, Lose Hill and then to the village of Hope and then back Castleton. Although it sounds like a really long hike it’s less than ten miles and on very well marked footpaths!
Favourite Activity
This is easy, definitely climbing! I could talk about climbing all day but basically, it’s the best thing ever! Nothing compares to the mixed feelings of fear, excitement, raw adrenaline and satisfaction that you get with climbing. The Peaks is absolutely perfect for climbing because you have access to all different types of rock (which all have their unique character) and all difficulties ranging from very easy to extremely hard! The settings and scenery are also fantastic, from just plain beautiful to eerie, edgy and awe inspiring. There are also unusual rocks with some crags being SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest). I would recommend trying climbing to anyone who hasn’t done so already, I think you would be pleasantly surprised.
Gregory
(Gregory enjoyed a spring break touring the Peak District this year)Favourite Place
I think I would choose Castleton village because of its old world charm and pretty thatched cottages, I also loved the unusual and lovely scenery such as Cave Dale and Winnat’s Pass. I would also recommend Peveril Castle for relaxing and for the great views and also make sure you visit at least one of the show caves. We were lucky enough to visit Castleton when it was Garland Day (on 29th May) and the village had even more of a great atmosphere and I got the chance to take some great photos.
Favourite Walk
Mam Tor for its closeness to Castleton and also for the great views, I think all visitors to Castleton should climb it’s famous shivering mountain. I also really liked Kinder Scout and when we felt particularly energetic one day we started at Edale and completed a 12 mile hike circular hike of Kinder Scout. It was challenging but great fun.
Favourite Pub or Tearoom
After a long walk up Mam Tor we had a well earned coffee and cake in Cinnamon Bear Coffee Shop, Castleton village. It’s also a gift shop and I would recommend a visit.
Favourite Activity
We only got a chance to hike and cycle while we were there so I would say that. I enjoyed the Tissington Trail for cycling because it’s a mostly peaceful trail, not too strenuous or steep and has some pretty views.
Peter
(Peter has enjoyed many holidays in the Peak District over the years)Favourite Place
My favourite place in the Peak District has to be Chatsworth House, I personally think it’s the finest stately home in England. I appreciate a good garden and Chatsworth didn’t let me down! The garden, especially the long cascading waterfall is just wonderful.
Favourite Walk
That would have to be a walk in my other favourite place the village Ashford-in-the-Water. It’s a lovely village and when visiting I always make sure I enjoy a gentle walk along the River Wye.
Favourite Pub or Tearoom
The Aisseford Tea Room in Ashford-in-the-Water is a favourite of mine, here you can sit in the cafe or it’s garden and enjoy coffee or tea with freshly made scones or homemade cake.
Favourite Activity
Sightseeing
Susan
(Susan has spent many holidays in the Peak District)Favourite Place
I love Bakewell, it’s a charming town with some great buildings such as the old Market Hall and the Old House Museum and of course not forgetting the medieval manor house Haddon Hall. I also love Bakewell because of its very tasty puddings!
Favourite Walk
There are many fantastic places to walk in the Peak District but I think I would have to choose Dove Dale for it’s rolling hills, beautiful woodland and the lovely River Dove. Nothing beats taking a stroll along the famous limestone gorge.
Favourite Pub or Tearoom
The Bakewell Pudding Shop Tea Rooms is great for sampling an original recipe of those world famous puddings.
Favourite Activity
Taking photographs!
Gaby
(Gaby got to know the Peak District very well while travelling in the UK where she spent a year working at the YHA in Castleton)Favourite Place
Of course I loved Castleton and all its caverns, great scenery and the ruined castle on top of the hill. I also really Buxton as a pretty town, it’s got some good shops and beautiful buildings.
Favourite Pub or Tearoom
My favourite pub would probably be The Castle in Castleton, we used to go there a lot to meet with friends and the staff are really friendly. They also serve a mean Sunday roast!
Favourite Walk
I really liked Mam Tor for the views and Edale and The Pennine Way for its sheer beauty and peacefulness. I also went on a few lovely hikes in Dove Dale.
Favourite Activity
Walking and Rock Climbing. Although I didn’t do nearly enough when I was there, I would if I ever went back!
Amy
(Amy is 8 and has recently enjoyed a holiday in the Peak District)Favourite Place in the Peak District
I liked the cable cars (at the Heights of Abraham in Matlock Bath) and Gulliver’s Kingdom (a theme park also in Matlock Bath)
Favourite Walk
At the park at the top of the cable car hill (at the Heights of Abraham)
Favourite Activity
Going on the rides and feeding the ducks
Emma
(Emma has enjoyed a few holidays in the Peak District)Favourite Place
I love the historic town of Leek and its antique market and antique shops, we spent a lovely afternoon of browsing and window shopping when we visited. Hathersage also has a special place in my heart because of its strong connections with Charlotte Bronte. I read Jane Eyre when I was at school and it was so great to visit the village that is strongly thought to be the inspiration for the novel.
Favourite Walk
Definitely Stanage Edge, again because of its film and literature connection. I loved the fact I could recreate Keira Knightly’s scene from Pride and Prejudice!
Favourite Pub or Tearoom
Elliots Cafe in Hathersage is a friendly bistro style cafe which had some good vegetarian options.
Favourite Activity
Window shopping in antique shops, shopping and of course walking.
Linda
(Linda has visited the Peak District regularly over the last seven years)Favourite Places
I love Hope Valley and often choose to base myself there, Hope Valley which is a central part of the national park running from Castleton in the west to Hathersage in the east. It’s a great place because it has a handy train line and from here you can access the Peak District gems of Win Hill over to the Ladybower reservoirs then Lose Hill, Mam Tor and the Edale Valley which leads to the forbidding Kinder Scout (bleak and open moorland).
I sometimes prefer more gentler walks over lush meadows rather than craggy and rugged landscapes so I head to the pretty village of Tideswell, which is 5 miles south of Hope on a bus route. From Tideswell you can reach the lovely dales of Chee, Monk’s, Tideswell and Monsal, not forgetting the cutely named Water-cum-Jolly. Once here you can look out for the timid water vole and the engaging Dipper – the bird that runs along beneath the water, bobbing up and down, hunting for insects.
Favourite Walks
One of my favourite walks is along Froggatt, Curbar and Baslow Edges – south east of Hathersage, on the edge of the Dark Peak. In autumn the brilliant russets, reds, golds and purples of bracken and heather are glorious.
Favourite Pubs or Tearooms
Buxton has a great Thai restaurant called Simply Thai Restaurant but if you prefer less exotic food then I would recommend The Old Club House next to the Opera House in Buxton which serves classic pub food in good portions, good presentation, well cooked, reasonably priced and service with a smile. They also do smaller portions if you don’t have a big appetite and meal deals. It’s also in a good location very near the beautiful Pavilion Gardens, perfect for an after meal stroll!
I would also recommend Tideswell bakery if you are after a substantial packed lunch. They offer well filled rolls and gorgeous cakes!
Favourite Activity
You’ve probably guessed by now my favourite activity is walking but I have also tried climbing. I haven’t yet managed water sports or hiring a bike but they’re on my to do list! There are lots of less energetic pastimes to partake in when visiting the Peak District – historic houses and museums to visit and also underground caverns and parkland.
Despite having visited the Peak District regularly over the last seven years, there is still loads for me to explore!
