How To Have the Best Holidays in the Peak District

Thus spoke countryside champion and rural policy guru, Julian Glover. And that sentiment’s as true today as it was back in 1951, when the Peak District became the UK’s first national park, granting everybody the right to enjoy the beauty of untamed nature. The region encompasses steep limestone valleys, rugged ridges, vast moorland plateaux and tranquil river valleys; visitors can walk and cycle, go climbing, go caving, go fishing, go stargazing under crystal-clear night skies… There’s no shortage of human presence here either; the Peak District is home to handsome towns, ancient castles and great stately piles, and it’s wonderfully family friendly as well. Here’s how to enjoy your time in this spectacular national park.

There are many exciting walks to experience on Peak District holidays for all physical abilities, from leisurely and accessible riverside strolls to challenging hikes across heather moorland and limestone dales. Here are two of the best Peak District walks to get you started.

One of the most popular routes in the Peak District, the circular hike up landmark Kinder Scout can take up to five hours and involves a 570-metre ascent so it’s best left to fit, experienced walkers. The route winds up through moorland and wild upland scenery to boulder-strewn Kinder Plateau, the highest point in the Peak District National Park, where you’ll be treated to panoramas over gritstone cliffs to the Vale of Edale. While most of the paths are well drained, lower sections can get boggy, so wear sturdy waterproof footwear. You'll want to return to a comfy bed after your exertions, so consider booking a hotel in nearby Manchester – it's only a short drive away and offers plenty to do.

• Start/end at Bowden Bridge car park, where there's paid parking
• Distance: 13.7 km

Ladybower in the Hope Valley is a gorgeous spot surrounded by forested hills. The lake is circumnavigated by a reasonably flat, accessible path and is a fantastic introduction to the delights of life-enhancing fresh air for children. Sights to look out for include the landmark towers of Derwent Dam, used for target practice by the Dambusters in WWII, and the stone spans of Ashopton Viaduct as it straddles the reservoir. If you’d like to extend your waterside stroll, clamber up Win Hill on the south side of the lake for amazing views to Mam Tor and Kinder Scout itself.

• Start/end at Upper Derwent Visitor Centre, where there's paid parking
• Distance: 8 km

The national park has a rich social history, which means lots of breathtaking cultural sites to discover on Peak District holidays. If you’re interested in stunning architecture, industrial heritage or quirky local traditions, you’ll certainly never have a dull moment!

Stately Chatsworth has been the residence of the aristocratic Devonshire dynasty since the 1550s. Inside, you can tour state rooms of ever-increasing opulence and grandeur, with highlights being the marble-and-gilt-studded Painted Hall, swirling murals and intricate wood carvings in the 17th-century chapel and the trompe l’oeil violin “hanging” on a door. Masterpieces by Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci stand out in the art collection.

Outside, there are nearly 810 hectares of fountain-dotted gardens and parkland to explore, as well as a petting farm (a handy distraction for fractious kids!).

• Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1PP
• House open daily mid-Mar–mid-Jan 10:30am–4:30pm; gardens 10:30am–5pm. Park open all year
• Adult admission starts at £10 (€12)
• Free parking
• Buses 58, 160, 170, 218 and the Stagecoach Peak Sightseer hop-on, hop-off service

Surrounded by woodland and bordering the River Wye, sprawling, crenellated Haddon is an immaculately preserved manor house with a sublime mash-up of medieval, Tudor and Elizabethan architecture. Its vast vaulted halls are awash with oak panelling, exceptional tapestries and some of the finest early-English decorative arts in the country.

The Elizabethan Walled Gardens are famous for their cascades of climbing roses in summer, and you can book guided walks of the surrounding Medieval Park, where woodland and pasture is thriving under ancient farming and grazing methods.

• Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1LA
• Open Apr–Oct 10:30am–4pm (last entry 3pm)
• Adult admission starts at £28 (€33.60)
• Paid parking
• The hourly TransPeak bus service stops outside Haddon House

A Peak District holiday holds many attractions for kids of all ages; you can book days out with toddlers at petting farms, or take on the might of adrenaline-thumping rollercoasters at world-famous theme parks. Welcoming child-friendly accommodation can be found on the outskirts of Derby, so make some special memories with all the family.

Families with younger offspring should make a beeline for this theme park, expressly designed for children aged between two and 13. There are baby-changing facilities, a coffee shop and four fast-food stops, so you can plan on spending the whole day there. On arrival get the lie of the land on the cycle monorail circling the park and then take your pick of more than 20 rides and events – ranging from kiddies’ puppet shows to log flumes and a pirate ship. You won't want a long drive back after your day here, so book a family-friendly hotel in nearby Chesterfield, which is under 30 minutes away.

• Temple Walk, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire DE4 3PG
• Open daily end Mar–early Nov; times vary seasonally but roughly 10:30am–5pm
• Admission for all starts at £27/€32 (£23/€28 if booked online)
• Free parking
• The hourly TransPeak service stops at the Fishpond pub; from there it’s a short uphill walk to the park

Right on the western cusp of the Peak District, this park is known for its conservation work with rare species including red pandas, tapirs and even polar bears. Its dual purpose is to educate visitors on the challenges facing animals in the wild while still being entertaining – and it’s certainly that! You can watch the antics of the Humboldt penguins in their pool, feed giant rabbits or meerkats, and be keepers for the day. Pizzas and ice creams from the courtyard café will keep everybody smiling too.

• Winkhill, Leek, Staffordshire ST13 7QR
• Open Mon–Sun 10am–5pm (animal areas close at 4pm)
• Admission adults £20.95 (€25.15), children £18.95 (€22.75). Book animal experiences in advance
• Free parking
• The Moorlands Connect bus service runs to the wildlife park

When you need a rainy-day Peak District holiday activity, go underground! The 330-million-year-old cave system at Treak Cliff is open for intriguing self-guided tours through a subterranean world of lustrous limestone formations and pinky-blue bands of Blue John, a glistening semi-precious mineral so rare it’s only found in this area. Pop into the museum afterwards to see the Blue John jewellery, then soak up the views of Peveril Castle over a hot chocolate on the café terrace.

• Buxton Road, Castleton, Derbyshire S33 8WP
• Open Mar–Oct 9.30am–5pm (last entry 4:30pm); Nov–Feb 9.30am–4pm (last entry 3:15pm)
• Admission adults £16 (€19.20), children £10 (€12). Visitor numbers are limited, so book online ahead of time
• Free parking
• Bus 173 from Bakewell to Castleton

Did you know there are 15 national parks and 46 national landscapes in the UK? Where will you visit next?

When you’re planning your Peak District holiday, look to stay outside the national park. There’s a wide choice of exceptional hotels in which to lay your head in dynamic Sheffield.