The Peak District has quickly become one of my favourite places to visit in England. I’ll admit, I am a bit biased because I have such a profound love for everything English. But seriously, the Peak District is right up there as one of my favourite places in England, along with the Cotswolds and London.
The Peak District is actually a National Park located in central England. Although to me it felt like Northern England because we were coming from the London area. The district itself spans 555 square miles and most travelers choose to visit for the epic views, endless hiking trails and cozy towns.
Because the area is so large, I would strongly recommend doing some research on the top sights you want to see during your visit. That way you’ll be able to find accommodations that is nearby so you are spending more time walking and hiking around than you are driving!
How to get around
Without a doubt, you will need a car if you are planning to visit the Peak District. I didn’t notice any public transportation in the area so you are pretty much left to your own devices.
As a North American, I will warn you that the roads can be quite small and narrow so the smaller the car you can get away with renting the better. Do you remember that scene in The Holiday where Cameron Diaz is driving in England on a narrow road and comes across a big truck, closes her eyes and screams a bit as they pass each other? We definitely had more than a few moments of that during the trip! Although, I’m always fortunate in the UK to have a personal driver (aka husband) who knows what he’s doing.
You don’t need any sort of pass visiting the Peak District National Park, like you do in Cinque Terre, the walking paths are all free. The one thing you will need money for is parking but all of the stations that we came across accepted credit cards.
Where to stay
Okay, there were SO many cute places to stay in the Peak District that we honestly had such a hard time choosing BUT we found the absolute perfect place on Airbnb. I mean honestly, this place was up there with some of the coolest places we’ve ever stayed at.
The Sheepfold is located in Derbyshire on a local farm. It’s located in the small town, close enough that you can walk to the local pub for dinner and stumble home after a few pints. The hut itself is absolutely stunning and has everything you could want or need, including home-baked brownies and hot chocolate upon arrival!
If you’re trying to see the Peak District in 2 days, finding the right place to stay is really important. There are lots of other options and little towns that you can stay in while exploring the Peak District. Bakewell is probably one of the biggest towns in the area so if you prefer to stay somewhere with a little more happening this is the place you’d want to station yourself at.
What to see
Ben and I did the most millennial thing possible before our trip to the Peak District. We followed some of the top accounts on Instagram and then started saving our favourite places that they were showcasing. I honestly found this was the best way to make sure we were seeing the places we actually wanted to visit.
Stepping Stones Dovedale
The area is known for being the limestone region of the Peak District. The walk to the Stepping Stones is about 1.5 miles if you do the entire thing and starts at Ilam Park. We didn’t really know where we were going so took a bit of a different route on the way there but both ways were beautiful.
The Stepping Stones Dovedale look like something out of a fairytale. Placed evenly in a (almost) straight line, you can walk across the stones to get to the other side. Unfortunately during our visit, the area was a bit flooded so I could only make it halfway but it was fun trying to get across!
The area itself around the stones is also something worth visiting. There are farms everywhere and when you take the walking paths or even walk along the road you can get right up close to the sheep and cows!
Thor’s Cave
You’ll have to drive here from the Stepping Stones Dovedale and hike to it but it’s a cool place to see. The cave is located in the Manifold Valley and is technically classified as a Karst Cave (an underground drainage system typically made of limestone, dolomite, and gypsum).
I’ll admit, this hike probably isn’t recommended for pregnant women, especially when it’s rainy and muddy. Me being the stubborn person I am still attempted it but we didn’t actually go inside the cave because it was just far too slippery and steep.
I would recommend venturing up above the cave first for some pretty epic views and then making your way down to the cave itself.
Mam Tor
This has to be my favourite spot in the Peak District. Located near Castleton, the name Mam Tor actually means ‘mother hill’, which in fact it is. There’s a parking lot located at the bottom of the hill where you can pay (a very small fee) and follow the path from there.
The entire walk is actually quite long (7.5 miles) but we chose to just walk up to the top, along the path for a little before turning back around. Given that we were short on time only spending 2 days in the Peak District and the fact I was 6 months pregnant, it just wasn’t a doable walk for us.
Bakewell
Located in the Derbyshire Dales district, this quaint town is know for its local confection of Bakewell pudding. The town is absolutely gorgeous, something similar to what you’d find in the Cotswolds. I only wish we had have spent more time wandering around!
Winnats Pass
On your way into Castleton you will find Winnats Pass. This stunning gorge looks like something you’d find in New Zealand or Ireland. We drove through it first and then parked at the lot near the bottom and walked back. The spot was so large it made us feel rather insignificant!
Caslteton
You can park your car below Winnats Pass and then venture down to the town of Castleton. There are lots of little pubs and tea rooms to venture into and I would encourage you to spend some time wandering around the area itself. The buildings are small and quaint, the roads are narrow and pedestrian-friendly and the views around the area are stunning.
We made a point to stop here for a bite to eat in a cozy little pub that looked out onto the countryside. It was such a perfect English meal.
Padley Gorge
Last on our list of things to see during our 2 days in the Peak District was the Padley Gorge. I will admit, I was a bit underwhelmed with the area. It was a lovely walk but it wasn’t something all that different from what we’d find in Ontario. For me I would suggest skipping it however if you’re looking for a nature walk among the woods in a very quiet area than I could see how some would find it appealing.
When to go
We visited during the month of October. While this timing is great if you’re looking to get discounts on hotels and places to stay, we weren’t so lucky with the weather. It rained every day that we were there so it was definitely key that we had rain boots.
Most visitors will choose to visit in the summer but just be mindful that if you choose to visit during this time, there will be really large crowds. It’s a very popular spot for families during school break.
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