A Taste of the
Peak District
Peak District, Derbyshire, B&B, self catering holiday cottage accommodation, hotels, tourist attractions, walking, climbing, mountain biking history, towns, villages, geology, mining, local information, Derbyshire businesses and much more …
Retreat to Peak District
A delightful and picturesque area of the Midlands of England, the Peak District (or just The Peak) is a broad area that has an alluring combination of landscapes that include green fields, rolling hills and high plateaux. All of these features, alongside the very well preserved Peak District National Park, make this a destination you should jot on your map for getting a look at the best inland England can offer. If you're looking for a warm and sunny express tour through the countryside you should perhaps do a different road trip Florida on the USA might prove to be the best for you. The Peak, quite the contrary, host the classical British experience, with a moody and moist weather following you through your journey.
There are no precise boundaries that define The Peak District, and the term comprises most hamlets, towns and rural areas around Sheffield, Huddersfield, Manchester, Stockport, Congleton, Derby, Chesterfield and Buxton. Althought the area it not actually mountainous, it has many very steep hills with several summits earning the peak nickname. Most of those in the know will tell you that there are two different areas in The Peak that contrast each other because of their landscape: White Peak (around Derbyshire) presents a plateau of emerald fields and gently rolling hills and some incised dales; the Dark Peak (also High Peak) houses a rougher scenery, with higher gritstone plateaux in the areas north of both Castleton and Hathersage.
Things to Do
The most popular activities for the many who feel attracted to this beautiful region fall on two different camps: hiking (or biking) and potholing.
Hiking
Interesting routes to try out:
- The Pennine Way (251 miles)
- The Pennine Bridleway (208 miles, not yet completed)
- Limestone Way (50 miles)
- The Gritstone Trail (35 miles)
- The Midshires Way (225 miles)
Being a traditional destination from hikers from the island, The Peak District contains a number of walking routes (some long-distance, some shorter) some of which are contained within the district and some of which merely pass through it. Hiking and cycling are great ways to really get to know the area with all its lovely details. The lush environments and gentle weather presents an experience vastly different than the one you would get on any road trip Las Vegas can give you.
The area is criss-crossed by official tracks and footpaths and bridlepaths. Both are free to use and the second ones are also open to riders (riding is slowly picking up as a popular activity) and cyclists. One thing to note is that, although the paths are decently marked when they meet the main roads, the best idea for those interested in the activity is to obtain an Ordnance Survey map.
Potholing
For those who like to explore the depths of the earth, The Peak District
has more than its share of potholes and regular caves to discover. Potholing
is used as a synonym for caving or the exploration of caves. In particular
the term pothole is usually used to talk about vertical caves. Potholes in
The Peak District are limited to White Peak but there are still plenty to
go around. If you are interested in this activity make sure to contact the
Derbyshire Caving Association, they will be able to help you set up your
expedition with all sort of specific information about the area.
Image right: Great natural caves await you.