Visitor Attractions

Shops

Walks & Cycling

The Peak District and Derbyshire offer such an assortment of scenery that is is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts whether you want to do mountain biking, cycling, walking, or take the adventure sports route, there will be something for you. If you are more interested in culture and heritage then you should find something to suit in one the many market towns and large houses in the area.

Peak District  Information in general for Peak District

Transport for the Peak District:

If you want to leave your car at home then take a look at the the local transport with regular services by bus or train into the area:

The scenic Hope Valley railway line connects Manchester & Sheffield
and cuts through the scenic Peak District National Park, stopping on the way at villages in the beautiful Derwent, Hope and Edale valleys

Derby-Belper-Cromford-Matlock Bath-Matlock  - The Derwent Valley Line provides a fast means of travel from Derby to Belper (11 minutes), Cromford (26 minutes) and Matlock Bath (29 minutes).  For more local bus services see the Local web site

For other train enquiries phone National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50

Come to the Peak District Bus or Coach:

National Express service 440 runs from London to Manchester, stopping in Matlock, Bakewell and Buxton. Local connections are available also from Megabus.

The TransPeak bus service runs from Derby, Nottingham and Manchester through the heart of the Peak District.

For enquiries for all modes of transport Traveline is very useful.

Come to the Peak District by Plane

From Manchester Airport a regular rail service runs to Manchester city centre, from where you can connect by rail into the Peak District. Alternatively, take bus service 199 from the Airport to Buxton.

A regular bus service runs from East Midlands Airport to Derby from where you can get to the Peak District by train or bus.

Visitor Centres in the Peak District:

Castleton:
Buxton Road, Castleton, Hope Valley S33 8WN
Easter until 31 October -    9:30am - 5:30pm
1 November until Easter - 10:00am - 5:00pm
Please contact for Christmas opening times
Telephone: 01629 816558
Email: castleton@peakdistrict.gov.uk

Castleton Visitor Centre is fully accessible. The Peak District National Park Authority and the Castleton Historical Society have made this a joint venture. There is  museum with interactive displays.

Edale:

The Moorland Centre, Fieldhead, Edale, Hope Valley S33 7ZA

Easter until 31 October

Weekdays 9:30am - 5:00pm (closed for lunch)

Weekends 9:30am - 5:30pm (closed for lunch)

1 November until Easter

Weekdays 10:00am - 3.30pm

Weekends 9:30am - 4.30pm (closed for lunch)

Telephone: 01433 670207

Email: edale@peakdistrict.gov.uk

Upper Derwent

Fairholmes, Bamford, Hope Valley S33 0AQ

1 November - 2 January

Weekdays 10am - 3:30pm

Weekends 9:30am - 4:30pm (closed for lunch)

Closed Christmas Day

3 January - 11 February

Weekends only 9:30am - 4:30pm (closed 1 hour for lunch)

12 February - Easter

Weekdays 10am - 3:30pm

Weekends 9:30am - 4:30pm (closed for lunch)

Easter - 31 October

Weekdays 9:30am - 5pm (closed for lunch)

Weekends 9:30am - 5:30pm (closed for lunch)

Telephone: 01433 650953

Email: derwentinfo@peakdistrict.gov.uk

Two million walkers, cyclists and visitors come to the Hope Valley each year so it must be special. You will find cycle hire, a refreshment kiosk and ranger services. It can accommodate wheelchair users and has disabled toilet facilities adjacent to the centre. Just 500 metres from the Derwent Dam, the centre is at the heart of the Howden, Derwent and Ladybower reservoirs complex.

Web Sites well worth visiting for the Peak District:

Peak Activities give a very wide range of services: team building & group training events, Cycling & Mountain Biking Safaris,1:1 guiding experience such as abseiling, caving, easy rock climbing. Potholing. Gorge walking. Bog Trotting. Map & compass tuition. They do pots more - just take a look for yourself.

Peak & Fell Walking  A photographic guide to walking in Britain's National Parks. Neil Haslewood is clearly passionate about walking and photography. See his many walks in photograph form which is incredibly useful - he also provides a written guide on the walk plus a map - you really can't go wrong.

Peakland Heritage  Did you know that between 100 and 200 years ago, husbands all over the country were selling their wives at bargain prices. The going rate was anything from half a pint of beer to 25 guineas (£26.25)? This is not the Peak District of today. With Peakland Heritage you can learn about how things were 'in the beginning', what it was like to grow up in the Peak District, about railways and canals, life on the move, local lingo, legends, time lords and so much more. Full of local information A visit to this site first will make your trip to the Peak District more interesting.

Odds  & Sods:

The Palace Theatre Mansfield Leeming Street, Mansfield. Tel: 01623  633133

Derby Playhouse  Eagle Centre, Theatre Walk, Derby Tel 01332 363275

Buxton Opera House is one of Britain’s leading receiving theatres, presenting around 450 performances each year including dance, comedy, children’s shows, drama, musical concerts, pantomime and opera as well as a lively Fringe Theatre and Community and Education Programme. The theatre is also home to the prestigious Buxton Festival and The International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival

Peak District  Information in general for Peak District

Peak District National Park Authority, Aldern House, Baslow Road,

Bakewell, Derbyshire. DE45 1AE

Telephone: 01629 816200.  Minicom: 01629 816319

Almost 100 years ago the Derwent and Howden reservoirs were built to supply  Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. In 1945 Ladybower was added to this number. There is a memorial and museum in the West tower of the Derwent Dam for the Dambusters 617 Squadron.

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Buxton is a spa town and is built on the River Wye. The other famous spa towns are Bath (Aquae Sulis) in Somerset and Harrogate in North Yorkshire.  It was built up by the Romans around AD78 and was called Aquae Arnemetiae. As with Bath and Harrogate, it was a popular place to 'take the waters' in Victorian times.The source of the geothermal spring in Buxton is marked by St Ann's Well which is opposite The Crescent close to the town centre. Buxton is the gateway to the Peak District National Park.