PEAK DISTRICT TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Vibrant Market Towns and quaint Peak District Villages make for ideal places to potter, browse and explore. From Glossop in the north to Swadlincote in the south, and Chesterfield in the east to Knutsford in the west, there are plenty of towns in the Peak District waiting for you.
Towns in Derbyshire include bustling market towns, cobbled courtyards with quirky independent shops and specialist antique dealers, often in authentic period settings, that are just waiting to be discovered, while their indoor and outdoor markets and specialist farmers markets and fairs are always a real attraction for visitors and locals alike.
Take a leisurely walk around these charming towns and villages and you're sure to find a fascinating surprise around every corner. Admire fabulous churches and architecture, chill out in prize-winning parks and open spaces then linger over lunch or dinner in one of the many award-winning pubs, cafes and restaurants.
We dare you not to fall in love with the many charming Peak District towns and villages you'll come across during your stay.
ASHBOURNE
Visit Ashbourne, in the Derbyshire Dales, famous for its Gingerbread and Shrovetide Football match, played right through the town
BAKEWELL
Nestled at the centre of the Peak District, home to the Bakewell Pudding, the recipe of which is still a closely guarded secret!
CASTLETON
Caverns and castles, cosy pubs and fine walking await in Castleton, on the boundary between the White and Dark Peak
CHESTERFIELD
Famous for the Crooked Spire on top of its Parish Church, and home to one of the country's largest open air markets
GLOSSOP
With it's vibrant music scene, local food producers and suppliers, as well as fantastic walking, Glossop makes for a great base
winster
Picturesque, quintessentially English, this Peak District village is close to all the attractions of Matlock Bath and the Derbyshire Dales
BUXTON
'Take the waters', soak up the Georgian architecture and top it all off with a performance at the famous Buxton Opera House
EYAM
Delve in to the gruesome past of Eyam, a community ravaged by the Plague, isolated from the rest of the country in 1665!
EDALE
Get your walking boots on and stride out onto Kinder Scout, the highest point in the Peak District National Park
HARTINGTON
There's plenty of walking to be had out of Hartington, head for Dovedale, or take the more relaxed approach with cosy pubs and speciality Cheese shop
MELBOURNE
Formerly known for its hoisery and silk glove factories, today is home to a range of restaurants, cafes and bistros, as well as speciality shopping
NEW MILLS
Perched above a natural rocky gorge, New Mills is home to exciting engineering programmes, the Millenium Walkway and the Torrs Hydro
Matlock
Former Hydro and spa town, today Matlock is better known for its shopping, beautiful Hall Leys park, Peak Rail steam railway and proximity to Matlock Bath
leek
Delightful historic market town with regular markets, both indoor and outdoor, as well as annual Arts Festival, Nicholson Institute and Rudyard Lake closeby
hathersage
Famed for its legendary heroes and literary heroines, but also for outdoor enthusiasts with walking and some of the country's finest climing to be had on nearby Stanage Edge
WHALEY BRIDGE
Centred around the canal basin with towpath walks to Bugsworth Basin and beyond. Whaley Bridge is also home to an array of local pubs and independent shops
TIDESWELL
Come to see the "Cathedral of the Peak", built in the 14th century, cook up a storm at Tideswell School of Food or go walking in Tideswell Dale Nature Reserve
WIRKSWORTH
Steeped in lead mining history, today Wirksworth is better known for its Arts & Cultural scene with annual Arts festival, as well shops, teashops and pubs
hope
Walking aplenty with access to Losehill for views of the Hope Valley and Vale of Edale. Close by, remains of the Roman Fort of Navio can be found
Hayfield
Charming village acting as the gateway to both the Sett Valley and Kinder Scout, made famous as the start point for the 'mass trespass' in 1932
cheadle
Picturesque market town and home to St Giles Roman Catholic church, known as Pugin's Gem, considered by many to be the one of the finest churches in Britain
swadlincote
Find out all about this Derbyshire town's pottery and mining heritage at Sharpe's Pottery Museum before taking in the fresh air at The National Forest
belper
Experience life in a cotton mill at the impressive Strutt's North Mill, browse in the independent shops and finish with a film at the delightful Ritz Cinema
crich
This pretty village is home to Crich Tramway Village, and Crich Stand, memorial to the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment
