At the heart of the Peak District lies the Peak District National Park, Britain's first designated national park, created in 1951, to safeguard and preserve this beautiful region not only for future generations but for visitors to enjoy in the present. Whether you're exploring, getting out in the great outdoors or simply relaxing, experience the Peak District and the Peak DIstrict National Park, you'll be taking home wonderful memories!
The contrasting landscape of the Peak District and Derbyshire is never more apparent than in the High Peak to the north, where you'll find the Derwent Valley's historic ‘Dam Busters' dams and the popular show-caverns in picturesque village of Castleton. Lying at the foot of the spectacular gorge of Winnats Pass, the village is dominated by the romantic ruins of Peveril Castle which dates back to the time of William the Conqueror.
Further south, the craggy gritstone edges and limestone valleys of the Derbyshire Dales offer endless opportunities for walking and cycling. Here, the many charming villages and larger market towns, like Bakewell and Ashbourne, have a traditional ambience steeped in history and with their own unique atmosphere.
These are places to wander – quaint side streets, arcades and courtyards are alive with specialist shops offering everything from hand-made chocolates and ceramics to antiques, designer clothing and equipment to tackle the great outdoors!
To the west of the Peak District, the expansive vistas of the Staffordshire Moorlands include The Roaches, towering gritstone edges beloved of climbers and walkers, overlooking tranquil lakes and reservoirs, while towards the south, the dales and limestone gorges of the stunning Ilam country park in the Dovedale and the Manifold valleys are hugely popular with visitors to the region.
There are also lots of areas within the Peak District National Park with easy access for wheelchair users and others with mobility problems – the Access Peak Project has a series of short films highlighting ten of the best areas, narrated by former Paralympian, John Harris – click here for further details.
Further Information
The Peak District National Park Authority | The White Peak
The Dark Peak | Geology | The National Trust
