The Peak District is one of those parts of England where you can slow right down and feel the countryside around you. It isn’t flashy or overblown, but it has landscapes and places that make you want to keep walking, thinking, remembering. Here are four spots that stood out for us.
1. Stanage Edge
Our first stop was Stanage Edge, a long gritstone ridge just north of Hathersage. It runs for about 3.5 miles and there’s a track along the top you can follow on foot. On a clear day the views over moorland and fields spread out in every direction. If you’re into climbing there are plenty of routes on the rock face, but even if you’re not, it’s a satisfying walk to the top and back. Afterward we headed down into Hathersage village for a meal in one of the pubs and a look around the churchyard, where there’s a grave traditionally said to be that of Little John, connected to the Robin Hood stories.
2. Lud’s Church
Further on, in a wooded section near the Roaches, we found Lud’s Church. It’s a narrow, mossy chasm that feels a bit different from other places in the park. Light filters down through the trees and the rock walls are steep, green, and quiet. There’s a sense of age here — local tales tie the spot to 14th-century religious dissenters, and it’s easy to see how it could have been a meeting place long ago. We stood in the shade for a while, noticing the damp air and the quiet.
3. Castleton
Castleton is a village you come to for more than just scenery. It’s stone cottages and pubs are what you’d picture for a Derbyshire village, and after a day on the hills it’s a good place to sit down, have a drink, and look at a map. Not far from the centre are several show caves. We went into Peak Cavern, which locals sometimes call the Devil’s Arse, and joined a guided walk through the stalactites and passages while learning about the area’s mining past.
4. Chatsworth House
On the southern edge of the park lies Chatsworth House, the seat of the Devonshire family for generations. It’s a large old house with rooms full of paintings, furniture, and other items you wouldn’t see every day. The gardens around it are extensive, too — lawns, paths and water features that take a while to explore. When we were there, other visitors were scattered about, but there was room to breathe and wander at our own pace. Occasionally the estate runs events like country fairs or horse trials, which bring more people in, but on a normal day it feels quite calm.
These four places show different sides of the Peak District — from high gritstone edges to quiet woods, village life, and country estate grounds. They’re worth taking the time to pause at, whether you’re walking, climbing, or just sitting with a flask and a view.