Top Things to do in Peak District
10 Hidden Gems Things to do in Peak District That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Peak District, United Kingdom including Kinder Scout, Stanage Edge, The Roaches Peak District, Hollies Farm Plant Centre, The Old Lock Up Art Gallery, Arbor Low Stone Circle & Gib Hill Barrow, Eyam Plague Village Museum, Thornbridge Hall Gardens, Hathersage Swimming Pool, Treak Cliff Cavern.
Restaurants in Peak District
1. Kinder Scout
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 290 reviews
Reviewed By amdgriggs - Sheffield, United Kingdom
I’ve been walking on and around Kinder for nearly 60 years now and it’s probably my favourite place in England for grand walking, certainly if all the places you can reach easily from Sheffield. It boasts a couple of true classic routes (eg up Grindsbrook from Edale, round the southern edge of the plateau westward to Edale Rocks and then down Jacobs Ladder and via Upper Booth, with options to go up Ringing Roger to start to avoid the Grindsbrook crowds, and to extend by heading north across the plateau to Kinder Gates and Kinder Downfall before heading south along the western edge to Jacobs Ladder) - great walks and spectacular in good weather but also never to be underestimated. Kinder is very different in cold, wet or misty weather - I well remember wintry walks on Kinder with my dad as a child, but also more recent occasions when I’ve marvelled at inexperienced and under-equipped walkers up there in descending mist with no map or compass and only a sketchy idea where they want to be. There’s a reason the Edale Mountain Rescue Team is so busy.... Things have changed in the past few years and much of the popular stretch of the plateau edge from Grindsbrook to Jacobs Ladder is now well-engineered with millstone slabs (to control erosion; the centre of the plateau also has far more vegetation than 60 years ago, thanks to extensive replanting of heather and the construction of hundreds of leaky dams which have prevented the further erosion of many of the peat hags. My favourite sections to walk are now some of the quieter and more remote areas at the eastern or northern ends of the plateau, where there are a surprising number of clear but little-used paths and some wonderful rock outcrops. A great walk is to walk up to Hope Cross (eg from Bagshaw Bridge on the Edale side), up to the plateau and then do as long an anti-clockwise circuit as you have the energy for, cutting across to the south side at one of the narrower points and using your navigation skills. There are also paths across the plateau, most not shown on OS maps but clearly shown on (eg) Open CycleMap, which comes free with the ViewRanger app. There’s another fine walk too from the Snake Inn west up Ashop Clough to Ashop Head, then east along the plateau’s northern edge before descending again off Fairbrook Naze. Kinder gets really popular at weekends and in good weather - good to see, of course, and not surprising too as it’s also the start of the Pennine Way - and it’s always good to know there are quieter parts which are just as dramatic and just as wild: check out the iconic Kinder Gates, or the Madwoman’s Stone. Very highly recommended.
2. Stanage Edge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 492 reviews
Reviewed By aashildg
We followed a guide book from Hathersage and it was an amazing walk with a lovely view over the Peak District.
3. The Roaches Peak District
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 462 reviews
Reviewed By kenhI2641SB - Ipswich, United Kingdom
Visited when staying at the Camping and Caravanning site at Blackshaw Moor near Leek. It was a superb 10 mile round trip hike from the campsite, across country via Lower Blackshaw Farm and Whitty Lane up to Hen Cloud. From there its an excellent north west trek following the Roaches ridge past Doxy Pool to the Trig point before turning back. Superb views of Tittesworth Reservoir. Plenty of places to stop for a picnic with a view. There is limited roadside parking that runs below the Roaches albeit it gets full very quickly. It is worth noting that it is not a bad walk from the reservoir Visitor Centre where there is ample parking, toilets etc.
4. Hollies Farm Plant Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
Hollies Farm Plant Centre is a family run plant nursery and gardens, where you can wander round the gardens to see the plants growing as they should. you can take in the breathtaking views or watch the fish etc in the two large ponds, afterwards take a walk round the nursery and choose a plant or two. We always have a large selection of old favourites plus the rare and unusual
Reviewed By Annandale8
This true plantsman's paradise in a beautiful scenic setting has an excellent selection of unusual plants.
5. The Old Lock Up Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Contemporary Art Gallery - selling fine art & ceramics. Opened July 2017. The Old Lock Up Gallery is situated within a beautiful stone building, built in the 1700’s, in the beautiful and historic Derbyshire village of Cromford. The building itself is steeped in history – as it was owned by Sir Richard Arkwright and used as the village jail, one of the first of it’s kind in the country.
Reviewed By KeepItSimple86 - East Midlands, United Kingdom
The Old Lockup Gallery manages, without fail, to host an annual program that would make any small gallery in London feel proud. Whilst supporting and championing local artists the space also manages to invite artists from all over the globe in its annual postcard show, you would be forgiven for not knowing that this space is managed and run by a single person. Alongside the exhibitions you can engage with the gallery with one of its many artist lead workshops from life drawing to painting, often complimented with drinks and food. Honestly the gallery is fantastic, always fresh and something the local community should be proud to host. Visit often and where possible offer a donation to keep it open, I promise you will miss it if it ever leaves us.
6. Arbor Low Stone Circle & Gib Hill Barrow
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 141 reviews
A prehistoric monument that was started in the Neolithic period, probably between 3,000 and 2,500 BC, consisting of 42 stones in a 40-meter diameter circle.
Reviewed By jacquelinee930
If you expect to see standing stones then this is not for you. However, it was obviously a very important place at some point in the dim and distant past. Although it’s managed by English Heritage it’s located on private land so there is a token £1 charge to enter. Payment is made via an honesty box just before you enter the farmyard. It’s a relatively short walk from the parking area through the farmyard before you turn left and head over 2 fields to the monument. There are a couple of information boards in the area which are worth looking at to get some idea of the importance of the site. The stoned themselves are impressive but so are the views you get from the top of the site. Brown signs make it easy to find from the A515.
7. Eyam Plague Village Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 677 reviews
Find out about Bubonic Plague in the Peak District village where it killed over a third of the population in 1665- 1666. Learn about the black rats, the fleas that carried the disease, and see the stories of the families it affected. Understand how the village recovered afterwards.
Reviewed By Mag666000 - Ormskirk, United Kingdom
Museum dedicated to the Eyam Plague of 1666, and to the Black Death generally. Amazing amount of information about this morbid chapter in human history, really bizarre how much dedication is attributed to the memory of the great plague, well worth a visit.
8. Thornbridge Hall Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 180 reviews
We are Open. Eccentric, eclectic gardens and so much more. Something for all the family - messy play for children and catching bath ducks for everyone. Yummy food from our own bakehouse - with THornbridge beer on tap!
9. Hathersage Swimming Pool
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 282 reviews
Hathersage outdoor heated swimming pool is set in a lawned enclosure with a covered veranda to one side. During the summer months, It offers the opportunity to swim in the open air, amidst the glorious Peak District scenery, in water which is heated to 28°C
Reviewed By CathYorkshire
It was always going to be fantastic to get back in the water after over 5 months of no swimming and I travelled an hour and a half to get here - it was fabulous. The pool is spotless and the water is warm, pre booking is essential and lane swimming must be booked by speed ( think I kept up in the middle lane!) The setting for the pool is spectacular, there were 4 circling buzzards overhead when I was waiting to get in - where else can you say that will happen? Just wish the pool was a lot closer to home or I would be here every week.....
10. Treak Cliff Cavern
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 738 reviews
Started as a Blue John mine over 300 years ago, Treak Cliff Cavern continues to mine, process and manufacture ornamental items and jewellery from Blue John Stone today. On the 40 minute guided tour visitors can see the most abundant veins of Blue John Stone in the world and some of the 'finest stalactites' in the Peak District. We also have a shop with a vast array of rocks and minerals from around the world. Visit our free to enter museum and read about the history of the mine and see some beautiful antique Blue John ornaments, after which you can enjoy a slice of Blue John cake and refreshments from our on site cafe while admiring the view down the valley.
Reviewed By Sozlovesholisays - Ipswich, United Kingdom
We managed to nip into the cavern just before a bus of school children arrived. We had a private tour with Lorna, she was such a knowledgeable guide as well as being amusing too. We really enjoyed the whole experience including a lovely cup of tea from the on site cafe. All the staff were so friendly it made it so much more enjoyable.
