Peak District recommendations?

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

We are planning a last little summer trip

Huddy have a great £32 deal for the whole family to watch the game against Leeds. We'll drive up for the game then back down for two nights somewhere in the Peak District (which we have worked out is surprisingly close and on our 'way back'  )

Never been and literally no idea what to do there other than its supposed to be nice ...with some nice walks? Any caves stuff to see or anything else?

We have a 9 and an 11 year old.....suggestions for places to stay and things to do please 

Edited August 17, 2023 by Bedfordshire Bronco

[wilsontown]

Castleton for caves. Pretty much anywhere for walking, although the dark peak is not necessarily for the faint hearted. Definitely "have a map and compass and know how to use them" territory. 

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

Plenty of show caves around Castleton (and a castle!). The Blue John Cavern/Mine is probably the most famous and there's Speedwell if you fancy taking a ride in an underground boat. It's also a short walk from the BJ to the summit of Mam Tor with the ridge walk to Lose Hill, down to Hope and back along the river (or v/v) popular. Edale, the starting point for the Pennine Way is in the next valley.

There's the plague village of Eyam and also Dove Dale for walking amd limestone scenery and Monsal Dale is worth a visit.

Cromford is the home of Arkwright's Mill and the 'modern' factory. 

Worth remembering all these will almost certainly be very busy.

TBH almost anywhere is worth visiting and there's decent walking almost everywhere although as a rough guide south of Edale it tends to be considerably drier underfoot!

Edited August 17, 2023 by Les Tonks Sidestep

[wilsontown]

A bit of a wildcard, but the Stockport hat museum (you can see it from Kinder Downfall) is really good.

[glossop saint]

Plenty to go at in the Peak District and some good advice already.

Castleton/Edale/Hope Valley is probably the most touristy with classic walks of varying lengths, brilliant caves, good pubs, stunning scenery (Winnats Pass and Cave Dale especially good around Castleton). Also classics are Monsal Head, Hathersage, Eyam, Chatsworth. And a bit further south is Dovedale, Ilam, Bakewell, Ashbourne.

If you're after a walk with kids that's not too long but a bit of variety another option might be from Grindleford up through Padley Gorge and Longshaw Lodge. Could extend it and head south to Froggatt Edge and then down to the valley bottom and back along the river. Highly recommended a chip butty from the cafe at Grindleford Station, just don't expect service with a smile! Generally a Google should give you a good selection of walks but as recommended take a map.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

Thanks all....we've booked in Castleton....looking forward to it and should be decent weather currently 

[JonM]

When my two boys were young, we often rented bikes and did one of the cycle routes in the Peak District - they're on former railway lines so tend to be flat, and the former stations have been converted to cafes. Monsal trail is the best - properly flat and you get to cycle through long tunnels in the dark, and plenty of ice cream places. Tissington trail, Manifold Trail & High Peak trail also worth a look (the latter has a hill at one end though).

The walk along Dovedale across the stepping stones is also flat and not very long - often voted the best easy walk in the country. Cable Car at Heights of Abraham in Matlock went down well with the kids too if you don't mind spending some money.

[graveyard johnny]

2 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Thanks all....we've booked in Castleton....looking forward to it and should be decent weather currently 

where u booked in castleton?

 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

23 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

where u booked in castleton?

 

We've actually booked about 15 minutes east towards Sheffield but Castleton is where we will spend the day (when I said booked I meant the activities of the day or two) 

Edited August 18, 2023 by Bedfordshire Bronco

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

38 minutes ago, JonM said:

When my two boys were young, we often rented bikes and did one of the cycle routes in the Peak District - they're on former railway lines so tend to be flat, and the former stations have been converted to cafes. Monsal trail is the best - properly flat and you get to cycle through long tunnels in the dark, and plenty of ice cream places. Tissington trail, Manifold Trail & High Peak trail also worth a look (the latter has a hill at one end though).

The walk along Dovedale across the stepping stones is also flat and not very long - often voted the best easy walk in the country. Cable Car at Heights of Abraham in Matlock went down well with the kids too if you don't mind spending some money.

Bikes might be good actually....we loved the camel trail in Cornwall and this sounds similar 

[DaveyJalfrezi]

The caves/mines in Castleton are always worth a visit. Each one has its own character. The Oeak Cavern now named the Devils ###### is the most popular. The Speedwell is a short walk out of the village but unique in that you go in a little boat.

Eating and drinking….several pubs serve decent food.

 

Hathersage is a decent little village. There is a grave by the church that’s allegedly Little Johns. There’s an outdoor swimming pool. A cutlery ‘factory’ is very small and the stuff is expensive but you can look round I think. You can get a train from Hope to Hathersage…it’s a very short journey.

Some trains stop at Grindleford too and from there you can walk uphill through a wood called Padley Gorge. There is a reasonable cafe at Longshaw.

 

Eyam is a nice place too.

 

 

[hindle xiii]

Buy many Bakewell Puddings, that is all.

[Wiltshire Warrior Dragon]

On 19/08/2023 at 20:01, hindle xiii said:

Buy many Bakewell Puddings, that is all.

Thanks for not saying 'Bakewell tarts'!

[Hopping Mad]

The walk through Lathkill Dale, from Monyash, is lovely. Not as busy as some of the better-known dales.

Ditto, the Manifold Valley and the Roaches.

The classic 'five dales' circular walk from Tideswell is a cracker.

Avoid Bakewell. It's a hideous tourist trap (although leaving town along the Wye's banks is OK).

Rip-off Chatsworth also best sidestepped. Haddon Hall is a pleasanter visit.

Buxton is a nice little town (if swamped by traffic). Generally, Matlock is awful (Matlock Bath is like Blackpool).

Certainly second what others have said about hiring bikes. We did the Monsal Trail, out and back, last visit - and it was a holiday highlight.

 

Edited August 21, 2023 by Hopping Mad