Peak District...what to do?

[glowinthebark]

Have just booked a few nights with DH and DDog (no DC) in a couple of weeks.

Any tips for nice walks and fabulous pub lunches please?

My research so far suggests Chatsworth is nice but would love to hear other recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

The Dovedale-Ilam loop is gorgeous - great walking. I also enjoy the Monsal trail and you can hire bikes at the northerly end of you fancy a change.

Visit the Heights of Abraham. It’s amazing.

Castleton and a walk up Mam Tor .. with a visit to at least one of the caverns ( if they are open). Take a credit card as you will definitely end up buying some Blue John in one of the village shops!

With Chatsworth you have to book your parking in advance now because of coronavirus (just in case your plan was to just rock up, and find yourself disappointed). If you go it’s worth walking up to the hunting lodge.
Millers dale is nice and has lots of walks around there, as is Dovedale (but can be very busy).
Mamtor/castleton are nice.
This one is also good www.near-chesterfield-derbyshire.com/padley-gorge-walk.html
Where abouts are you staying near?

Whereabouts in the Peaks are you staying? People can give you more detailed advice then. We stayed in Edale a couple of weeks ago and climbed Kinder Scout and Mam Tor.

Can you better define "nice walk" … Flat, made trail or open access and how long you want to be out for.

• Mam Tor is a lovely walk (more so on a sunny day of course), park at Mam Nick car park. Close to Castleton too, which is a pretty village for a wander
• Kinder Scout is worth it for a views, Jacobs ladder is a fairly steep climb on the way up though. Our loop was around 12 miles, but it's easy to lose your bearings up there so plan accordingly
• Longshaw & Padley gorge very scenic (google walks, there's plenty - I use an app called Komoot)
• Chee Dale is beautiful, stepping stones, caves, river all the way along the walk
• The Manners pub at Bakewell is excellent for food
• Hartington is also lovely, lovely shops and the Manifold Valley walk, and Tideswell, the cathedral of the peak
• And Chatsworth, can get busy but it is wonderful. I live within 1 mile and walk there often

And the edges, Curbar, Stanedge, Froggatt Edge. There's sometimes a lovely coffee van at curbar gap car park to retreat to after your walk. And how did I forget Ladybower! The wall after it rains is brilliant to see.

Yes - where about in the Peak, and how fit are you? We can recommend good walks if we have more detail...

But just based on what you've said:
Go for a bike ride on the Monsal Trail. Bike hire at Hassop cafe is grand, plus good coffee/cake there.

Win Hill is one if my favourite walks; you get a 360 view over Ladybower and the Hope Valley from the top. Quieter than Mam Tor as well.

If you are doing Mam Tor, a nicer walk (IMO) is to do it from Hope, via Hollins Cross, rather than the short and busy route up from Castleton.

Ladybower great for a long run or bike ride on the flat; or walk up to Derwent or Bamford edges for the views.

If you start in Hathersage and walk up to Stanage Edge you go past the house where Jane Eyre was allegedly set. Think it's called North Lees Hall but sure another poster will correct me if I'm wrong!

Spa and afternoon tea at Losehill House if you want a rest.

Lots of great pubs around but can be more specific if we know where abouts you are.

Good luck. I went on a weeks holiday there about 15 years ago expecting lovely walks in the gorgeous scenery ....it rained every day. Chatsworth was our saviour (and my husband spied Sarah Beeny there which he was more impressed by).

Mam Tor is rammed atm. The car park overflows along both sides of the road down to the Winnets turn off. Broken Road is all parked up too. If you are going there go early or late.

Only try Kinder if you can navigate using a GPS / compass and map. Don't rely on your phone as there is no signal on the plateau. It is quite featureless on top and there are 13 routes up (the Kinder dozen) and the clag comes down quite quickly so it is very easy to come off the wrong way. If you start at Edale and come off on the Hayfield side it is an expensive trip around - or a bus and train journey. Having said that there are good pubs and cafes in both villages.

The Old Hall Inn is dog friendly and close to the popular walk Jacob’s Ladder.
The Sunday roast at the Packhorse Inn is phenomenal, and it has a large dog-friendly garden.
At The Fleece, dogs are welcome in the bar It’s close to the reservoir walks at Yateholme Woods and Digley.
The Three Roots Cafe in Castleton is close to Peveril Castle, and several caves like Treak Cavern, Blue John Cavern, Speedwell Cavern and Peak Cavern. It’s popular and the lovely staff do a great job to make you and your dog feel at home. The choice of light lunches is creative and a perfect reward after walking up to Peveril Castle and doing some of the hill walks around the village.
Crich Tramway Village is a fantastic dog-friendly day out. Dogs are welcome in Rita’s Tearooms but there’s also The Red Lion if you fancy a pint with your food. There is a woodland park to explore on the estate too.

Depending on where you are staying, the monsal trail is nice for a walk or cycle. You can stop at hassop station cafe for a bite to eat too.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. We're staying near Matlock, both fit and healthy. Would love open walks with views but happy with anything really.

Thanks very much for the recommendations so far, they're all really useful. Off to google!

Do you want busy places or quiet? Places like Dovedale will be really busy. Mam Tor can also be a tourist hot spot. If that suits, great, but if not there are plenty of places to walk which are likely to be more peaceful. We lived in the Peak District for years if you'd like to know about some of the lesser known routes?

If you're staying near Matlock, there's a great walk from Matlock/Tansley up to Riber, through Lea and then back via Dethick. Pubs in Tansley and Matlock for lunch.

You can do the Heights of Abraham in Matlock.

There's also a great walk up on Beeley Moor which you'll be near and you can avoid the hordes at Chatsworth. Parking is by a farm track so again it will be much quieter. It's a really lovely walk, can give you more details if that might be if interest. Also great walking from Youlgreave and Winster, both pretty villages with pubs.

Matlock bath
If you can book in the Devonshire arms at beeley near Chatsworth it’s amazing, bit pricey but so worth it
Baslow edge is a fab walk
Blackwell woods is nice on the way to Buxton
Carsington resevoir is a nice walk and you can usually hire bikes (unsure re Covid for bike hires though!)

We did Monsal last Saturday. It was busy.
Castleton is lovely, nice walk round the back of Peverill Castle, never seen it busy.
Bakewell was very busy too but a beautifully organised queue in and out if the Pudding Shop!

Wow, so many suggestions. Thank you all.

I prefer quiet places, but will tolerate a tourist hot spot if it's worth it

We're just back from there & enjoyed little trips to Bakewell & Buxton. Didn't do any big walks as weather was atrocious & we wore ourselves out walking 11 miles round Alton Towers

Oh god I hope the weather is good...

Matlock Bath has been very busy at weekends as it's a catch up point for bikers. It has a charming seaside vibe to it.

Crich is well worth a visit. It's just one tram ride per visit at present. Mainly outdoor and mask free, just covering up for the indoor exhibits and on the tram.

Carsington Water is good for a wander.

It's worth getting the White Peak OS map for a look as there's a lot more than just the touristy hotspots for walking.

A walk along the river in Matlock bath is nice it's short but we tend to it after a meal in the evening. I would recommend Viva in matlock they do a lovely calzone! Cromford canal is also a nice walk. Bakewell is nice but can get busy has lots of lovely little shops if the weather isn't good for a walk. The Peak district is beautiful we go often.