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Original poster

Last-minute trip to the Peak District - ideas please!

74 replies

spiderlight · 16/08/2021 11:15

DH and I are going on a slightly last-minute four-day holiday to the Peak District next week while DS is away at a sports camp. It'll just be the two of us and our dog, who's nearly 11 - he's still active, but probably won't manage very long, strenuous walks. We're staying in the Buxton area but happy to travel a bit, and we're hoping to avoid anything that's likely to be too packed and touristy. Any suggestions for dog-friendly hidden gems, gentle walks, and most importantly, nice dog-friendly vegetarian places to eat?

OP posts:
RainbowToes · 16/08/2021 11:38

Most of the Peak District is really dog friendly, it's really nice to feel welcome. Gentle walk round Chatsworth?

MissyB1 · 16/08/2021 11:55

Visit Matlock Bath, pretty and interesting. If you dont mind heights take the cable car there up to the heights of Abraham.

lastqueenofscotland · 16/08/2021 11:56

Edale is lovely
Eccles pike or lantern pike are slightly steep but not long walks and very well marked paths.

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rbe78 · 16/08/2021 12:26

The Roaches is lovely for walks. There's some nice walks starting from Gradbach Mill (behind the Roaches) - take in Lud's Church and then head up the ridge. The Lazy Trout in Meerbrook is nice for lunch after, and dog-friendly.

Leek is near Buxton and has lots of nice independent shops (don't come on a Monday, lots of places close then) and is a very dog-friendly town.

The Goyt Valley near Buxton is also nice - lots of suggested walks here.

TangledTrees · 16/08/2021 12:28

Tagg Lane Dairy near Buxton for great icecream 🍦

3kidsareenough · 16/08/2021 12:31

We stay in this area recently it was beautiful. Did Chatsworth House
Heights of Abraham and spent the day in Matlock
We did Poole's Cavern & Park in Buxom very interesting. We also went to Elm Park which was beautiful. Don't forget to go see the Cresent in Buxom

WeAreTheHeroes · 16/08/2021 12:32

The Sett Valley Trail from New Mills to Hayfield is fairly flat and Hayfield is a pretty village with some good cafés. You could park in Hayfield (free car park behind the bus station) and walk all or part of the way to NM then turn round and go back. There are other paths in the area too.

TheWatersofMarch · 16/08/2021 12:45

Head out of Buxton towards Macclesfield and park at Teggs Nose Country Park. Circular walk down the vallley to Langley, turn right in the village for Macclesfield Forest and half a mile up the road on the edge of the forest there is the dog friendly Leathers Smithy pub, there's also a tearoom at the car park at the top.

Original poster
spiderlight · 16/08/2021 12:56

Brilliant - thanks, all! Keep 'em coming!

OP posts:
Bakewellisntjustacake · 16/08/2021 13:32

Bakewell is lovely Wink

Original poster
spiderlight · 16/08/2021 13:42

Yes, we're definitely planning on coming to Bakewell! Cake

OP posts:
autumnboys · 16/08/2021 13:44

Yorkshire Sculpture Park is worth a visit.

meanderingthrough · 16/08/2021 13:59

We were in Buxton yesterday, the (smallish) town centre itself is lovely for a stroll. Green Pavilion Caff looked after us. Cressbrook Mill/Water Cum Jolly is a nice flat walk. Monsal Head is worth a look and nearby. I flipping love the Peak! Robin Hood's Stride is good for weird and wonderful rock shapes.

PrentonPark · 16/08/2021 14:11

@TheWatersofMarch

Head out of Buxton towards Macclesfield and park at Teggs Nose Country Park. Circular walk down the vallley to Langley, turn right in the village for Macclesfield Forest and half a mile up the road on the edge of the forest there is the dog friendly Leathers Smithy pub, there's also a tearoom at the car park at the top.

Agree with this, you'll go past the Cat and Fiddle which is lovely.

Picturedrome in Macc has good veggie options and is dog friendly.

rbe78 · 16/08/2021 14:20

Oh, if you like beer, the Wincle Brewery is near Buxton and has a tap room open daily - beautiful walks to be had in the Dane Valley where it's situtated, and they local Ship Inn is nice too I believe.

FrancesFlute · 16/08/2021 14:20

Definitely Chatsworth. Bakewell is pretty but there's not much to do there, IMO.

I'd do walks on one of the cycling trails - Monsal or Tissington. Hassop Station Cafe is lovely and does evenings too.

Eyam is pretty to walk around.

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 16/08/2021 14:27

If you are in bakewell the riverside cafe is a hidden gem. Food is delicious and they do vegetarian options. It's on the same bit as the thormbridge shop if you are into beer. It's not in the main centre it's just after aldi if you are coming from buxton
I agree Hassop station cafe is lovely too. The trail can get busy at weekends
Carsington is nice for a flat dog walk. The ice cream is lovely but not sure about the cafe.
In buxton the gardens are nice for a stroll around but were busy a few weeks ago on a sunny day

seekingsolace1 · 16/08/2021 14:30

I really like Curbars Edge. It's a very easy walk and not that steep at all and when you reach the top the views are beautiful. There's also free parking nearby.

gogohm · 16/08/2021 14:32

Macclesfield forest is lovely, and there's a nice valley walk from near the cat and fiddle. For eats there's a Buxton brewery pub that's dog friendly, a nice cafe called pudding club (or similar, it was pretty pandemic I went) that let the log in and another brewery pub place. I'm not vegetarian but they definitely had veggie options. Shops on the high st mostly let dogs in too

L1ttleSeahorse · 16/08/2021 14:59

Bakewell will be heaving surely?! It was the busiest place in the peak district when we went. We added about 40mins to our journey trying to get through and it seemed all the london-on-holiday types had filled the parking etc.

Looked pretty but is top of our avoid list for when we next go!

L1ttleSeahorse · 16/08/2021 14:59

I dont know all the names but some lovely places near Hope.

Bakewellisntjustacake · 16/08/2021 15:05

Thornbridge brewery is a good place to visit in bakewell, if you like beer. They do brewery tours and have a lot on cask it's at the riverside industrial estate. They also do wood fired pizza or Mexican street food depending on the day and theyre so lovely and friendly.

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 16/08/2021 15:30

@L1ttleSeahorse

Bakewell will be heaving surely?! It was the busiest place in the peak district when we went. We added about 40mins to our journey trying to get through and it seemed all the london-on-holiday types had filled the parking etc.

Looked pretty but is top of our avoid list for when we next go!

Depends when you plan to go I would avoid a monday as its market day and a sunny weekend and go nowhere near for a bank holiday but mid week is generally fine or a cooler weekend.

There is parking over the bridge to the right or at the agricultural centre. You would have to pay. If you're looking for free on street parking you would struggle.
It's a pretty town so I would generally expect it to be busy.

LuaDipa · 16/08/2021 15:35

Depending how far you want to travel, Edale, Castleton, Bakewell (Monday is market day so always heaving), Chatsworth, Hathersage, Derwent Reservoir. Wherever you decide to go you will not be bored, have a fab time.Smile

Maireas · 16/08/2021 15:47

Don't go to Bakewell, it was absolutely heaving on Friday, you couldn't walk on the pavements. By the river people were dropping chips and cans, it was awful. Matlock Bath not much better I'm afraid. Monsal Dale was nice today, busy, but you could walk along by the river. Lovely scenery. Nowhere to park in Hathersage and no spaces in the cafés.
We're trying Kinder tomorrow.