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

[spiderlight]

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?

Eyam is interesting to walk round- walk up to Mompesson's well, look round Eyam hall and the craft centre. The Miners Arms does good food.

Castleton- I can recommend the Cheshire Cheese pub, walk up to the castle and Winnets pass and visit a cavern (Trek Clif is my favourite.

As a Peak District dweller I would honestly avoid Bakewell at this time of year, unless you go late afternoon maybe?

No 6 The Square cafe in Buxton is nice as the French place (La Cour Bistro?) used to be good, but I haven't been in a while. Pavilion Cafe kiosk does excellent cheap ice cream. There's some lovely little shops in the Cavendish Arcade. Leek has some great independent shops, as a pp has suggested, and I would absolutely climb/walk the Roaches (Lazy Trout at Meerbrook is a GREAT pub). Tittesworth Reservoir at Meerbrook is nice for a walk round - 5ish miles I think - and you can also canoe/kayak/SUP there, if that floats your (literal) boat.

Chatsworth parking isn't too extortionate given you can swim on the Derwent there and there are loads of lovely walks round the estate.

Around Harrington(ish) area, the George at Alstonefield used to have a good reputation but I haven't eaten there in years, pricey though. The Manifold Inn at Hulme End does pretty good food too, but will be busy at the mo due to two large campsites nearby. The two pubs in Hartington are pretty good but again, the village will be busy. Ilam estate (NT) is lovely for walks too.

Yes, Eyam is really interesting. We parked right outside and walked in. Everywhere is really busy which is to be expected, so you may have to look for parking spaces and not expect to get a table at a café or restaurant.
Yesterday we parked no problem near Mam Tor, plenty of people around with dogs!

Rudyard lake near Leek is good for a walk round and you can hire boats and kayaks. The pub next to it does nice food.

Try and get a swim slot at hathersage outdoor pool! Voted best lido in the UK one year I think, lovely Victorian lido with views of the hope valley. It's idyllic! Plus eat at the ace cafe afterwards dogs are fine there. The bank house in hathersage is nice too, good tapas. Devils arse cavern worth a visit, stomp up mam tor or winnats pass. I'm veggie and the old hall hotel in Buxton does the best cauliflower "steak" I've ever had.

We were there last week (though no dog and not vegetarian!) Monsal trail lovely for a walk or bike ride - easy, pretty level and lovely scenery. Nice cafe at Hassop. Eyam interesting with nice walks just outside village (need to book if want to go in museum) plus Eyam Hall has a few craft shops and three places to eat. Pooles Cavern and Buxton Country Park good but doubt you can take a dog in the cavern. Bakewell heaving every time we drove through it though if you walk from the Monsal Trail you at least won’t have to queue to park. And check for road closures as we had a couple of long diversions needed. Avoid Matlock Bath itself - could be lovely on the river but the centre is really tacky. Chatsworth lovely - is expensive to go into gardens (dogs on leads allowed) but just walking in the parkland is great.

No space at The Bank House in Hathersage in the last few days, and nowhere to park. I agree with pp about Matlock Bath. Avoid that, Bakewell and Hathersage. There's plenty of other places to go.

Chatsworth parking isn't too extortionate given you can swim on the Derwent there and there are loads of lovely walks round the estate

The car park at the edge of the park on the Rowsley side used to be free - not sure if it still is - and as you say, there are miles of beautiful walks around the place.

I'm from Leek, definitely pop over and have a stroll round. I second the Lazy Trout for lunch as well.

In Buxton there's Go Ape and Poole's Cavern in same spot. Then behind Poole's Cavern is a walk up through woods to Solomon's Temple, which is a lovely area and view, my 11yr old manages the wall up without too much moaning! Should kill a few hours

The one by the bridge, @Andante57? I think it was £5. We didn't find any free parking at Chatsworth on the estate.

Maireas oh ok, it used to be free but I haven’t been there for a long time.
Presumably it’s more to park by the house.

You lot are brilliant - thank you! Excited now :) Maybe we'll give Bakewell a miss if it's heaving.

There is a lovely walk around Fernilee reservoir that is only about 10 mins from Buxton towards Whaley Bridge - it tends to be very quiet.

All of the Goyt Valley is beautiful.

The Swan Inn in Kettleshulme is amazing for food.

Wildboarclough is a nice place to visit - especially the ice cream farm.

@Maireas

The one by the bridge, *@Andante57*? I think it was £5. We didn't find any free parking at Chatsworth on the estate.

Its £5 by the house too. I think you get free parking if you prebook the house/gardens but you could pay £5 and walk on the estate with the dog on a lead (sheep and deer). Please dont be tempted to try to park for free in beeley it clogs up the village for residents. Have a good time @spiderlight there may be recommended walks in your accommodation too

Park at Chinley station and walk up Cracken Edge then if you want to venture further, continue to Peep o Day and on to South Head. Stunning views and far less people than some of the east side of the peak.

That said, you can dodge the crowds if you park at less popular places or arrive early. Chatsworth is easy to get away from the crowds if you strike uphill away from the river.

You can walk a loop on Curbar Edge, Froggatt Edge and White Edge. Park on the road near the Grouse Inn rather than Curbar Gap car park. The loop around Burbage is stunning and there is enough space that the hordes thin out.

Try Thornbridge Hall. They have a shiny new cafe and nice grounds (quite small). You can also walk out from there to Monsal Head which is well worth seeing.

Needcoffee I agree about parking in Beeley causing inconvenience for residents. Same in Edensor and Pilsley.
One winter it snowed and everyone was tobogganing on the hill opposite the entrance to Edensor and parking on the side of the road.
A policeman came along and told everyone they couldn’t park there and then the Duchess turned up and pleaded with the policeman to leave everyone alone as they were all having such fun.
Don’t know what the outcome was.

@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!

I love Bakewell and we go regularly. We have been there today.

It was horrendous. Worse than a bank holiday weekend.

People mainly milling around and going for lunch.

My gut feeling is that Matlock will be even worse as at least Bakewell has reasonable parking facilities.

So i would say to avoid. As much as i love.

If you can, go for dinner at The Druid Inn, Birchover. It's nothing to look at just your typical country pub, but the food is superb. The cook will come out of the kitchen and chat with you about how exactly you want your food cooked.

The Fishpond Pub in Matlock Bath is excellent for live music. If you're lucky you might see Spanky Johnson play there - they're a great covers/blues/jazz band.

Chatsworth Garden Centre is lovely to potter around.

A walk along Curbar Edge is lovely, and then head down to The Derbyshire Craft Centre for beautiful homemade cakes and lovely gifts.

@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!

All ordering bakewell tarts in the pudding shop.

Sacrilegious.

Close to buxton and all circular...

The 3 shire heads is an amazing walk
www.goyt-valley.org.uk/project/three-shires-head-walk/

Errwood Hall/ St Joseph's shrine. Cool ruins to see.
www.goyt-valley.org.uk/project/errwood-hall-and-shrine-walk/

Amazing landscape
letsgopeakdistrict.co.uk/monyash-walk-via-cales-dale-and-lathkill-dale-4-miles/

We do love all the Edges (curbar, stanage etc) too but might be too strenuous for doggy?

The roaches (and luds churh) is amazing if he can handle a steepish section at the start

Padley gorge /longshaw Estate but that's about 35 mins from buxton

Wouldn't do monsal trial as too busy with bikes if you have a dog

The Hydro cafe in Buxton serves lots of vegetarian and vegan food and is very dog friendly (they even have a doggy menu!). If you can leave the dog for an hour or 2 the new Crescent Hotel has a 'Crescent experience' that's good- it's about the history of the town and the baths.

I agree with pp that Matlock bath and Bakewell will be heaving- especially at the weekends. If you want to do Bakewell my advice would be to park at Hassop (they open a field for free parking opposite) and walk down the monsal trail. Main benefit of this is an excuse to have lunch at the Hassop station cafe!

Chatsworth, Castleton and Eyam are all worth a visit.

Quick question for those that know Bakewell: I am going to Castleton for a few days first week in September. I was hoping to go to Bakewell but a bit nervous at the past king/ how crowded every says it gets. Do you think it will still be heaving at the beginning of September? I’m guessing so cos it’s just before the children go back to school but was hoping for a visit. If I went first thing in the morning is it likely to be ok?

Possibly, @EssexLioness, although Monday is market day, so avoid that.

Ok thank you, was thinking Tuesday or Wednesday

Steam train at Wirksworth

Cromford Mill is part of a world heritage site.

Biking or walk round carsington

The roaches walk mentioned above is one of my favourites.