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

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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?

Waterproof shoes and clothing! The Peak District is gorgeous, but can be so wet at all times of the year. We loved the caves where they used to make rope, and the blue John stone caves that were used in “The League of Gentlemen” TV series, and Bakewell was very pretty.

In Buxton...definitely head up to Solomons Temple from the Pooles cavern car park. Good walk past Go Ape and then up! Lovely views. Dog friendly cafe at the car park. Lovely food and outdoor dog friendly seating at the Bar Braserrie behind the Crescent where all the nice bars and restaurants are. The Hydro and the Chakra Lounge in the main street great for veggie/vegan. Also Dub Food up in the High Street and the Sun Inn has lots of outdoor seating.

Leek and Rudyard lake Make a nice day out
Miller’s dale walk along the river and go to the pub
Eyam is really interesting

I wish we were going for longer now!!

If you end up and Rudyard, the sailing club have opened up their clubhouse as a very nice cafe, with a balcony overlooking the lake. The boat club have a little hole in the wall cafe too - if you're feeling indulgent, a breakfast bap there, followed by an anti-clockwise loop round the lake will have you arrive at the sailing club just as you start fancying tea and cake!

With the amount of rain we've had, expect muddy paths. Take something to sit on if you stop on a walk - you don't want a cold, wet bottom when you stop for a coffee, etc. And think about how you're going to get the dog clean too.

Thanks - we'll pack a load of extra dog towels etc. He's a cocker spaniel so he gets in a right state, although we're probably going to end up keeping him on the lead a lot of the time because he's a sod for inviting himself to other people's picnics at this time of year otherwise!

@rbe78 - that sounds like my kind of walk!!

@EssexLioness

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?

If you're off to Castleton park up in the car park below MamTor and walk along the ridge from MT top. One of the most spectacular views you'll ever see. ( Amazed no one has suggested it.)

Also park in the Winnats Pass car park and walk up the pass - wonderful!

I’d suggest some of the historic houses but Haddon Hall doesn’t allow dogs & Lyme Park & Chatsworth only allow them in the gardens ( at least better than just the car park like many!)
But English Heritage allow dogs, in fact welcome them in my experience so you could visit Peveril Castle & Bolsover Castle.
Both Treak Cliff Cavern & Blue John Cavern welcome dogs on leads.
The Heights of Abraham, dogs travel free on the cable car.
You can take them into Crich Tramway Village & he can travel for free with you on the old steam trains of Peak Rail that you can catch at the restored station in Matlock.

Thornbridge hall and gardens. (not the brewery)

Its right next to the monsal trail. Free parking. Nice cafe. Gardens themselves are beautiful. Not huge but lovely. Theres a nice kids area too.

I live locally, and now have so many new things to do on my weekend list! Thanks all!

Fernilee reservoir is nice walk for your dog ( we go about 3 times/week and also The Swan at Kettlwshulme or The old Hall at Chinley both dig friendly, both get very busy though.

@jeannie46 thank you! Mam tie is one of the main things I plan on doing. Lost fair bit of weight and improved my fitness so now feel confident to tackle it so this is one of my goals… doesn’t sound much but I was so unfit that I wouldn’t have managed it before as struggled with even slight hills.

Oh yes agree with PP re Crichton tramway museum. Really interesting and we took our dog a few years ago and he loved it, especially travelling on the tram

@rbe78

I live locally, and now have so many new things to do on my weekend list! Thanks all!

Me too, I've booked marked for all the places I didn't think about

We're back! We had such a lovely week. Thanks for all the recommendations - we didn't manage to cram them all in so we'll have to go back! The highlights were Eyam, Chatsworth, Mam Tor and watching the paragliders, and Thornbridge gardens (and their vegan cake!). We had a lovely few hours pottering around Leek and Buxton, chickened out of going down the Devil's Arse, nearly got splatted crossing the road to get a photo of the sign for Shatton to send DS - it was all really lovely and dog-friendly and not particularly busy at all. The only disappointment was the terrible cold soggy Bakewell pudding at one of the hotels we stayed at, but the next place had Bakewell pudding gin, which made up for it Thank you all for helping us to have such a great week.

So glad you had a good time. I am going to Castleton on Thursday and can’t wait

One thing I forgot to mention is the Hannah Bennett sculpture garden in Eyam. It's in the artist's own garden and she was just lovely (as was her dog!) - it's a magical little place and we're really glad we found it.

If you like a bookshop, Scarthin Books in Cromford is AMAZING and has a lovely vegetarian café upstairs.

Oops, too late

Aww, that would have been our perfect place, @LittleBoxes! Never mind - another good reason to go back :)

Chatsworth is very touristy ...

I love the Valley behind the castle at Castleton - and Mam Tor is worth a walk (not too far from the road).

Ooops ... :)

You need to double check the dog friendly aspect as I’ve never been a dog owner but:
Castleton - especially cave trips
Chatsworth House and gardens
Eyam - this isn’t optional - this is a must - on a serious note the history of this village is a real eye opener
The big park in Buxton with the pavilion/pool
Bakewell

I love the Peak District