Peak district short break suggestions if you don't have a car

[33dollars]

We are planning on long weekend away with a few families and some don't drive. Ive decided on the peak district as it's not too far from us and won't be too expensive to get to.

Looking for suggestions for location to stay which you can get to by train and then don't need a car to do a few things over a long weekend. Any suggestions, would be appreciated. Looking for things that we can do like walking, tea shops, the odd historical place , museum etc. We don't drink so don't care for pubs and will be self catering. Thank you!

Argh, just seen the rail map, which I probably should have done before! I can only see Matlock as the only station in peak district.

Maybe should look at other areas.

Edale is a good option, good campsite

Had station!

Edale has a station. Hathersage is nice too. Depends how active people are.

What about Buxton , I’ve only been for the opera house but it seemed nice .

The Manchester - Sheffield line is what you need OP

Are there things to do in edale.

Walks and a couple of pubs in Edale. There's far more to do in Hathersage - shops, cafés, pubs, open-air heated swimming pool.

There’s one in Matlock which I believe is the main one, it’s right next to the heights of Abraham as well so lots of people park there. Edale has one with a campsite just up the road. Plus it’s close to mam tor!

Matlock would be fine as a base I would have thought? Enough to do for a long weekend anyway I would have thought. See where you can get to by bus from there.

Matlock and then you can nip down to Matlock Bath which is a bit like the seaside in the Peaks.

Not much to do in Edale or Hathersage but walk, nice as they are.
Matlock is nice and there is more to do. That, rather than Matlock Bath.

Should have mentioned there are several buses a day from Hathersage to Chatsworth House. At Chatsworth House, there are gardens, an adventure playground, a children's farm, places to eat and shops as well as the house. It's not a cheap day out though, but more manageable if you just visit the gardens and have a picnic by the river.

It's not as pleasant as it used to be. Not quite the seaside vibe now.

Buxton has a station and there are things to do in the town. We enjoyed Poole's Cavern

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g190756-Activities-BuxtonDerbyshiree_England.html

If you have no transport at all then Castleton is a good bet. You'd need to arrive into Hope station tho.

Our caravan is in the middle of the Peak District and there are so many beautiful places but without any transport then you'd struggle but Castleton is gorgeous and lots of cafes, walks and also the Mines that are interesting for kids.

Hathersage is also really lovely.

Matlock Bath is nice but small and a bit 'touristy naff' but there is Cromford round the corner that's beaut!

Ideas coming thick and fast! Sorry for multiple posts. There is a bus from Hathersage to Castleton. Castleton has three caverns you can visit, numerous pubs and plenty of shops. There's also a youth hostel. These days, you don't need to be a youth to stay there.

Train to chesterfield and then bus to Bakewell, stay in Bakewell. Nice small town with shops, etc and good public transport

Hope valley is good if you don't have a car. There's the Sheffield Manchester train that stops in hathersage, grindleford, bamford and hope. There's also the bus that goes hathersage to castleton and the other way. There's a bus to Bakewell too.

The caves at castleton are popular with tourists.
Hathersage has stanage edge and surprise view
There's the longshaw estate and theres also the old house that is supposedly something to do with Jane Eyre or however you spell it. Theres Eyam museum and there's a place in eyam I also can't remember the name of that does a range of activities.
You can hire bikes at the bookshop at Bakewell and cycle the Monsal trail.

There's loads to do.

@IdaGlossop Some of the Youth Hostels now are so beautiful! There is one in Hartington that is just stunning!

There's a lot to see, and it's so beautiful! Some great ideas here, although be warned - Bakewell is usually heaving.
The Monsal Trail is a great idea.

Hiking is main activity in edale

Buxton if you want town activities

I’d also look at bus routes from Sheffield - there definitely used to be a bus that went to Castleton and that would be a good base as there are quite a few food and accommodation options.

There is, there's the 271 and 272,