Peak District with small children?

[AndHarry]

DH and I are taking our 5yo and 2yo to the Peak District over the Easter weekend. We're going to Ilam Park/Dovedale on Sunday but I'm a bit stuck for what to do on the Saturday. I was looking at the various caves: Poole's Cavern, Speedwell, Treak Cliff and thought they might like the cable car at the Heights of Abraham - anyone have any experience and would you recommend any of those? Any other ideas? Thanks!

Chatsworth House is brilliant. They have a farm park and massive adventure playground which is really good. We don't tend to bother with the house and formal gardens but just pay the entrance fee to the farm park and adventure playground and spend the whole day there..

(Take spare clothes or all-in-one waterproofs for the little ones - lots of hands-on water, sand and muddy play)

A bit further up, but Lyme Park is really good too. It's a national trust property and miles of grounds to explore and a superb adventure playground.

The cable cars are good but we found it a bit hair-raising to get on and off with small DCs.

The caves are all good but we found when ours were very little, that we ended up carrying them through dark awkward tunnels because they were overwhelmed by the number of people on the tours and the dark and cold below ground.

Brilliant, thanks! I was umming and ahhing about Chatsworth as it seems an extortionate amount to pay for the full tickets, but the farmyard looks very reasonable.

I'll have a look at Lyme Park too. We've done caves with the DC before so I might stick that on the 'wet weather' plan.

We only live about 45 mins away so sometimes we just pay to park and then we explore the grounds, play by the river, go up to the waterfall behind the house and picnic on the field. Great if the weather is good.

Have a fab day :)

The otter place is fab. It's right on the west side of the Peak District though so it be a bit out the way. It's called The Chestnut Centre. The cavern at Buxton is a bit better for small kids, less steps, less rough and often not as busy as the Castleton caves.

The old railway line near Bakewell is good for a walk and you can go through some of the old tunnels. monsal Trail. If you start from the Hassop station car park there's a really nice cafe there and book shop/craft type shop.

Another vote for Chatsworth farm. Mine would play the happily for hours provided the weather is good. I'd give the gardens and house a miss at that age though.

Climb Mam Tor. You can park close to the top, then walk about 20 mins at toddler speed on an eady path yo the top. Amazing view, proper feeling of satisfaction.
Child freiebdly, slightly beany cafe in Outside in Hathersage.
Nice playground in Bradwell.
Hire bikes, trailers etc at Ladybower and ride around lake.

Great ideas here. I've looked at everything and have a complete wet and dry weather plan :) Thankyou!