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Outdoors

Peak District

Hidden among the southern hills of the

Pennines lie ancient stone villages, stately

homes, and rocky outcrops attracting

cavers, walkers and climbers alike.

A view of the

Wye Valley from

Monsal Head, on

the Monsal Trail

Natural wonders

Hikes Other activities

MONSAL TRAIL

This scenic trail passes through

a number of atmospheric old

tunnels as it follows the path of

a disused railway line for 8½

miles from Coombs Road

Viaduct on the outskirts of

Bakewell to Topley Pike in Wye

Dale. Three miles into the walk,

there is a dramatic viewpoint at

Monsal Head, where you can

pause for refreshment at the

Monsal Head Hotel

(monsalhead.com).

EYAM

Quaint little Eyam makes a

great base for walking and

cycling in the White Peak area.

For an interesting short hike,

follow Water Lane out of the

village from the main square,

then turn right and climb the hill

to reach Mompesson’s Well,

where supplies were left during

a plague outbreak for Eyam folk

by friends from other villages. To

return to Eyam, retrace your

steps down the lane, then take

a path that leads directly to the

church. The two-mile circuit

takes about 1½ hours.

LIMESTONE WAY

This 46-mile trail winds through

the Derbyshire countryside

from Castleton to Rocester

in Staffordshire, following

footpaths, tracks and quiet

lanes – highlights along the

way include beauty spots Millers

Dale and Robin Hood’s Stride.

Many people walk the 26-mile

section between Castleton and

Matlock in one long, tiring day,

but setting aside two days will

make it more comfortable. Local

tourist offices have a detailed

leaflet with route information.

PEAK CAVERN

The limestone sections of the Peak

District are riddled with caves and

caverns, particularly around

Castleton. Peak Cavern is easily

reached by a pretty streamside

walk from Castleton centre and

has the largest natural cave

entrance in England, known as the

Devil’s Arse. Inside, dramatic

limestone formations are lit with

fibre-optic cables (devilsarse.com;

Castleton; US$12.65).

WINNATS PASS &

SPEEDWELL CAVERN

Striking Winnats Pass is a

collapsed cave system, once a

coral reef canyon. Sheer-sided

cliffs frame a lovely green valley,

footpaths abound, and it’s here

that you’ll find the entrance to

Speedwell Cavern – a cave

reached via an eerie boat ride

through flooded tunnels,

emerging by a huge subterranean

lake (speedwellcavern.co.uk;

Castleton; US$14, inc Peak

Cavern US$21).

POOLE’S CAVERN

It’s very cool down in this

magnificent natural cavern, a

pleasant mile stroll southwest of

Buxton, reached by descending 28

steps into an underground lair.

Tours lasting 50 minutes run every

20 minutes from March to

October. From the car park, a

20-minute walk leads through Grin

Low Wood to Solomon’s Temple

• a ruined tower with fine views
  over the town (pooles
  cavern.co.uk; Buxton; US$12).

CYCLING

High Peak Trail is an easy, traffic-

free ride through beautiful hills

and farmlands following the old

railway line from Cromford to

Dowlow. The Pennine Bridleway

is another top network, with

205 miles of trails. If you don’t

have your own wheels, Peak

Tours runs guided tours

(peak-tours.com; from US$173)

and the National Park Authority

has three bike rental centres

(peakdistrict.gov.uk).

BUXTON TRAM

It’s actually a vintage milk

float, rather than a tram, but

this old contraption is still a

highly entertaining way to tour

the historic sights of pretty

Buxton. From the Opera House,

take the Wonder of the Peak

tour as it trundles along at

12mph on an hour-or-so circuit

of the centre. There are only

eight seats, so book ahead

(discoverbuxton.co.uk; hourly

10am–5pm Mar–Oct; US$8).

CHATSWORTH

Known as the ‘Palace of the

Peak’, Chatsworth House has

been occupied by the earls and

dukes of Devonshire for

centuries. Inside it’s packed with

priceless paintings and period

furniture; outside there are miles

of grounds and ornamental

gardens to explore, and kids will

love the farmyard adventure

playground. The stately home

has starred in Pride & Prejudice

on more than one occasion

(chatsworth.org; £23).

Eyam is famed for isolating itself

during the 1665 bubonic plague

Poole’s Cavern complex includes

a number of unexplored caves

Rugs are provided on the Buxton

Tram in case the weather turns

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MINI GUIDE