Peak District
Walkers and cyclists come for limestone dales, gritstone edges and market towns within easy reach of Manchester and Sheffield.
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The Peak District is an upland area in central England, mostly in Derbyshire, with parts in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire. It was Britain's first national park, designated in 1951, and walkers come for its limestone dales and gritstone edges. The area divides into two. The White Peak in the south has pale limestone, stone-walled fields and market towns such as Bakewell. The Dark Peak in the north is higher, with moorland and gritstone cliffs around Edale.
It suits a walking or cycling trip, a slow drive between villages, or a short break from Manchester or Sheffield. Two to four days gives time for both halves without rushing. Summer has the longest days; late spring and early autumn suit walking well. Winter is quieter, and high roads and moorland paths can be harder to use after snow. Base yourself in the White Peak for the Monsal Trail, a former railway line for walking and cycling, and Bakewell, or in the Dark Peak for Edale and the longer climbs.
Peak District in five
- Ride or walk the Monsal TrailThe 8.5-mile traffic-free route runs from Blackwell Mill near Buxton to Coombs Road in Bakewell. The old stations at Bakewell, Hassop and Millers Dale have pay and display car parks, and Hassop and Millers Dale have cafes.
- Choose the White Peak or the Dark PeakThe southern White Peak has the dales, Bakewell and the trail. The northern Dark Peak around Edale and Castleton has the high moorland edges. A short trip is better spent in one.
- Start at a National Park CentreThe authority runs National Park Centres at Bakewell and Castleton and a visitor centre at Edale, each with maps and local advice on routes.
- Book a car or a base with parkingRail reaches only a few gateway villages, so a hire car or a base with parking gives the most choice. Confirm the station on National Rail before building a car-free plan.
- Start the trail at Buxton, finish at BakewellThe trail's western end at Blackwell Mill is just outside Buxton, a spa town with more hotels and restaurants than the villages. Ride one way and bring yourself back by bus or taxi.
Things to do in Peak District
See all attractions in Peak District
Need to know
- Airport
- Manchester (MAN) is nearest; East Midlands (EMA) also works
- Getting there
- Rail to a gateway village, or drive in from Manchester, Sheffield or Nottingham
- Getting around
- Car, bike hire on the trails, and limited buses between villages
- Best base
- Bakewell for the White Peak; Castleton or Edale for the Dark Peak
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days; 4 with a Chatsworth or Buxton stop
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh6°Low2°Cold, frostJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, frost
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold, frostFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, frost
- MarchRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low3°Cool, brightMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, bright
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Mild, greenAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Mild, long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Warm, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Heather bloomAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heather bloom
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Heather, calmSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heather, calm
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Wet, short daysNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, short days
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh7°Low3°Cold, short daysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, short days
Average daily high and low in Bakewell, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Peak District
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 88%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Peak District
09:14 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today9°4°0%Monday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue9°6°7%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Wed9°6°29%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 29%.
- Thu9°5°8%Thursday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Fri8°5°10%Friday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sat9°5°12%Saturday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sun7°2°8%Sunday: Drizzle. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 08:17 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- JunDownload FestivalNottingham, a day trip
- AugCreamfieldsLiverpool, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Monsal Trail from Bakewelleasy ride or walk, flat surfaceA traffic-free railway path through limestone dales, with cafes at Hassop and Millers Dale.
- Castleton and Edalewithin the park, by car or trainCave country and the Dark Peak edges under Kinder Scout.
- Nottinghamabout 1 to 1.5 hours by carA city with a castle and caves, useful before or after the hills.Read the guide
Before you go to Peak District
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Peak District, checked
- Monsal Trail: 8.5 miles, traffic-free, open to walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users. Pay and display parking at Bakewell, Hassop, Millers Dale.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Peak District
A city base east of the park
Read the guideYorkshire DalesLimestone country further north
Read the guideYorkshireCities, dales, moors and coast to the north-east
Read the guideMidlands & the MarchesShakespeare, Ironbridge and border towns
Read the guideTrains, buses and carsHire cars and rail links to gateway towns
Read the guideAll of EnglandCities, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guidePeak District FAQ
How many days do you need in the Peak District?
Two to three days cover a Monsal Trail ride, a Dark Peak walk and a market town. A weekend works if you pick one end of the park and skip the long drives between them.
Is the Monsal Trail free?
Yes to use. Walkers, runners, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users share the traffic-free route, though parking at the old stations is pay and display and bike hire is at nearby centers.
Can you visit the Peak District without a car?
You can base in Bakewell or Buxton and use buses, trails and a few rail stations, but villages and edges are far easier by car. Confirm each leg on National Rail and local bus timetables first.
What is the difference between the White Peak and the Dark Peak?
The White Peak is limestone: gentler dales, caves, Bakewell and the Monsal Trail. The Dark Peak is gritstone and moorland: Edale, Kinder Scout and wilder walking. Choose by how much hill you want.
When is the best time to visit the Peak District?
May and June for long days and green dales, and August and September for heather. Winter brings frost and short days, and high moors can be hard going in bad weather.