Peak District National Park

Published by jacko77 on Mon Aug 24th, 2009

The Peak District National Park covers an area of over 500 square miles and as some of the most breathtaking countryside in Britain.  This was the first of all the national parks to be formed in 1951 and gets managed from the town of Bakewell which is one of the main towns in the county of Derbyshire.  The area is one of the busiest locations and is estimated to get 20 millions+ visitors each year.

With its amazing landscape divided into two sections known as the wilder and higher dark peak to the north and the more gentle peaks to the central and south west there is no wonder that this is one of the most visited destinations amongst the hikers, rock climbers, cycling, sailing, caving, horse riding and camping.

Some of the more popular trails you will come across are the Mosal Trail and the Manifold Valley Trail which are used amongst keen cyclists and walkers which take you through the heart of the countryside via the old railway system.

The Peak District as far more to offer than what the Lake District does because of the large number of man made lakes and reservoirs which each have their own style and character.  With the three more spectacular lakes being the Upper Derwent Valley, Ladybower, Derwent and Howden which supply water to a majority of the surrounding town and villages in the area.

Bakewell is around 10 miles north west of Derwent Valley and as some of the best accommodation options around the area.  With a lot of top accommodation options being located near the amazing River Wye which is one of the most picturesque rivers that goes through the limestone dales into the hills nearby Buxton and onto some of the most spectacular and scenic countryside in the Peak District.  

Another well known river in the Peaks is the River Derwent which is famous for its many mills that line across the banks starting from Bamford all the way to Calver and Baslow.

The Peak District as something for everyone, weather you want to go for a relaxing walk or take and an adrenaline junkie weekend climbing the peaks or biking down them.