There are so many amazing places to visit in the Peak District, if anything it’s very underrated! Whether it’s your first visit, or you are looking for somewhere new to explore, here you will find all of our top recommendations and hidden gems in the South of the Peak District.
We love spending time outdoors and exploring nature together, so living just an hour from the Peak District is ideal. It makes spontaneous, affordable getaways easy and accessible. We have therefore visited many spots throughout the Peak District, particularly in the South close to Derby.
Looking at outdoor adventures in the UK? Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park is another one of our favourites, if you are interested we have a guide on the hidden gems.
Jump to:
- Tips and Tricks
- Lud’s Church and The Roaches
- Monsal Dale, Monsal Head Viaduct & Tunnel
- Bakewell
- Chatsworth House
- Thor’s Cave
- Dovedale Stepping Stones, River Dove and Reynards Cave
- Throwley Old Hall
- Matlock
- Ashover Rock
- Buxton
- StarDisc – Wirksworth
- Black Rocks & High Peak Trail
- Lathkill Dale
Tips and Tricks
To start, we wanted to share a few tips and tricks which might be helpful if you are thinking about what to bring or wear, or perhaps where to park when planning your visit in the Peak district.
What to Bring
- Water – we take a larger bottle and leave it in the car, and a smaller bottle to carry
- Snacks and possibly a picnic
- Suncream, sunglasses, sun hat
- Hat and gloves
- Raincoat
- Small rucksack
- Some Cash
- Phone
What to Wear
- Layers! – Depending on the weather wear a few comfortable layers including a waterproof jacket
- Hats and gloves, or a sun hat, again depending on the weather
- Good walking trainers or boots
Food and Drink
Some places you will have shops, pubs and cafes so research before you go. However, we always take some snacks with us to keep our energy up. Flapjacks, nuts, fruit, sandwiches, and maybe some sweets are all great options!
Where to Park
We’ve always managed to park easily when visiting the Peak District, and often for free. We have tried to include parking details below for specific places, but we recommend checking your options before you set off. Remember to park respectfully and to carry some cash in case places don’t take card.
Avoid Peak Times
Lastly, we suggest avoiding peak times when you can. Some of these spots will be busier than others, some we have found to be very quiet and have had them all to ourselves. Try and plan your time in the Peak District at quieter times so you can get the most from it.
Lud’s Church and The Roaches
Lud’s Church and The Roaches are both unique spots which we rate very highly. It’s easy to do both in one day and they offer so much! The Roaches have stunning views, unique rocky landscapes, and beautiful nature. It’s popular with climbers due to the many large rocks and cliffs. Lud’s Church is a truly magical place, it’s a deep chasm with little mossy passages to explore. It’s straight out of a film set!
We parked for free in a layby very close to The Roaches Tea Rooms. (Postcode: ST13 8TY) It can get a little busy, but there is also a car park available for £5. From there, it’s about an 8 mile round walk going along The Roaches heading towards Lud’s Church and then back. There’s some incline and decline, but overall the walk was fairly easy.
Monsal Dale, Monsal Head Viaduct & Tunnel
This walk really has everything, not to mention a charming pub at the end! Waterfalls, rivers, a viaduct, a tunnel, and of course beautiful nature and landscapes to escape to. There are several walks you can do, including completing the 8.5 mile long Monsal Trail. However, there are also 2 mile walks which are family friendly and will allow you to explore this stunning area including the waterfall and viaduct.
There is affordable parking at Monsal Head Car Park which is right next to the pub and the start of the walks. (Postcode: DE45 1NL)
Bakewell
Bakewell is a famous town and one of the best places to visit in the Peak District as it’s very picturesque and offers access to many walks. It’s also where Bakewell Tart comes from, so this is another great reason to visit. We have often stopped off here when out in the Peak District to have a rest and refuel!
It can get busy, and you are likely to require the car park if driving. However, there are also many bus connections including Derby, Matlock, Buxton, and our next spot Chatsworth House.
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House is a grand stately home located within stunning landscapes. Home to the Cavendish family for over 500 years, it boasts magnificent architecture, an extensive art collection, and beautiful gardens. It’s very family friendly and a good day out.
There’s plenty of parking, however it does cost to enter. You can find more information on the Chatsworth House Website.
We have completed a lovely walk starting at Chatsworth House and stopping in Bakewell for lunch, then looping back to Chatsworth House to finish. This was around 7 miles depending on your exact route.
Thor’s Cave
Thor’s Cave is one of our favourite places to visit in the Peak District, and somewhere we must go back to soon. It’s a beautiful walk, and when you reach Thor’s Cave you are rewarded with beautiful views across the Peak District, and a unique cave to explore. It was a lovely spot to relax and switch off.
There is some incline to reach the cave, and when we went it was a little slippy! There is parking available in the nearby village of Wetton. (Postcode: DE6 2AF) If you walk from Wetton and back you are looking at around 3.5 miles. When we went, we were lucky that it was quite quiet, but we have heard it can get busy.
Dovedale Stepping Stones, River Dove and Reynards Cave
This is a very popular spot, and another great option for families. This does mean it can get busy, however it’s still worth the hype. We found after walking just a little bit, it got quieter. We also recommend going outside of peak times for this one.
You can hop along the fairytale stepping stones to cross the river, then walk down to reach Reynards Cave and enjoy the stunning landscape. There are plenty of hikes around here for you to enjoy. From the stepping stones you can reach Milldale in about 3 miles, which is a small picturesque village where you can enjoy a drink or snack.
The Dovedale Car Park is located very close to the stepping stones. It is pay and display and it can get rather busy. (Postcode: DE6 2AY)
Throwley Old Hall
Throwley Old Hall is the ruins of an old manor house in the south of the Peak District, located near to Thor’s Cave and the Stepping Stones. Built in the 1500s for the Meverell family, its worn stone walls and empty windows provide stunning framed views of the surrounding countryside.
There’s a few options for getting to and hiking around Throwley Old Hall. The best options are to either head to Ilam Hall Car Park, which is about a 2.5 mile walk one way to Throwley Old Hall. (Postcode: DE6 2AZ) Or Weag’s Bridge which has some parking which will offer a 7.5 mile circular walk via Calton. (Postcode: ST13 7TX)
Matlock
Matlock is another popular town located in the South of the Peak District, often giving the feeling of a small seaside town with its community feel, fish and chips, amusements and little tea rooms. It’s another location which has plenty of walks from and is a good place to stop off for some lunch.
It offers a perfect mix of natural beauty and historic character, with riverside parks and nearby attractions like the Heights of Abraham. Like many of these places, it can get very busy and is popular with families! We’ve found we can often park for 1-2 hours for free just outside the town, but there are also car parks. Matlock is also on several bus routes.
Ashover Rock
Ashover Rock is a very scenic spot, offering a great place to relax with stunning views. The round walk from Ashover Rock into the village of Ashover and back is around 2.5 miles and is very enjoyable. Ashover has a couple of pubs, a small shop and a really good local farm shop.
You probably don’t need a full-day exploring this one, but it was perfect for a small trip into nature. There is parking available in the village or in the layby near Ashover Rock. (Postcode: S45 0BE)
Buxton
Buxton is a great base and one of the larger towns in the Peak District. We actually stayed the night here and had a helicopter experience from nearby, flying over the Peak District and enjoying the views from the helicopter was superb!
Buxton has many walks and attractions, including Poole’s Cavern, Solomon’s Temple, and The Pavillion Gardens. Just outside of Buxton, we would recommend seeing Three Shires Head. A lovely little waterfall, with small natural ponds where you can wild swim.
StarDisc – Wirksworth
The StarDisc was a very unique spot, located just a 10 minute hike from the small town of Wirksworth. It was fun to see, and offered great views, and we could easily loop back down to the town.
We managed to park for free on the main road about 10 minutes walk out of the centre, but there are also car parks available. As this was a quicker stop, we combined it with The Black Rocks.
Black Rocks & High Peak Trail
We walked 1 mile from Wirksworth to reach the Black Rocks, but there is also a car park located nearer if you just want to head straight there.
Located on the 17.5 mile long High Peak Trail, The Black Rocks are very interesting rock formations offering great views. It’s a popular spot again for families. The High Peak Trail is also a beautiful walk and offers many attractions along the way.
Lathkill Dale
Our last place to visit in the Peak District is Lathkill Dale. Set in the valley along River Lathkill it provides a very scenic walk including a small waterfall and cave. – The cave was especially appreciated when we got caught in a rain shower!
You are looking at around a 4 mile walk, and it’s a great option for children. There is free parking nearby which if we remember correctly just asked for a suggested donation, or you can park on the nearby laybys. (Postcode: DE45 1JH) From Lathkill Dale, you are only 10 minutes drive to Bakewell if you want to stop off there too.
Hopefully this has given you plenty of ideas for places to visit in the Peak District (South). Enjoy exploring!
