Towns & Villages in the Peak District

The Peak District isn't just famous for its glorious scenery. The towns and villages that are the heart of the area are some of the most beautiful you can visit anywhere in the UK.

Ashbourne

Ashbourne is a picturesque small market town situated at the southern tip of the Peak District, famous amongst other things for its annual Shrovetide Football match.

Ashford in the Water

Ashford in the Water is a very pretty Derbyshire and Peak District village, situated on the River Wye, one and a half miles north west of Bakewell.

Bakewell

Bakewell is a traditional Peak District market town with a wide range of shops and cafes and a bustling Monday outdoor market. Situated on the River Wye in close proximity to both Chatsworth and Haddon Hall.

Buxton

Home to Buxton spring water, which flows freely at the St Anne's Well, and magnificent local architecture, (some of which dates from the early 17th century ), Buxton still has more than its fair share of Victorian splendour.

Baslow

Baslow is a busy little village, in the Derwent Valley, with Chatsworth Park to the south and Baslow Edge rising to the north. The Old Bridge, close to the church built in 1603, attracts most interest from visitors with its impressive stone arches.

Birchover

The White Peak village of Birchover stands amidst magnificent rock scenery on a west facing hillside beneath the towering bulk of Stanton Moor. Fans of "Peak Practice" may recognise some nooks & crannies.

Castleton

Famous for its caverns including Blue John, Peak Cavern and the ruined Peveril Castle. Castleton is situated at the head of the lovely Vale of Hope, in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District National Park.

Edensor

The small estate village of Edensor, pronounced ‘Ensor’, is set in one of the most beautiful locations in the country in parkland owned by the Devonshire family, whose stately home at Chatsworth House is only five minutes walk away.

Eyam

Famous as "the plague village" because in 1665 the villagers decided that they should isolate themselves to avoid passing the plague onto surrounding villages. Five out of every six villagers died. Many of the cottages in the village have inscriptions over the front door commemorating the plague.

Hartington

A picturesque and prosperous village, with several historic buildings.

Hathersage

Hathersage has associations with Robin Hood and the Eyre family. It is a popular centre for walkers and rock-climbers, with a line of gritstone edges of which Stanage Edge is the largest. There are also spectacular tors, such as Higgar Tor, and the enigmatic hillfort at Carl Wark.

Holme and Holmfirth

Charming gritstone villages famous for being the location of the TV programme The Last of the Summer Wine.

Ilam

One of the prettiest villages in this area of the Peak: the current village was moved in the 1820s by Jesse Watts-Russell from its position near Ilam Hall and rebuilt in its current location in what Watts-Russell considered to be 'Alpine style'.

Leek

Leek is the principal town of the Staffordshire Moorlands and is locally known as 'The Queen of the Moorlands'. The town is an ancient market town and was a centre of silk weaving - the weekly market still thrives, but the silk industry is long departed. There are many fine buildings to be seen, and a LOT of good pubs (and some surprisingly good restaurants) to sample.

Longnor

Longnor was one of the locations used for the filming of Peak Practice. Longnor was once a market centre for the region and has a little cobbled market square and a victorian market hall which dates back to 1873. Longnor hall is now a craft centre and coffee shop but it retains an inscription above the entrance, giving the tariffs of long forgotten market tolls.

Tissington

Tissington is a well managed estate village which has an ideal blend of duckpond, trees, cottages, church, tearooms and an old hall. To many, Tissington seems to be the model village.

Upper Hulme

Upper Hulme is a unique place - a thriving rural community and home to Mill Cottage.