Overview

A picture paints a thousand words, with Scenery at its best, from countryside meadowland, autumn woodland colour, open bracken moorland views, long winding narrow lanes through typical Peak District landscapes, a beautiful and interesting trip. We have suggested a round route starting near to the M1 motorway from South Normanton, not to far away from Matlock in the Peak District. It will be around 104 miles for this round trip, but the views are worth while. Sat NAV starting point. DE55 2JW. Try to arrive here 9.15 to 9.30 McARTHUR GLEN OUTLETS EAST MIDLANDS. READ OUR REVIEW for McArthur Glen before you move on. If you have visited the shopping village, we suggest you depart by 11.30. Start the ride with SAT NAV DIRECTIONS. DE55 2JW This is a great start for our trip, with very pleasant top rated shopping facilities, coffee break, and toilets (photos 1 & 2) and a enjoyable experience before a wonderful scenic ride. SAT NAV. DE4 5PL. DARWIN FOREST COUNTRY PARK. (Photo 3) After driving through lovely open countryside views (photo 4) for about 15 miles, with ever changing autumn colours, we use this direction to pull into and drive round to the carpark so that we can enter the next instructions. SAT NAV. DE45 1PJ. EDENSOR The scenery changes now to more open long country views (photo 5) We pass Chatsworth House, and see that someone has given a recent review thats just been given for this so it would be nice to read that review as well SAT NAV. S32 5QH. EYAM Golden brown bracken and wooded hills ahead leads us on (photo 6) SAT NAV. S11 7TS. LONGSHAW MOOR Miles of high hill scenery which is the mark of the Peak District highlights the changing colours that wants to encourage us to pull into a parking space so as to sit and admire not only the wonderful scenery, but the sheer pleasure of taking in deep breaths of fresh air (photo 7) SAT NAV. S32 1BR. STANAGE EDGE As we drive on, typical peak views open up, high crags which welcome walkers to come and explore, take the challenge of climbing those hills,let the youngsters let off steam (photo 8) a smashing area for all To enjoy. SAT NAV. S33 0AX. LADYBOWER RESERVOIR Golden brown bracken under sun kissed autumn leaves again highlights the changing landscape as we head ever onwards towards the rolling hills ahead (photo 9) greenery replaces browns, cattle and sheep replaces the call of wild birds, and the twisting narrow lanes drop us down towards distant villages. We arrive at Hathersage, modern built housing that replaces old grey stone built cottages are quickly passed as we drive straight through the village (photo 10) and press onwards towards the blue of Ladybower reservoir (photo 11). Crossing the bridge, at the lights, turn right and drive ahead and up to the parking area on the right (photo 12). Pull in here simple to set next directions SAT NAV. S33 6RH. HOPE Return to the waterside, BUT AT LIGHTS, continue straight ahead for about a mile, ignoring your sat NAV for just awhile, until you reach a parking area on the right. Pull in ready to turn around, but admire the view first of all as you gaze back across the clear blue waters, which we found to be very low this year, the reservoir badly in need of cold clear raindrops that will fill the lake again and refresh the parched hillsides (photo 13) Return toward the distant bridge, and at the lights, turn right, and follow Sat NAV directions, which hopefully will suggest you turn right at the first junction and take you along a very narrow creak that twists and turns as it follows your route. Arriving into Hope, with nothing really to tempt you to stop Take time to reset your sat NAV here. SAT NAV. S33 7ZA. EDALE The scenery then becomes more open, as meadowland replaces hillsides, until after a while the distant hills ahead look promising (photo 14) As you reach Edale, you will now be heading towards Castleton, a small park district town, so reset your sat NAV SAT NAV. S33 8WN. CASTLETON You may wish to take a break here, so as you approach a small white roundabout, TURN LEFT into the Castleton visitor centre. It is just a small museum of local history, worth a short visit, and it’s free ! Toilets are also available in the car park. There is nothing much more to see at Castleton, although visitors seem to be here and there, more in hope than anything, so if you have been following our route so far, and simple taking your time it may be about 2.45 now, but we suggest you leave by 3.15. Our next point of call will be a small hotel which is now a hostel, which will give you a chance to take a drink or two, with toilet use as well, but please be aware that this is not the four star rated hotel it bills itself as, we personally found it to be a dump, but that’s our view, but do not expect much more. READ OUR REVIEW FOR LOSEHILL HOUSE. SAT NAV. S33 6AF. LOSEHILL HOUSE It stands just on outskirt of Castleton. Whatever you decide to do, stay in Castleton, or visit Losehill house, set directions SAT NAV. S33 8WA SPEEDWELL CAVERN, WINNATS PASS. It is only half a mile away, with a car park available (photo 15) Across the road you will find the entrance to the very popular Speedwell cavern, with underground caves to explore, and a boat trip you can take deep underground. However, it’s the views of this fantastic area you have come to see. Wheelchair users will not however be able to enjoy riding here, it is far to hilly (photo 16) but the views ahead as you drive through winnats pass are outstanding. Before you leave car park, and to help to MAKE SURE YOU DRIVE ALL THE WAY THROUGH WINNATS PASS Set this sat NAV. SK17 8ET. SPARROW PIT, BUXTON Set SAT NAV now. DE45 1BT. BAKEWELL This basically is the end of our route for you, so you may now select your final SAT NAV DIRECTIONS. YOUR HOME SAT NAV ADDRESS OR FOLLOW OUR ROUTE TO RETURN TO McARTHUR GLEN OUTLETS AND M1 motorway A 22 mile drive of around 50 minutes. DE4 5PL. DARWIN FOREST. (Photo 17) DE 55 2JW. McARTHUR GLEN OUTLETS EAST MIDLANDS (photo 18) Toilets (photo 19) Sweet endings to our PEAK DISTRICT TRIP. (Photo 20)

Transport & Parking

On your journey, which concentrates on the beauty of the peaks, toilets are few and far apart, and we only have one place for you to be able to use toilets, and that’s in Castleton later on in the day. SEE REVIEW FOR LOSEHILL HOUSE HOTEL for toilets.

Access

You will be in the car for most of this trip, with places to get Out and stretch.

Toilets

Toilet available in Castleton visitor centre and One will be found at the Losehill House hostel in Castleton.

Staff

Photos