Things to Do in the Peak District: A Local's Guide

We've been running outdoor adventures from the Hope Valley since 2006, so we get asked a lot: what should we do in the Peak District? Here's our local guide to the best things to do, whether you want a big day on the hills, something fun with the family, or a plan for when it rains.

Walk the Great Ridge: Mam Tor to Lose Hill

The walk along the Great Ridge between Mam Tor and Lose Hill is one of the classic Peak District walks, with views over the Hope Valley on one side and the Edale valley on the other. Start from Castleton, Hope or Edale and make a loop of it. On a clear day it's hard to beat.

Climb on the gritstone edges

The Peak District is one of the birthplaces of British rock climbing, and its gritstone edges (Stanage, Burbage, Froggatt and Millstone among them) are famous worldwide. The rock is rough and grippy, the crags are short, and there are routes for every level. If you've never climbed outside before, a beginner rock climbing course is the safest and most fun way to start. Find out what a climbing day with us is like.

Go underground

The limestone of the White Peak is riddled with caves. For an easy introduction, the show caves around Castleton have guided tours along lit paths. For a real adventure, put on an oversuit and helmet and go caving with an instructor, crawling, scrambling and exploring by headtorch. Read our caving for beginners guide to see what's involved.

Ride the trails

The Peak District has some of the best natural mountain biking in the country, from easy-going trails around Ladybower Reservoir to rocky, technical descents. New to it? Read our top 5 tips for your first mountain bike adventure or join a mountain biking course.

Learn to navigate

The hills of the Dark Peak, like Kinder Scout and Bleaklow, are wild moorland plateaus where it's easy to lose your way in the mist. Learning to read a map and use a compass opens up a lifetime of adventures. Start with our free online map reading course, or spend a day on the hill on a navigation course.

Visit Ladybower and the Derwent Valley

The reservoirs of the Upper Derwent Valley are lovely for a gentle walk or bike ride, and Ladybower is famous as a practice site for the Dambusters raid. Look out for the stone bridges and the drowned villages when water levels are low.

Explore the villages

Castleton, Hope, Hathersage, Edale and Bakewell are all worth a wander, with tea rooms, pubs and outdoor shops. Hathersage also has a heated outdoor swimming pool, perfect after a hot day on the edges.

Rainy-day ideas

• Indoor bouldering: our Adventure Hub in Bamford has a bouldering wall that's open to the public.
• Show caves: it's always dry-ish underground!
• Chatsworth House: one of the grandest stately homes in England, with plenty to see inside.
• Climb anyway: some crags dry quickly or stay sheltered. See our guide to Peak District climbing in any weather.

Where to stay

The Hope Valley makes a brilliant base: it's right in the middle of the Peak District, close to both the gritstone edges and the limestone caves, and Hope, Bamford, Hathersage and Edale all have train stations on the line between Sheffield and Manchester. See our Peak District accommodation guide for places to stay near The Adventure Hub.

Make it a day to remember

Whatever you choose, the Peak District is best enjoyed outside. Our instructors run climbing, caving, bouldering, navigation and mountain biking days from Bamford all year round. Have a look at all our activities, or give someone an adventure with a gift voucher.