We believe that what makes the Peak District truly great is the mix of stunning countryside scenery and delightful towns and villages. Enjoying a stroll around the streets is a great way to top or tail a hearty walk. Popping into independent shops, selling local wares and relaxing and laughing in cafes, pubs and restaurants.
The villages of the Peak District also give the non-walkers in your party an abundance of options of activities and relaxation to take in while you hike. Most of the villages also have accommodation options, from campsites to youth hostels, pub rooms or hotels. Meaning you can enjoy a proper walking holiday in the area.
Let me know in the comments which is your favourite Peak District village and why.
Best Peak District Villages To Walk From
In this article we share with you our favourite Peak District towns and villages, with a little information about what you will find in them and some of our favourite walks which start nearby.
You will find the full walk descriptions, maps and GPX in the main walk posts.
1. Hartington
This really is a chocolate box village, with its much photographed square and duck pond at its centre. As well as the handsome YHA building, the village also features gift shops, cafes and pubs, a small pottery and a specialst cheese shop! Hartington is the meeting point of many ancient tracks, so it’s perfect for heading out on a walk too. Check out our 5-mile Wolfscote Dale + Biggin Dale Walk From Hartington, route.
2. Castleton
Castleton is probably one of the best known Peak District villages. It’s the base for many walks, as well as being crammed with lovely places to visit. There are a range of small shops, many of which sell jewellery made with the areas famous Blue John stone. You will also be spoilt for choice with a range of cafes and pubs to suit all tastes – and that’s not forgetting the popular fish and chip shop up on The Stones. The village also has a large car park at the visitor centre. From the village you can also go on cave tours and visit Peveril Castle.
3. Hathersage
Another well known base for adventure enthusiasts, Hathersage is filled with outdoor stores, shops and refreshment options. It also has a couple of more unique attractions; its open-air, heated swimming pool is always popular and the David Mellor Country Store and Design Museum is a fascinating fusion of design from David Mellor, Royal Designer for Industry, and an extensive range of tableware, kitchenware and crafts from other British designers. For those heading out on a hike, we have 12-mile and 5-mile walk options, with Hathersage as a start point.
4. Eyam
Nicknamed the Plague Village, Eyam has a fascinating tale to tell and it does it with plaques and signs around the village. Eyam is famous for containing an outbreak of the plague in the 1660’s, when the villagers decided to isolate themselves from the surrounding communities. There is a museum and information centre, as well as cafes and shops to explore. Walkers can stride out on our 10-mile Sir William Hill Trig Walk.
5. Bakewell
If you hear Bakewell without thinking Bakewell Tart we’re a bit worried about you! The biggest town in the Peak District is indeed the home to the delicious desert, as well as a fantastic outdoor markets, the Bakewell Carnival, the Bakewell Show and Thornbridge Brewery. Although we don’t have any walks which start directly from Bakewell (yet!), we have lots in the area, so you can drop the walkers off at the start of their route and head on into town!
6. Ashford-in-the-Water
The Medieval Sheepwash Bridge, over the River Wye is the focal point for many a photographer. Although this village isn’t quite as packed as some of the others, there are still options to eat and drink, as well as enjoying strolling along the river and admiring the limestone bulidngs. Ashord-in-the-Water is close to the start of our Monsal Trail walks and we also have 8-mile and 5.5-mile options for walks from the village to visit the abandoned Magpie Mine.
7. Baslow
If you’re thinking of visiting Chatsworth House, or doing a walk nearby, Baslow is your perfect base. Check out our article containing our 8 Best Walks from Baslow for hiking inspiration. For those not joining the walk, Chatsworth House and Gardens is well worth a visit, a majestic house, 105-acre garden, farmyard, playground and acres of natural parkland to explore. Baslow village also boasts a pretty packhorse bridge, thatched cottages, several hotels, pubs, cafés, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a handful of independent shops.
8. Hayfield
Hayfield is not only a pretty and bustling village, with great access to Kinder Scout, it’s also hugely important in the history of the Peak District National Park. In 1932 the Mass Trespass set out from Hayfield to protest against wealthy landowners blocking access to large areas of land for walkers. Hundreds of men and women took part, paving the way for the Right to Roam movement and the creation of National Parks.
Nowadays Hayfield is known for its excellent pubs, accommodation and wide range of stores, as well as an art gallery. Hayfield also has a popular well dressing and annual carnival. We’ve got four walks which set out from Hayfield, each with their own charms!
7-mile Mount Famine and South Head Walk
9-mile Kinder Scout and Kinder Downfall Walk
10-mile Harry Hut and Lantern Pike Trig Walk
9-mile Kinder Scout via Red Brook Scramble Walk
9. Edale
Edale is a favourite starting point for many walkers. Not only is it easy to access by public transport, with regular trains from Sheffield and Manchester, it’s also the start of the Pennine Way long distance path and many other walking routes.
It’s also well known for its range of campsites and two good pubs, as well as a large car park. There is also Edale Youth Hostel, which is situated about 1.5 miles from the main village. From Edale you can set out for walks along the Great Ridge, up Mam Tor and onto Kinder Scout. We pulled together lots of great viiotr information and our favourite routes in our 9 Best Walks from Edale article.
10. Hope
Hope is home to some lovely, shops, pubs and cafes a small farm shop and a bike store, but its most noticeable feature may well be the Breedon Hope Cement works, which can truly be seen from many a view on the surrounding hills! The cement works may not be an attractive feature on the landscape but it pre-dates the creation of the National Park and does allow you to know exactly which direction the Hope Valley is!
Hope has a large campsite in the village and is on the same train line as Edale, so it’s great for backpackers. There is also a fairly new Bike and Boot Hotel just outside the village, which is dog friendly and offers bike hire.
We have a lovely, linear walk, taking in Win Hill and the Kinder Plateau, which starts in Hope and ends in Edale. From Edale you can get the train back to your start point in Hope.
11. Rowsley
Rowsley may have the busy A6 road running through it, but away from that it is every bit as quiet and lovely as other villages in the area. The village is home to a couple of good pubs and art galleries and a well-preserved Victorian corn mill, but is also known for the Peak Village Shopping Centre. The shopping centre houses many national and local brands and an indoor adventure play area for children.
Walkers can arrive using public transport, with the TrentBarton Sixes bus running through regularly on its journey between Bakewell and Derby. Footpaths lead off towards Chatsworth, Haddon, Stanton and Matlock. Our delightful 4-mile Stanton Woodhouse from Rowsley route takes you uphill out of the village, to visit surrounding hamlets, with great views. The short walk leaves you plenty of time to explore the village after!
12. Youlgreave
Youlgreave is well known with wild swimmers for its lovely swimming ‘pool’ in the dammed River Derwent. It’s one of the larger villages, with all the facilities that brings, but still retains its cosy charm with stone cottages and pretty gardens backing down to the river.
We have a great 6-mile walk from Youlgreave, through Bradford Dale here. Will you dip in the swim spot on your return?
13. Wirksworth
Wirksworth sits just outside the Peak District National Park boundary but its charms meant we just had to include it in this list. It is a town full of winding streets, independent shops, pubs and cafes. It houses a Heritage Centre, where you can discover the history of the area and is also host to an annual Wizarding Day at the end of October!
Just outside the village are the National Stone Centre and the Star Disc; a 21st century stone circle star chart, both of which can be visited on our Black Rocks and Star Disc walking route.
Do you have a favourite Peak District village you think should be on our list? Let me know in the comments below.
Ordnance Survey Walk Maps
For these walks, there are two maps that cover them OL1 – Peak District (Dark Peak Area) and OL24 – Peak District (White Peak Area)
Shop online at Ordnance Survey
And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.
For online maps, I recommend the OS Online App (I have been using it for many years and it is worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one-month or annual option with the OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App.
Check prices here for the one month or yearly option with OS Online App.
More walks in the Peak District
Some of our walks don’t start from a village centre. Check out our other popular walk locations on the link below.
Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here
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More information on the Peak District, including transport options, where to stay, best Peak District pubs + other useful resources.
Check out the 7 YHAs in the Peak District and find the best walks direct from your accommodation.
Find out what maps you will need for your trip here.
Top tips - Read our useful guides on hiking tips here.
Guided Walks with an introduction to map reading (see dates here).
Visit our hiking recommendations page, (footwear, clothes + kit).
Or get in touch and I will help as best I can :).
Please note 'Peak District Walks' accepts no liability for any injuries or accidents resulting from walking our routes. We always recommend you wear appropriate footwear to avoid injuries and to take a paper map and compass on your walks. Read more here.
