We love walking in the Peak District and, if you’re on our website we bet you do too. But, there is so much more you can do in the Peak District. If you’re planning a trip for a few days we’ve got lots of things you can do to add some variety to your visit.
Whether you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day, a different activity to get you moving, or a gentler way to explore, we’ve got lots of ideas for the best things to do in the Peak District in this article.
Let me know in the comments if there’s anything you think needs adding to the list.
The Best Things To Do In The Peak District
We’ve chosen some our favourite things to do, when we’re not out walking! But we’ve also added in some ideas for walks in the area of the attractions we mention, so you’ve got lots of choice if there are a few of you wanting to do different things.
For all our walks you can click through to get the full rotue description, and and GPX, plus we’ve added links for other attractions where appropriate. If there’s anything you love doing in the Peak District which we’ve missed from our list do let us know!
1. Get on your bike
You might think that cycling in the Peak District has to be an extreme sport, with all those hills to climb! But there are options for cyclists who prefer a nice flat pedal too.
If you are looking for traffic-free, easy-going routes where you can take in some lovely scenery, the routes of the old railway lines which served the Peak District in the industrial era will be a great choice for you. The Tissington, High Peak and Manifold Trails can all be accessed from Parlsey Hay, where there is a bike hire centre, renting a range of bikes, including e-bikes, for you to use on the trails.
There are a couple of options for cycle hire on the Monsal Trail too; at Blackwell Mill and Hassop Station.
If not everyone in your party wants to cycle, we’ve got some walking routes which head along the Monsal Trail and our Black Rocks and Star Disc from Wirksworth route takes in part of the High Peak Trail.
If you prefer a more high octane cycle there are lots of fantastic mountain biking routes you can take on. You can find a few to get you started on this website.
2. Go Wild Swimming
Are you a summer day dipper? Or a winter cold plunger? However you enjoy your wild swimming we’ve got some great wild swimming spots in the Peak District for you to try.
In our Best Wild Swimming Walks in the Peak District article you can discover everything from the iconic plunge pool at Three Shires Head, where three counties meet, to the lovely ‘official’ swim spot at Youlgreave.
Each swim in our article has at least one walk to accompany it, so you can warm up before or after your dip! We always recommend doing some research into staying safe when wild swimming before you give it a try.
3. Visit some caves
There are caves aplenty in the Peak District. Some are just big enough to scramble into, others are impressive caverns and others still are the entrance to huge cave systems.
You can take your pick from peeking inside, to taking an organised tour, or even going on a full-on caving adventure.
If you want to visit a cave as part of a walk in the Peak District we’ve got you covered with our 7 Cool Caves in the Peak District article. All the caves in this article have at least one of our walks which visits them and you can access them all for free.
Prefer an organised tour into a show cave? If you head to Castleton there are four to choose from, each with their own unique appeal.
- Blue John Cavern is part natural and part mine workings and features large caverns with veins of the famous Blue John Stone visible in the walls.
- Peak Cavern is a wholly natural cavern, where tour guides will talk you through how these caves got their nickname of The Devils Arse!
- Treak Cliff Cavern is still a working mine, although it is now mined for Blue John Stone, rather than the original lead.
- Speedwell Cavern is possibly the most popular cavern, partly due to the fact you can take a below-ground boat trip to its highlight; the Bottomless Pit!
If you’re a real adventure seeker you can take it a step further and give caving a go. There are a range of activity providers who can guide you through caving and potholing adventures in the Peak District. You can find some of them here.
4. Take things at a different pace and try trail running
Trail running is a brilliant option of taking in our walking routes at a slightly different pace. Although you can expect to be running at a slower pace than you would if you were road running it does still allow you to go a bit further in the same time!
Although there’s no reason you can’t run any of our Peak District Walks routes, we decided to pull together our ten favourite routes in this article. We’ve also added in some handy tips for getting started with trail running, including clothing, kit and nutrition.
Read here: 10 BEST Trail Running Routes in the Peak District
5. Explore lovely villages
Not everyone wants to head out further into the countryside. Perhaps some of your group fancy a hike and others want to mosey around a pretty village, exploring points of interest, independent shops, pubs and cafes.
You’re spoilt for villages and small towns to use as your walking hub. From the fascinating history of Eyam; the plague village, to the picture perfect Hartington and the bustling town of Bakewell. We’ve chosen lots of our favourites in our Best Peak District Villages to Walk From article, with links to the walks you can do for them, and a little information for those in your party who’ll be staying behind.
6. Climb the walls on a rock climbing course
When you’re out walking in the Peak District you’ll often see climbers heading up those gritstone and limestone walls of rock. Perhaps you’ve even been surprised by a rock climber popping up as you hike along one of the edges!
Climbing is a great way to find a fresh appreciation of the magnificent Peak District scenery. Getting hands on with the environment and giving you new views a perspectives. It’s also a good way to move your body in a new way and challenge yourself.
You might think everyone out there has lots of gear and know exactly what they are doing, but they all started somewhere. And you can do that too, by booking a climbing course. There are lots of providers who run courses to get you started. You can find some of them listed on the Visit Peak District and Derbyshire website. If you want to learn more about the different types of climbing and how to get started check out the British Mountaineering Council website.
For anyone in your group who doesn’t fancy climbing those gritstone edges but still want to grab the views from them, check out our Six Edges Walk from Birchen Edge (near Baslow) | 11-mile route.
7. Watch a sunset
Watching a sunset anywhere is pretty special but watching them from a hill top, with a stunning landscape laid out in from of you doubles the special!
If you love to pause and enjoy the colours of the sky changing as the sun dips down below the horizon, we’ve got a treat for you with our 16 Stunning Sunset Walks In The Peak District article. In the article we share some fantastic spots for sunset staring, as well the the best walk routes to get you there and some top tips for a safe sunset walk.
8. Sample some local ales and liqueurs
Many a walker enjoys a refreshing drink in one the Peak District’s fabulous pubs after a hike. But did you know the area also boasts some local breweries, vineyards and distilleries, where you can take a tour and sample the wares?
From Shivering Mountain Gin to Green Mountain Beer and even Crazy Cat Cider, you’re sure to find something to your taste. There’s even a company which takes you from the Thornbridge Brewery on a tour of some of the areas finest pubs!
9. Visit Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House sits on the edge of the village of Baslow in the Peak District. It has been home to the Devonshire family for nearly five centuries and is still home to the 12th Duke and Duchess today. Bess of Hardwick began building the ‘new’ Chatsworth House in 1553 and subsequent generations have expanded and improved the house and gardens to the magnificent place it is today.
Chatsworth comprises a Grade I listed house and stables, a 105-acre garden, a 1,822-acre park, a farmyard and adventure playground, and one of Europe’s most significant private art collections.
The site has around 300,000 visitors per year and is a great place to start or finish a walk. We’ve got walks which go through the extensive grounds of the estate, giving you a glimpse of the grandeur it holds.
Take a look at our Best Walks from Baslow article to find a grand companion to your stately Chatsworth visit!
10. Try out the outdoor swimming pool
Do you fancy an outdoor swimming experience with a little more comfort? The fabulous village of Hathersage, in the Hope Valley, has its own outdoor heated swimming pool for you to enjoy!
The pool is the legacy of local business man and philanthropist, Mr George Lawrence. In the 1930’s he gave a number of gifts to Hathersage village, to improve the facilities it had. The pool was one of these gifts and, despite some tough times over the years, it is still a thriving asset to the community. The pool has been updated over the years and is heated better than ever now.
Hathersage Swimming Pool is open year round. It’s a good idea to book in advance as it can be very popular! We think a dip is a great way to relax after a good walk. We’ve got a great 12-mile route up onto Stanage Edge you can hike before your swim. If you’re looking for a gentler pre-swim walk try our 5-mile walk from Hathersage, which takes you alongside the River Derwent, instead.
Do you have any more ideas for things to do in the Peak District? 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
Love the walks in the Peak District? You might enjoy some of our other walk collections.
- 11 Best Places To See Heather in the Peak District
- 7 Fun Peak District Scrambles + BEST Routes
- 15 BEST Peak District Waterfalls (+ Walks to Visit Them)
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.
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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.
