Visiting the Peak District by Train: What You Need to Know

Hope (Derbyshire) Station: Scenic Arrival

Matlock Station: Derwent Valley Line

Walk for miles in natural bliss

Not for nothing is the Peak District sometimes referred to as walking country. Wherever you find yourself within the national park, there are spectacular trails and routes for every level. Major routes like the Pennine Way National Trail follow the Pennine chain from Edale along the backbone of England. On your way, you’ll have to contend with Kinder Scout, the highest point in the Peak District at 2,087 ft. If free meandering is more your thing, the Peak District is the ideal place to take the road less travelled, with 524 square kilometres of open access land.

Peak District caving experiences: see what lies beneath

The Peak District has some of the best caves in England and more people are choosing caving as an exciting way to delve deeper into the national park’s inner beauty. As well as the UK’s highest natural cavern (Titan Cave in Castleton, at 464 ft), the park has a range of caves that can be explored by beginners, making this a safe and enjoyable activity for the whole family. Several activity centres in the Peak District caving experiences with qualified instructors, and provide all the equipment you’ll need from wetsuit and wellies, to light and helmet.

The Peak District National Park has an extensive public transport network, so you don’t need to worry about getting around without a car. With regular services by train and bus that link the Peak District’s top attractions, you’ll be able to choose environmentally friendly transport without missing out on all the best sites. Of course, once you arrive in the Peak District you’ll have no end of permissive paths and cycle trails to follow as well!

Helpfully, you can get to most parts of the Peak District by bus. For a scenic route from Derby or Buxton, get the TransPeak bus service to places like Rowsley, Haddon Hall, Bakewell, Ashford in the Water, Taddington, and Chelmorton. Another popular Peak District bus route is Stagecoach's PeakSightseer open-top bus (available March to October), which takes visitors to top attractions, including Castleton, Chatsworth, Bakewell, Bamford, Padley Gorge, Hathersage, and the Monsal Trail.

A day trip is not long enough to experience everything that the Peak District has to offer! For unique and inspiring places to stay, the Peak District has a wide and varied selection of cosy cottages, serene lodges, and adventurous campsites to captivate the most intrepid of explorers. Wild camping is not permitted in the Peak District, so you should stay at authorised campsites only. One handy option is North Lees Campsite at Stanage, which is owned and managed by the National Park Authority.

If luxury is your cup of tea, the Peak District has boutique spa hotels and glamping trips. Hoe Grange Gorgeous Glamping Pods in Matlock are a high-end camping experience, with unique pods furnished to a high standard and every luxury you need for a romantic and relaxing holiday break.

When is the best time of year to visit the Peak District?

You can’t beat Summer in the Peak District! With long days ideal for hiking or cycling, the peak season is the busiest time of year for a reason. From June to August, you’ll find abundant activities for the whole family, from boat trips to Go Ape Buxton. Attractions typically stay open later in Summer, giving you ample time to visit world-class destinations like Chatsworth House, an 11th-century house and one of England’s finest stately homes. While visiting in late summer, don’t forget to look out for heather on the moorlands: at the end of August, the hills will be awash with dark purple, a treat for photographers!

What to pack on your car-free adventure

Leaving the car behind and visiting the Peak District National Park by train is the best way to experience this special landscape. With hundreds of miles of natural scenery to explore, you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes so that you can clock up the steps all around the national park, especially if you’re planning to climb Kinder Scout! Hikers should bring a map (or pick one up in one of the Peak District Local Visitor Centres) so that you don’t miss a thing.

Protect the fragile landscape

Sticking to footpaths and cycle trails where possible is a great way to protect the landscape and help maintain its beauty for years to come. To ensure a sustainable future for the park’s rich biodiversity, from the limestone White Peak with its flower-rich dales to the gritstone Dark Peak with its peat bogs and birdlife, visitors are urged to take collective responsibility. Don’t leave litter in the park, and be aware of how your presence impacts wildlife. By choosing to travel to the Peak District by train, you are already making the most sustainable travel choice.

Visitor Information Centres

The two main sites to get National Park information, and local and national tourist information are the Peak District Visitor Information Centres at Bakewell and Castleton. At each of these, you’ll find public transport information, theatre programmes, information and tickets for local events, and a warm reception from friendly staff who can help you get the most out of your visit.

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