A rolling hill landscape, lush valleys, nearby market towns and a good bit of sheep – the Peak District offers all of this and more. Located predominantly in Derbyshire, the Peak District is one of England’s most popular national parks, and is actually the country’s first. The region has two distinct personalities: the Dark Peak – characterized by vast moorland and beautiful wildflowers – and the White Peak – an area of scenic dales and limestone features. Sound appealing? Let’s take a visit to the Peak District!
First, a bit of history
It wasn’t until the 20th century that the British could roam across the nation’s vast countryside more freely. A growing interest in the outdoors and escaping the city led to national efforts to allow the public to gain access to the countryside. An early attempt in the late 19th century to pass a freedom to roam bill had failed, and demand for the ability to explore and walk freely increased over the next few decades. After incidents of mass trespassing and growing pressure, talks about what the U.K.’s national parks would look like – for both conservation and recreation – began. Eventually, in 1951, the Peak District became the U.K.’s first national park. By the end of the decade, several other areas, including the Lake District, Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons, would become accessible to the public.
Going back in time a bit further, there is some evidence that the Peak District was inhabited during the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods based on some flint artifacts found in the area, specifically in caves in Dovedale. The region was inhabited during the Bronze Age and continued to be occupied into the Iron Age. Over time, the land has been inhabited by different groups of people and has served various purposes, including being designated a royal forest and hunting ground, settled by monks and used for agriculture, mining and more. For a more detailed history, this website offers some great insight.
Since becoming a national park, the Peak District has welcomed visitors from across the U.K and beyond. The area has also inspired and been featured in art, film and literature, including Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and scenes in Harry Potter, The Princess Bride and more!
Staying in Melbourne
The Peak District covers roughly 555 square miles, and there are numerous towns and villages in the region to explore. A visit to the area took us to Melbourne, a market town in Derbyshire, roughly 30 miles or so from the national park. Melbourne is walkable, and you can cover all of it by foot in a day easily. We enjoyed our stay in the town and dedicated time to roaming around to explore.
We made our way to Melbourne Hall to visit the tea rooms and Melbourne Pool. The gardens were closed when we were there, but I would certainly love to see them on another visit. We dedicated our time to walking around Melbourne Pool, which was added to the landscape in 1845 for Lord Melbourne, who served as Queen Victoria’s first Prime Minister and was one of Melbourne Hall’s most famous residents. We enjoyed our leisurely stroll and watched the ducks swim by. We later went to get some hot chocolate from the Melbourne Hall tea room and continued to walk around the town, admiring thatched roof cottages, local churches and the town’s shops.
While small, Melbourne’s recorded history dates back to the Domesday Book, where it was listed as a royal manor. In fact, this manor was fortified and was converted to a castle in the early 1300s. The castle passed through many hands but eventually went into decline; it even faced some damage during the Wars of the Roses. Later, when Elizabeth I was queen, she commissioned a survey of her castles. A few different reports from the late 1500s noted that while some of the stonework was in good shape and the rooms were decent in number and condition, there were numerous other imperfections that made the castle undesirable. In the early 1600s, it was sold to Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon, and was destroyed so its materials could be used elsewhere. While the castle cannot be seen today, there are many lovely homes, shops and churches to take in.
Checking out Dovedale
After getting familiar with Melbourne, we were ready for a visit to the Peak District. Because we had a limited stay, we chose to visit Dovedale, one of the most popular dales in the White Peak. Dovedale takes its name from the River Dove, which flows from near Axe Edge Moor down to eventually meet the River Trent at Newton Solney. The landscape is full of beautiful hills and valleys. We only just scratched the surface with a walk across the Dovedale Stepping Stones and a hike up Thorpe Cloud, where the view was incredible! We looked out over golden grasses and a bright blue sky was trying to peek through the puffy clouds. Browsing around online, I’ve seen many other photos of lush green scenery. No matter which version of Dovedale you get, it’s sure to impress.
We then sat and enjoyed a nice picnic on one of the hills. We could tell it was about to rain, so we decided to head back and made it into the car just in time for the downpour. On a future trip, we will cover more ground, including the towering limestone formations like Dovedale Castle, the Twelve Apostles and Jacob’s Ladder. I also hope to check out Reynard’s Cave and Reynard’s Kitchen, which came up frequently during my historical research of the region.
Whether you live in the U.K. or plan to take a trip there one day in the future, a visit to the Peak District is a must. From the national park’s beauty to the area’s deep history, there’s something for everyone to appreciate.
