The Peak District is full of steep green dales, limestone caves and moorland that seems to go on forever. It’s Britain’s oldest national park and the site of Kinder Scout, where a 1932 mass trespass helped kickstart the right to roam. While the walking is world class, you’ll also find pockets of comfort and character tucked away into its hills and valleys. Stone villages, marketing towns and cosy pubs with roaring fires and real ale on tap. Whether you're after hearty hikes, history, or a seriously good Bakewell tart, these are six of the best towns and villages to base yourself in, plus our places to stay.
Bakewell
Famous for its tart, Bakewell is the unofficial capital of the Peak District and an essential stop for sweet-toothed explorers. But there’s much more to this market town than almondy goodness. Set on the River Wye, it’s all handsome stone buildings, arched bridges, and gentle riverside walks. It’s the sort of place you can easily spend a lazy afternoon pottering.
Swing by the Old House Museum to time travel through local life, visit All Saints Church with its Saxon roots, and explore the weekly market if you’re in town on a Monday. From here, you’re a stone’s throw from the Monsal Trail, a traffic-free cycle and walking route through old railway tunnels and spectacular scenery.
Stay at: Park Farmhouse, a generous old farmhouse where you can enjoy views from every window over the vast moor and woodland at the edge of the Estate.
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Baslow
Baslow is best known as the gateway to Chatsworth House, but don’t rush through. Sat along the Derwent River and backed by open moorland, this genteel village offers both country elegance and walking access that’ll satisfy even the most boot hardened hiker.
Stroll through Chatsworth Park, picnic by the river, or head up Baslow Edge for expansive views and the chance to meet the local Highland cows. The village itself has smart pubs, an excellent café scene, and enough architectural quirk to keep any amateur photographer happy.
Stay at: Cavendish Hotel, where old school hospitality means your bags are carried, the morning papers ordered, and you needn’t lift a finger.
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Ashbourne
Ashbourne sits at the southern end of the Peak District and wears its heritage on its beautifully Georgian sleeve. As well as cobbled lanes, antique shops, and a pretty central square, it’s also a fantastic base for cyclists and walkers looking to explore the Tissington Trail or Dovedale, complete with famous stepping stones.
It’s known for its dramatic annual Royal Shrovetide Football Match, a town wide, no holds barred game that takes place every February and turns Ashbourne into one big muddy pitch. Outside of that wild tradition, it’s a peaceful place for slow travel types, foodies, and history fans alike.
Stay at: Winnow Stables, a beautifully restored 1700s coach house, where you can walk straight from the doorstep to Dovedale’s Stepping Stones. Pack up a picnic and make a day of it.
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Sign up >Wirksworth
Artistic, quirky, and unpretentiously cool, Wirksworth has quietly become the Peak District’s creative hub. A former lead mining town that reinvented itself with art galleries, artisan bakeries and community-led festivals, it’s ideal if you like your villages with a bit of edge and a strong sense of community.
Visit The Northern Light Cinema, catch exhibitions at Wirksworth Heritage Centre, or visit during the Wirksworth Festival in September when the whole town becomes one big gallery. You’re also close to Black Rocks and the High Peak Trail, and just a short hop from Cromford, the cradle of the Industrial Revolution.
Stay at: The Counting House, a quirky townhouse on the edge of the Peak District, with country walks straight from the door.
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Matlock
In a deep valley with the River Derwent running through it, Matlock is a classic Derbyshire spa town. Stroll through Hall Leys Park, hop on the Heights of Abraham cable car up to the hilltop caverns, or take a vintage tram ride at nearby Crich Tramway Village.
Next door Matlock Bath feels like a slightly retro seaside town in the middle of the Peaks, with fish and chips, arcades and motorbikes lining the promenade on sunny weekends. It’s weird, wonderful, and surprisingly lovable.
Stay at: The Peacock at Rowsley, a grand hotel that oozes old-fashioned comfort and stands on the river Derwent.
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Buxton
Buxton is where spa town meets stately charm. The town is perched at 300 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest market towns in England. It has grand crescents, domed pavilions and natural springs once believed to have healing powers.
Catch a show at the stunning Buxton Opera House, take a leafy wander in the Pavilion Gardens with an ice cream, or see what’s happening on the ever-lively arts scene. You’re also right on the edge of the rugged Dark Peak, with big-sky hikes just minutes away.
Stay at: The Blind Bull, an ancient inn where breakfast will set you up for bracing hikes.
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Beth Tingle
Beth is our Marketing & Content Coordinator, who uses her experience in all things content to get to the heart of the stories and people behind our places and paint an authentic picture of what makes them truly special. She then helps the SEO team to ensure that content reaches as many people as possible. Raised in the small seaside town of Clevedon, she then studied English at Falmouth University and is happiest when swimming in the sea. A huge foodie, she enjoys travel that involves finding the best local markets and cooking up the produce in a self-catered stay.