Peak District National Park
Our verdict · Britain's first national park and its most accessible — moorland drama within reach of millions.
Visit if
Superb public transport — several stations sit inside the park itself
Skip it if
No mountains on the scale of the Lakes, Eryri or Cairngorms
Plan your visit
Peak District National Park
Free entry; car parks from ~£5/day
Indicative price at the time of review.
The Peak District was Britain's first national park, designated on 17 April 1951, and it remains the most easily reached — surrounded by Manchester, Sheffield, Derby and Stoke-on-Trent. It splits neatly in two: the wild Dark Peak, all gritstone edges and peat moorland crowned by Kinder Scout (636m), site of the pivotal 1932 mass trespass that helped win public access to open country; and the softer White Peak, a patchwork of limestone dales, drystone walls and villages such as Bakewell and Castleton. Families love the show caves, Chatsworth House, the traffic-free Monsal and Tissington cycle trails, and easy walks from rail-served Edale, Hope and Buxton. It is the ideal introduction to British hill walking.
The good & the bad
Pros
- Superb public transport — several stations sit inside the park itself
- Traffic-free trails, show caves and stately homes make it very family-friendly
- Walks for every level, from flat dale paths to the exposed Kinder plateau
Cons
- No mountains on the scale of the Lakes, Eryri or Cairngorms
- Proximity to cities means honeypots like Castleton and Dovedale get busy
How it compares
| Pick | WATTB Score | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Lake District National Park | 98/100 | Free entry; parking from ~£8/day (indicative) | overall |
| 2.Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park | 94/100 | Free entry; Snowdon Mountain Railway from ~£49 return (indicative) | mountain walkers |
| 3.Cairngorms National Park | 92/100 | Free entry; CairnGorm funicular from ~£20 adult (indicative) | wildlife and wilderness |
| 4.Peak District National ParkThis pick | 90/100 | Free entry; car parks from ~£5/day (indicative) | easy access |
| 5.Pembrokeshire Coast National Park | 88/100 | Free entry; Skomer boat landing from ~£20 adult (indicative) | coast and beaches |
Good to know
- Address
- United Kingdom
- Phone
- +44 1629 816200
- Price
- Free entry; car parks from ~£5/day (indicative)
- Established
- 1951 — the UK's first national park
- Highlight
- Kinder Scout, 636m, and the 1932 mass trespass
- Two landscapes
- Dark Peak moors and White Peak limestone dales
- Best for
- Car-free days, first-time hill walkers and families
Address, hours & rating verified via Google · Aug 2026
Researched by WATTB
- Published
- 31 August 2026
- Updated
- 31 August 2026
- Last verified
- 31 August 2026
We research and rank options from public data, official information and published reviews. How we research →
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