A Student Guide to the Peak District

Thu 15 Jun 2017

With the summer break now in full swing, there’s never been a better time to put down your books and set off on an adventure. The summer break offers the perfect chance to enrich your experience of living and studying in the UK with new cultural experiences and travel excursions.

Whether you are studying in Reading, Coventry, London or Hull, there’s a lot to be gained from a few days of exploration. The Peak District is a great place for students to visit due to its close proximity to large cities, wide range of historic towns and villages, and huge variety of things to do and see from wildlife to cultural activities. Read our student guide for inspiration for your visit.

Introducing the Peak District

Discover the Peak District; an easy-to-reach national park close to the student-friendly cities of Manchester and Sheffield, which is well connected with the whole of the UK.

The national park spreads across 555 square miles. It’s location in the southern end of the Pennines towards the middle of the UK makes it a great choice for a short break. It is an area of breath-taking natural beauty with many rivers, springs and dales. It has a rich history and boasts many market towns and pretty villages which play host to traditional events throughout the year.

The park was established in 1951 and spreads across five whole counties - Derbyshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. More than 10 million people visit the Peak District each year. The park boasts a range of activities from biking, hiking and rock climbing to horse riding and even paragliding. The historic villages which dot around the Peak District are also well worth a visit.

It is this combination of beautiful scenery with historic significance and tourist attractions which makes it an ideal place to visit, especially during the coming summer months.

What to do there?

The Peak District is a great place for students and groups to visit due to the many activities available. Thrill-seekers will love the hiking, cycling, and mountain bike trails. Nature-lovers can relish the chance to spot a variety of wildlife. There are incredible caves which can be explored as well as world-famous heritage sites.

History buffs might like the Georgian life and historic costume at the Pickford’s House Museum while geography-lovers can go underground in the Treak Cliff Cavern, an underground wonderland of rocks, minerals and fossils.

There is also a number of events on throughout the year. Here’s what’s on this month:

• Ashbourne Festival (16th June - 2nd July)
• The Great Food and Drink Festival (17th - 18th June)
• Jane Eyre at Haddon Hall (21st - 23rd June)
• Elmton Well Dressing (24th June - 9th July)

An Example Itinerary

Read on for an example of an itinerary you could plan. You can adapt your plans to suit your interests and budget, but here are some ideas to get you started:

Friday: Day of Heritage in Buxton

Arrive at Buxton and visit the Arbor Low Stone Circle - a pre-historic site which is surrounded by unspoiled countryside. Then, stroll around the Pavilion Gardens, a Victorian-style garden area full of greenery and lakes. There are a number of Buxton accommodation options to choose from here to get you started.

Saturday: Day of the Outdoors in Matlock

Catch the train from Buxton to Matlock. Experience the Peak District from the skies on the Heights of Abraham - a landmark cable car which provides amazing views across the Derwent Valley.

Take a the two hour trip along the historic Cromford Canal or discover Matlock Farm Park which is home to animals including meerkats, goats, turkeys, peacocks, micro-pigs and llamas to name a few. You can search for Matlock accommodation options on the Visit Peak District website here.

Saturday Evening: Discover Sheffield’s City Lights

In the evening on Saturday, you could take the train from Matlock to Sheffield. The lively student-friendly city has a thriving night-life and music scene as well as many art galleries and museums. You could stay in a hotel like Travelodge Sheffield Central which would offer affordable yet central accommodation, or one of the many student-friendly self-catering options.

Sunday: The Heights and Caves of Edale

From Sheffield, you could take the train (approximately half an hour) to Edale, which is located in the Peak District and has a wealth of things to see and do. There are peak mountaineering day tours as well as a range of caves such as Blue John Cavern or Speedwell Cavern.

From Edale there is a walking route to the highest point in the Peak District, Kinder Scout - It boasts unforgettable views which offer amazing photo opportunities and is the perfect finale to your Peak District trip. From Edale you can easily travel to Stockport and then on to Manchester to get connections by rail or bus home, whether travelling to London, Hull, Coventry or elsewhere.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. There’s lots of information available on the Visit Peak District website.

How to get there?

The Peak District is served by four train lines which run into or very near the park, from surrounding major cities. The easiest way to reach the Peak District by train is from Manchester or Sheffield stations, and then from there, depending on where in the Peak District you’d like to visit, to take a train or local bus service.

From Hull it is a two hour train journey to Manchester (usually via Leeds). From London, it is just over a two hour train journey to Sheffield or Manchester. You can find and book trains on the National Rail website.

From London you can also take the coach to the Peak District. The National Express 440 service runs from London to Derbyshire or the National Express service 540 service runs from London to Manchester. Towns and cities on the edge of the Peak District can also be reached by travelling on local bus services or on a Megabus coach.

You can also drive to and around the Peak District. Plan your car journey here.

Where to stay?

There is a range of accommodation in the Peak District including bed and breakfasts, traditional inns, self-catering apartments and hotels. You can even stay on a canal barge or in a yurt, for something more unusual. You can search for accommodation here.

Staying in one of the nearby villages gives you the option of exploring a local area while being able to travel throughout the Peak District during the day-time. Villages such as Hartington, Stoney Middleton, Hathersage and Longnor are all examples of nearby areas. Some of these villages have visitor centres where you can obtain further travel information. Chatsworth is an example of a nearby town which features a beautiful estate and gardens that are open to the public.

For the more intrepid adventurer, there are a number of camping areas in the Peak District itself. Camping is a fun way to get even closer to nature. There are campsites at Dale and near Bakewell and other villages. If you’re camping, it’s important to make sure you have all the right equipment. Find out more about camping in the Peak District here.

The Peak District is a wonderfully varied and interesting area to visit, with the option of tailoring the visit to your interests and the chance to see lots of different things in one visit. Take a few days out to the Peak District and feel enriched by the varied experiences.