The Best Places To Stay In The Peak District In 2023 + Area Guide
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Table of Contents
Experience the thrill of outdoor adventures, marvel at grand aristocratic homes, unwind in rejuvenating spa towns, or immerse yourself in the charm of adorable villages. Find the right location with our guide to the best places to stay in the Peak District.
The Peak District was the first designated National Park in the United Kingdom and today it is one of the most visited National Parks in the world.
As a land of contrasts, the northern section, known as the Dark Peak, is a wild and rugged landscape of moorland and gritstone. The southern section, known as the White Peak, is a gentler landscape of limestone valleys and rolling hills.
Featuring a foreboding 12-mile wall of rock, lush carpets of heather, and undulating hills interspersed with charming villages embraced by dry stone walls, the Peak District is one of the most interesting places to visit in the UK.
Covering an area of over 550 square miles, the Peak District offers diverse experiences depending on where you base yourself. Experience the untamed wilderness and solitude of the northern section, or visit opulent estates, quaint villages, and scenic countryside in the south.
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PEAK DISTRICT AREA MAP
All the properties we’ve listed in this guide are on the map below so you can get a feel for where each of the different areas in the Peak District are located. We have also marked a few of the main attractions.
How to use this map / Click on the top left of the map to display the list of locations, then click on the locations to display further information. Click on the top right corner of the map to open a larger version in a new tab or the star to save to your Google Maps.
1 – DOVEDALE & THE SOUTHERN PEAK DISTRICT
Best place to stay in the Peak District for limestone ravines & riverside walks.
The southern Peak District is a swathe of rolling green hills separated by narrow-sided valleys clothed in ancient woodland. The entire area is a serene and beautiful place.
The highlight is Dovedale, where the river Dove has cut a dramatic limestone ravine. Riverside strolls head along the babbling brook crossing steppingstones as it winds up the steep-sided valley. For the best views, take the short scramble up Thorpe Cloud.
Charming villages from yesteryear are tucked into the folds of the landscape. The most impressive is Tissington which has been overlooked by the Tissington Hall Estate for over 400 years. Walk part (or all) of the Tissington Trail, a 13-mile traffic-free path from Parsley Hall, through Tissington, to Ashbourne.
There’s a wide range of accommodation options in the Dovedale region, here are some suggestions:
WINKHILL
MOORLAND VIEW FARM B&B
On the southwestern edge of the Peak District, this 100-year-old farmhouse is set on 11 acres of land. It’s a clean, welcoming, and incredibly peaceful place to stay in the Peak District.
ALSTONFIELD
STANSHOPE HALL
A good value Peak District hotel that visitors keep returning to. Tea and biscuits on arrival and cooked breakfasts help fuel a day’s hiking in glorious Dovedale, which is only a short walk away.
2 – BAKEWELL & THE EASTERN PEAK DISTRICT
Best place to stay in the Peak District for grand houses, gardens, and pretty towns.
The eastern Peak District is home to some grand and impressive sights.
Standing on the banks of the River Derwent, Chatsworth House is the Seat of the Duke of Devonshire with an estate that stretches across magnificent gardens, imposing stables, and a 25-room house.
A few miles down the road, Bakewell sits idyllically above the River Wye, with a charming market street and quaint courtyards.
From Bakewell, walk or cycle the Monsal Trail, a former railway line that winds its way through lovely countryside to the aqueduct at Monsal Head.
Several other pretty villages and grand houses, such as Haddon Hall, make it the best place to stay in the Peak District to enjoy the finer things in life.
PILSLEY
DEVONSHIRE ARMS
A charming country pub with 13 individually designed boutique rooms and a restaurant serving locally sourced food. From the front door it’s only a 20-minute walk to Chatsworth.
BASLOW
THE CAVENDISH HOTEL
This traditional coaching inn, owned by the Chatsworth Estate, has become a luxury country escape. It has an excellent restaurant and glorious views of the surrounding countryside.
3 – BUXTON & THE WESTERN PEAK DISTRICT
Best place to stay in the Peak District for grand spa towns and spiky peaks.
The Peak District actually doesn’t have many peaks, but in the western section, flat moorland gives way to spiky mountains and truly rugged countryside.
Parkhouse and Chrome Hill are two of the most photographed peaks with a spectacular ridge known as the ‘Dragon’s Back’. Nearby, The Roaches form a gritstone escarpment of sharp peaks attracting walkers and climbers.
The highlight of the area is England’s highest market town, Buxton. Sitting above a geothermal spring that steadily gushes at 28 °C, it became a prominent spa town in the 18th century and its grand architecture is reminiscent of the city of Bath. It’s a great place to stay in the Peak District to soak up the natural healing properties of the area.
Just outside Buxton, Poole’s Cavern is a great carboniferous limestone cavern adorned with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.
KING STERNDALE
THE OLD BARN
Secluded and peaceful barn conversion in a quiet village, the Old Barn has friendly hosts and generous breakfasts making it a great value stay.
TIDESWELL
THE MERCHANT’S YARD
Beautiful hotel in a lovely little village, the hosts provide all sorts of thoughtful touches including named parking spaces. Very centrally located, it’s an ideal place to stay in the Peak District to explore the whole region.
BUXTON
ENSANA BUXTON CRESCENT
This grand 5-star Peak District hotel is in the sweeping Georgian crescent of Buxton. Built in the 1780s, the grade I-listed building is the focal point for Buxton’s spa town and an architectural masterpiece.
4 – HATHERSAGE & THE HOPE VALLEY
Best place to stay in the Peak District for climbers, hikers, cavers, and grand views.
The Hope Valley is surrounded by beautiful countryside and strange geological formations.
To the east are a series of vertical-sided edges (Stanage, Froggatt, and Curbar Edge) that attract climbers from around the world.
To the west is the picturesque village of Castleton from where the road winds through steep-sided Winnats Pass – one of the most dramatic drives in the UK. Above the pass, Mam Tor and the Great Ridge Walk have spellbinding views, especially at dawn.
To the north is the Ladybower Reservoir and Derwent Dam, where the RAF’s 617 ‘Dambusters’ squadron practiced their bouncing bomb technique in preparation for their 1943 rain on the dams in the German Ruhr.
The Hope Valley is the perfect place to stay in the Peak District for outdoor adventures.
BRADWELL
THE SHOULDER OF MUTTON
A friendly pub overlooking the village church with an open fire, pool table, and quiz nights. Perched on the slopes of the Hope Valley, it’s a cosy Peak District stay.
CASTELTON
PEAK HOTEL CASTLETON
On the high street in one of the most beautiful (but busy) villages in the Peak District, this traditional hotel could not be better located for Winnats Pass, cave tours, and views up to Mam Tor.
HATHERSAGE
THE GEORGE HOTEL
With 500 years of history The George Hotel is still going strong. Bang in the centre of Hathersage, it’s a great base to explore the beauty of the Hope Valley.
5 – EDALE & THE DARK PEAK
Best place to stay in the Peak District for the wild hikes on desolate moors.
The northern part of the Peak District is known as the Dark Peak. An area dominated by high, barren, and often featureless moorlands, it’s a remote and desolate place.
Edale is the highest village in the Peak District and a popular starting point for many hiking trails, including the Pennine Way, the longest National Trail in the UK.
The most dramatic section in the Dark Peak area is on the flanks of Kinder Scout, the highest mountain in the peaks at 636 metres. Rugged hikers who like a challenge head up to the summit from either Edale or via the impressive waterfall in Kinder Downfall.
If you don’t feel you hiking, you can still experience the remoteness of the area by driving the Snake Pass – a barren section of the A6.
CHINLEY
THE LAMB INN
A traditional freehouse with wood-panelled walls, stone fireplace, and an atmospheric bar. Kinder Scout is just outside and there’s a beer garden to rest your weary feet.
WHITEHOUGH
THE OLD HALL INN
Historic country pub with modern tastefully decorated rooms, the food is excellent and there’s a wonderful selection of real ales. Near the A6 its quick and easy to get to the Dark Peak, Buxton, and much more.
HOPE
LOSEHILL HOUSE HOTEL & SPA
A great place to stay for both the Hope Valley and Edale, this spa hotel offers luxury amongst wide green open spaces. By day explore the sheep-strewn hills, in the evening, relax in the spa.
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