Peak District National Park

The Peak District is the oldest of the UK’s national parks and, spanning an impressive 555 square miles, is among the largest. The rolling upland landscape forms the southern end of the Pennines, sprawling across Derbyshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and both South and West Yorkshire. As the name suggests, it’s best known for its peaks, which include Kinder Scout and Bleaklow Head, both of which are just short of 2,100 ft tall. 

The other thing the Peak District is famous for is its impressive collection of beautiful little towns and villages. The largest is Bakewell, but the spa town of Buxton is just outside the park’s boundaries. Little villages like Hathersage, Ilam and Tideswell all give you great access to fantastic hiking routes, caves and climbs, making the vast area a paradise for outdoorsy types.