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For those looking for an active outdoor holiday in the UK, the Peak District is often seen as a default option. It’s centrally located, making it accessible to those based in the North and beyond. It’s of particular interest to trail walkers, thanks to a varied selection of walks that will provide a wonderful spectacle to walkers of all abilities. In total, there are around 1,867 miles of public right of way, including the lengthy Pennine Way, which will take you right up the backbone of the country.
As such, this part of the country provides some of the best walking holidays the UK has to offer. Several walking trails might appeal to visitors. Read on to uncover some of the best.
Mam Tor and the Great Ridge
The name means ‘Mother Hill’, thanks to the collection of smaller hills that have amassed around her skirt as a result of landslides to the east. The summit is around 517 metres above sea level, and provides great views of the limestone-rich parts of the country. Having attained the peak, you’ll be able to take a stroll along the Great Ridge, from which, on a clear day, you should be able to see Manchester.
The Roaches and Lud’s Church
The Roaches is a ridgeline running through Staffordshire, which during late summer is carpeted in gorgeous purple heather. On the way, you should make time for Lud’s Church – which isn’t really a church at all, but a moss-covered chasm which was once used as a hiding place for religious minorities and other heretics.
Kinder Scout
If you’re looking for wonderful views, then what better place to find them than the highest point in the entire national park? You’ll need to navigate a pretty challenging route on the way to the summit, with a little bit of scrambling necessary. The walk is worthwhile for experienced hikers, however.
Bakewell to Chatsworth
If you’re visiting the Peak District during winter-time, then certain walks might be more appealing – not only because they’re accessible, but because they’re beautiful when covered in snow and ice. The meadowland between Bakewell and Chatsworth will take around four hours to ramble across, and if you walk in the direction of Chatsworth you are greeted, as you pass around a corner, with a breathtaking view of Chatsworth House.
Thor’s Cave and Manifold Valley
If you’re near the village of Wetton, then you might take a short walk through nearby Manifold Valley to Thor’s Cave – a deceptively massive cave that’s actually one of several scattered along the route. If you’re taking small children to this part of the country, then you’ll find that there’s plenty to keep them distracted, here – and the walk isn’t too challenging, either.