National park · United Kingdom
Peak District National Park
Entry is free — you pay only for parking (£4–8 a day, 2026 estimate); walk Mam Tor to Lose Hill on a weekday morning before 10:00, or Kinder Scout from Edale if you want a full day on the moors.Entry is free — you pay only for parking (£4–8 a day, 2026 estimate); walk Mam Tor to Lose Hill on a weekday morning before 10:00 AM, or Kinder Scout from Edale if you want a full day on the moors.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,438 km²555 sq mi
approximate
Established
1951
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
At a glance
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Area
- 1,438 km²555 sq mi
- The national park boundary encloses about 1,438 km²; the wider 'Peak District' used by visitors has no fixed boundary and includes towns such as Buxton, Glossop and Hayfield outside the park (check).
- Established
- 1951
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Sheffield
The Peak District was the UK's first national park (1951) and is still the most visited, because Manchester, Sheffield, Derby and Stoke-on-Trent all sit within an hour of its edges. There is no gate and no ticket: the land is a mix of private farms, open-access moorland and public rights of way. The park splits into two geologies — the White Peak, a limestone plateau of green dales and villages, and the Dark Peak, higher gritstone moorland and edges around Kinder Scout. Most famous hikes are in the Dark Peak; most villages, cafés and country houses are in the White Peak.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1951.
Size and age
1,438 km²555 sq mi · national park since 1951
The national park boundary encloses about 1,438 km²; the wider 'Peak District' used by visitors has no fixed boundary and includes towns such as Buxton, Glossop and Hayfield outside the park (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Sheffield.
Why go
- Free access to open country: no entry fee, no gate, hundreds of km of signed rights of way.
- Mam Tor to Lose Hill (the Great Ridge) is one of the best short ridge walks in England, doable in half a day from a train station.
- Kinder Scout is the plateau where the 1932 mass trespass led to today's open-access rules — walking it is the point, not the summit.
- Villages, show caves and country houses (Castleton, Bakewell, Chatsworth) fill the wet days.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanShort days, ice and bog; cross-Pennine roads can close in snow
- FebCold and wet; quiet trails
- MarRing ouzel restrictions start on some edges; mud persists
- AprDrier paths, longer days, lambs in the dales
- MayBest all-round month; bluebells and orchid season
- JunLong days; weekday mornings still quiet
- JulBusy weekends and car parks full by 10:00Busy weekends and car parks full by 10:00 AM
- AugSchool holidays; heaviest road congestion
- SepHeather on the Dark Peak, fewer crowds
- OctClear, cool walking; early dusk
- NovWet and grey; some attractions close midweek
- DecVery short days; ice on high ground
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ring ouzel (nesting on Stanage and Burbage edges)Mar–Jul · Access to some climbing and walking areas is restricted; keep dogs on leads and retreat if you hear the alarm call. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mountain hare (Bleaklow and Kinder Scout)Nov–Apr · White in winter, hard to spot against peat. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Red grouse and moorland birds (golden plover, curlew, merlin)Apr–Aug | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Limestone dale flowers, including orchids and Jacob's LadderApr–Jun | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Sheffield
Train to Edale, Hope, Bamford or Hathersage (about 30–40 min), then walk from the station.
30–40 min
Open the page →
From Manchester
Train from Piccadilly to Edale or Hope via New Mills, roughly hourly; or to Buxton twice an hour on weekdays.
40–60 min
From London
Train to Sheffield or Manchester, then a local train into the Hope Valley.
2.5–3.5 h
Open the page →
From East Midlands
Train from Derby to Matlock via Cromford and Matlock Bath on weekdays; buses from Chesterfield to Bakewell and Castleton.
30–60 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Peak (High Peak) | Gritstone edges, Kinder Scout plateau, reservoirs; the classic hikes. | Open access on foot; no ticket. Some edges close in spring for nesting birds. |
| White Peak (Derbyshire Dales) | Limestone dales, villages, show caves and country houses around Bakewell, Matlock and Castleton. | Open; dale paths can be busy and muddy. |
| Hope Valley | The valley between Edale, Hope, Bamford and Hathersage, with the most useful train stations. | Open; walk from the stations. |
| Eastern and western edges | Stanage Edge, the Roaches and Lyme Park on the fringes, near Sheffield and Cheshire. | Open; climbing and walking areas with seasonal bird restrictions. |
Sketch map
- 1Edale station · Ranger station≈53.365, -1.816Map ↗
- 2Castleton · Village≈53.343, -1.775Map ↗
- 3Mam Tor summit · Summit≈53.349, -1.810Map ↗
- 4Kinder Scout · Summit≈53.385, -1.874Map ↗
- 5Bakewell · Town≈53.136, -1.675Map ↗
- 6Stanage Edge · Viewpoint≈53.345, -1.630Map ↗
- 7Peak District National Park Authority, Bakewell · Headquarters≈53.140, -1.679Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | There is no entrance fee and no gate; the park is free to enter on foot, bike or by car. |
| Car park (pay and display, park-run) | GBP 4–8 | day | 2026 estimate; varies by site and season, some are cash-only or app-only (check). |
| Show cave, e.g. Blue John Cavern or Speedwell, Castleton | GBP 12–18 | person | 2026 estimate; separate from the park, book ahead in summer (check). |
| Chatsworth House and garden | GBP 20–30 | person | 2026 estimate; house and garden priced separately, parkland cheaper (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Car parking permit or guide
Camping permit or guide
Commercial group or event permit or guide
Park rules
- Stay on rights of way across farmland
- Open-access land is mapped; fields, crops and farmyards are not open to walkers even when they look empty.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs on a lead around livestock and on the moors in the bird nesting season (usually March–July); some areas ask for leads year-round.
- Camping
- No wild camping; use designated campsites. Roadside tents and campervans are moved on.
- Fires and BBQs
- No open fires or disposable BBQs on moorland; peat and heather burn easily.
- Leave gates as you find them
- Close gates behind you on farmland; do not climb walls or fences.
Where to stay
In the park
Edale and Hope
YHA hostel, pubs with rooms and B&Bs; walk straight onto the trails.
In the park
Castleton
Village base for the Great Ridge and the show caves.
In the park
Bakewell and Matlock
White Peak towns with hotels, cafés and bus links.
Near the park
Sheffield
City hotels and hostels, 30–40 min by train from the Hope Valley.
Safety
Weather changing fast on the moors high
Bog and peat on Kinder Scout and Bleaklow medium
Snow and ice closing cross-Pennine roads medium
Phone signal gaps low
Accessibility
- Monsal Trail and the High Peak and Tissington trails are former railway lines with gentle gradients, suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and adapted bikes.
- Several park-run car parks and visitor centres have accessible toilets; check individual sites before travelling.
- The Great Ridge, Kinder Scout and most moorland paths are steep, rough and not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Use the train and buses into the Hope Valley; summer car parks fill by mid-morning and the lanes are narrow.
- Stay on the path on eroded moorland; peat takes decades to recover.
- Buy from village shops, pubs and farm shops so the money stays in the park.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Peak District?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee and no gate — you can walk, cycle or drive in for free. Your real costs are parking (£4–8 a day, 2026 estimate), public transport, and paid attractions such as the Castleton show caves or Chatsworth House, which are separate from the park.
What are the best hikes in Peak District?
For a half day, Mam Tor to Lose Hill (the Great Ridge) from Castleton, about 9 km with two climbs. For a full day, Kinder Scout from Edale, about 13 km via Jacob's Ladder and Kinder Downfall, with bog and navigation. Easier options are Stanage Edge and the Monsal Trail, both short and on good paths.
When is the best time to visit Peak District?
April to June and September are the best months: drier paths, long days and fewer people than July and August. Weekday mornings are quietest year-round. Winter is possible but days are short and the high moors can be icy or snowbound.
Do I need a car to visit Peak District?
No, but it helps. Trains from Manchester and Sheffield stop at Edale, Hope, Bamford and Hathersage, all on walking routes, and buses link Sheffield and Chesterfield with Bakewell and Castleton. Without a car you are limited to the Hope Valley and the bus corridors.
Where should I stay near Peak District?
Edale, Hope and Castleton put you on the trails, with hostels, pubs with rooms and B&Bs. Bakewell and Matlock suit the White Peak and have more choice of cafés and hotels. Sheffield is the budget option, 30–40 minutes by train from the Hope Valley.
Can I camp or wild camp in Peak District?
Camping is only allowed at designated campsites or with the landowner's permission. Wild camping on the moors is not permitted, and tents or campervans left at the roadside are moved on.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go