Britain's first national park, and still one of the easiest places to get a foothold outdoors
Established in 1951 as Britain’s first national park, Peak District still works as one of the easiest places to get a foothold outdoors. Two very different landscapes sit inside the same boundary: the Dark Peak’s gritstone edges and open moor to the north, and the White Peak’s limestone dales, rivers and stone-walled fields further south. Around 1,438 square kilometres of it, all within reach of Manchester and Sheffield for a day trip that doesn’t need much planning.
Mam Tor is a good place to start: a broad, paved ridge path leads to wide views over the Hope Valley without any scrambling involved, which makes it a popular first taste of hillwalking for families. Kinder Scout sits at the other end of the scale — the highest point in the park, and a longer day out across open moorland once a bit more confidence has built up.
Down in the White Peak, Dovedale offers something gentler still: a riverside path, stepping stones across the water, and enough shade and shelter to make it forgiving on a hot day or a fractious one. The Pennine Bridleway begins nearby at Hartington, and the Pennine Way starts a little further north at Edale, for anyone with a longer walk in mind further down the line.
Moorland weather can turn faster than the forecast suggests, especially up on the gritstone edges, so a spare layer and a check of conditions before setting off go a long way. Paths are well trodden and easy to follow in good visibility, and there’s rarely a need to stray from them to see the best of it.
