Peak District Short Break | Macs Adventure

5 Days & 4 Nights

4.5

The Peak District Short Break

Contrasting landscapes of craggy escarpments and heather-clad moorlands
Chatsworth House, inspiration of Pride and Prejudice's "Pemberley"
Listen to the sound of bubbling streams on the Derwent Valley Heritage Way
Conquer Mam Tor and the Great Ridge, one of the most iconic walks in the Peak District
The elegant spa town of Buxton, gateway to the Peak District National Park

Escape to the countryside on a short break in Britain's first national park, The Peak District. Based in the classic Peak District towns of Buxton and Hathersage, enjoy walks through landscapes which have inspired famous novelists including Charlotte Brontë and Jane Austen. From the wild and open moorlands of the Goyt Valley and Burbage Edge, to the gritty rock escarpments of Stanage Edge and Mam Tor, this is an area filled with contrasting scenic beauty! No visit to the Peak District would be complete without a visit to Chatsworth House, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and we include a transfer here to allow you time to explore it's manicured gardens and grand estate rooms. Soak up the beautiful panoramas and reward a fine day's walking with a tasty treat such as the local speciality Bakewell Pudding in one of the local tearooms!

From £465.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive Buxton

Easily accessible by train, Buxton can be reached from Manchester in just over an hour, or from London in under 4 hours. This spa town has splendid Georgian architecture (reminiscent of the city of Bath) and is famous for its natural spring water and for being the highest market town in England. The discovery of coins indicate that the Romans were here throughout their occupation.

After checking into your centrally located hotel or B&B, why not try one of the local pubs for some traditional food and beer which will give you sustenance for your first day of walking tomorrow.

Overnight Buxton

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Roseleigh Guest House | Guest House

Within a five minute walk is the impressive architecture of the Georgian Crescent, built in the 1780s and one of the highlights of the centre of Buxton - it is one of the finest Georgian buildings in the country. The bedrooms are well furnished and decorated in a clean and comfortable style sympathetic to the Victorian era of the building. All double and twin rooms are en-suite and have tea and coffee making facilities and colour television.

Old Hall Hotel | Hotel

In the centre of picturesque Buxton, the Old Hall Hotel features a traditional restaurant, free Wi-Fi and spacious rooms with period features. With individual character and elegant decor, the rooms at Old Hall each have tea/coffee facilities and a TV with satellite channels. All rooms have a private bathroom with free toiletries, and some have cosy seating areas.

Best Western Plus Buxton Lee Wood Hotel | Bed and breakfast

The Lee Wood Hotel is set in its own grounds with mature gardens. All 38 rooms are individually furnished and TVs, coffee makers and hairdryers are among the other amenities available to guests. There is complimentary internet access throughout and a restaurant, a fitness centre and a bar/lounge are available.

Day 2 Goyt Valley and Burbage Edge 9 miles / 15 km

Today’s walk takes you on a circular route through some of the most stunning moorland scenery that this area has to offer. Begin at the splendid Buxton Opera House and follow the trail which winds through farms and atmospheric woodlands.

Make your way up to the moorland and along the route where views open up of the Errwood Reservoir and the Goyt Valley. Looping back the route follows on Burbage Edge, one of the famous gritstone edges of the Peak District. Buxton is a beautiful ‘market town’ and worthwhile exploring after your walk.

Overnight Buxton

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Roseleigh Guest House | Guest House

Old Hall Hotel | Hotel

Best Western Plus Buxton Lee Wood Hotel | Bed and breakfast

Day 3 Chatsworth to Hathersage 8 miles / 14 km

After a delicious breakfast a transfer is included to Chatsworth House and Estate. You must take the time to visit this great house which is owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and has been handed down through sixteen generations. It also houses a significant and diverse art collection, has over thirty rooms to explore and acres of beautiful gardens. Arguably the most handsome country house in England it was also the supposed inspiration for Jane Austen’s Pemberly in Pride & Prejudice.

After exploring this historic house and gardens take the trail north along the Derwent Valley Heritage Way to the the quaint village of Baslow and along the river valley to Froggat and Grindleford, a nucleated village standing on the right bank of the Derwent River. Take the Hathersage road continuing along the valley all the way into the village, where you check into your hotel or B&B.

Overnight Hathersage

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

The Plough Inn | Country Inn

This is a privately owned 16th century Inn and is situated in 9 acres of its own land, all the bedrooms are en-suite with either bath or shower, flat screen television, Tea and coffee making facilities and hairdryers. Also, complimentary Hilden Mineral Water and miniature toiletries. In the evening you can relax and take a meal in their cosy bar complete with real log fires. They serve hand pulled ales and a large range of fine wines from around the world. The menu is a mix of modern European and traditional food using only the finest quality produce brought together in an eclectic style.

George Hotel | Hotel

Formerly a 500-year-old inn, this Derbyshire hotel in the heart of the Peak District offers rooms featuring contemporary décor, with a seating area and TV, and en suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries. You can enjoy a full English breakfast each morning and award-winning cuisine by chef Helen Prine in the on-site restaurant.

The Scotsman's Pack Country Inn | Country Inn

A traditional country pub with ensuite bedrooms. Eat inside the beautiful country inn - snuggle up next to the roaring fire in the winter or dine outside on the patio next to a trout stream in the warmer months.

Day 4 Choice of Walks - Stanage Edge or The Great Ridge & Mam Tor 9 miles / 15 km

For your final day in the Peak District, you can choose from two equally tempting walks.

Your first option takes you along Stanage Edge, a mecca for rock climbers from all over Britain with its 4-mile long gritstone escarpment. Visit the Stanage-North Lees estate, where North Lees Hall is believed to have inspired one of the manor houses in Charlotte Brontë's novel, Jane Eyre. Then follow the path up to Stanage Edge from where you can enjoy expansive views over the Dark Peak moorlands and the Hope Valley.

Another option is to take a local train from Hathersage to the village of Edale (a ten minute journey) and from here embark on a walk to the Great Ridge, situated on the border of the White and the Dark Peak geographical areas. Reaching Mam Tour you will have some of the best views in the whole of the peaks.

Mam Tour means “mother hill” so called because there are lots of mini-hills beneath it where there have been landslips on its eastern side. Mam Tour is steeped in history dating back to the Bronze Age and another popular name for it is Shivering Mountain, a reference to its unstable geology. Continue to follow the crest of the Great Ridge until you come to Lose Hill then backtrack from here to Back Tor and along the final stretch back into Edale. Take the train back to Hathersage.

Overnight Hathersage

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

The Plough Inn | Country Inn

George Hotel | Hotel

The Scotsman's Pack Country Inn | Country Inn

Day 5 Onward travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 5kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 5kg is equivalent to 1 Neapolitan margherita pizza. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

The Peak District is a walkers paradise with its contrasting landscapes of craggy peaks and ridges, combined with pretty dales and open heather-clad moorlands. This short break combines the White Peak and the Dark Peak areas, sampling some of the finest walks in the Peak District National Park. You will stay overnight in comfortable B&B's or small hotels in typical Peak District market towns. The terrain can be quite rugged and boggy at times and the footpaths exposed to the wind, so you will need to come dressed ready to protect yourself against the elements should the weather take a turn for the worst.

Trip Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Short Break

Grade & Terrain

This tour is suitable for most people that are in good physical condition. It is rated easy to moderate but the terrain may be a bit rugged and tricky at times, with rocks and roots underfoot. There are some elevation gains and losses, especially on the Mam Tour walk, which would be graded more as moderate. The trails may be boggy, so come prepared with good waterproof hiking boots.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

4 Nights in either 3* hotels or B&B’s
4 Breakfasts
Baggage transfers
Transfer from Buxton to Chatsworth House
Luggage transfers from Buxton to Hathersage
Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
24/7 Emergency telephone support from our UK office

Excluded