10 reasons why you need to visit the Peak District in 2023

10 reasons why you need to visit the Peak District in 2023. Now’s the time to start planning your 2023 adventure.

There are plenty of reasons to visit the Peak District National Park. To start we have some of the best countryside in the UK – did you know we were the first area to be made a national park in the 1950s?

We’ve put together our 10 favourites to help you start planning your trip to Derbyshire.

Knockout Stately Homes

If you’ve watched Pride and Prejudice, you will know that Elizabeth Bennett was intoxicated by both Darcy and his beautiful Derbyshire home. Here in the Peak District, we have some of the best stately homes in the UK. Bolsover Castle was once the fantasy hilltop pleasure palace of a horse-mad Cavalier playboy – and even today this Stuart mansion never fails to impress.

Tissington Hall

Tissington Hall, near the picturesque market town of Ashbourne, dates all the way back to the 1600s. It’s set in a perfect picture-book village with beautiful cottages built around the noble old hall, fine church and duck pond.

Chatsworth

Closer to Wheeldon there is of course Chatsworth House. Chatsworth comprises a Grade I listed house and stables, a 105-acre garden, a 1,822-acre park, a farmyard and adventure playground, and one of Europe’s most significant private art collections. It has been home to sixteen generations of the Cavendish family for nearly five centuries.

Hardwick Hall

Meanwhile, Hardwick Hall is one of the most innovative houses of the Tudor period. It was built between 1587 and 1596 by Bess of Hardwick, who was among the richest and best-connected women of the Elizabethan age. A radical modern mansion, it drew on the latest Italian innovations in house design. Today The Hardwick Estate is open every day, for countryside walks with picturesque views, woodland family play trails, locally sourced gifts in the shop and delicious seasonal menus in the restaurant.

Spectacular Scenery

If you follow us on social media, you will have seen the views from Wheeldon Trees. We’re biased in thinking our views are some of the very best. Even Tommy Sheldon chose the hills outside Wheeldon Trees for the last-ever episodes of Peaky Blinders.

Beautiful walks and pretty villages

If fresh air is on your 2023 list, we have an abundance of walks directly from our cottage doors for you to explore. There are also a whole host of chocolate box villages and towns to explore. Bakewell, famous for its puddings is just a short car ride away and down the road, we have Hartington, home to the famous Hartington cheese shop.

Delicious food

The Peak District has pubs galore, many serving delicious food.

If Sunday lunch is your thing (and why wouldn’t it be?), you can read our favourite haunts on our blog. The perfect accompaniment to any weekend walk is surely a great Sunday roast.

If gastro dining is more your thing there are many locals which have made this year’s Michelin Guide. If a restaurant’s meals are up to par, their quality, originality, and creativity can land them a place in the exclusive eating guide.

To find out which eateries in Derbyshire made the cut, read more on our blog.

Cycling heaven

In November 2022, we updated our electric bikes at Wheeldon Trees. The Peak District is cycling heaven for both traditional and electric bikes. The high hills of the Dark Peak in the North, the gritstone edges of the eastern Peak, and the gentler dales and valleys of the White Peak make a stunning backdrop for cycling. You can read about some of our favourite routes on our blog.

Caverns and Caves

Caverns and caves are one of the most popular things to do in the Peaks. The show caverns at Castleton are some of the finest in the UK and Treak Cliff Cavern is home to remarkable stalactites and stalagmites.  Along with Blue John Cavern, this is the only place to find Derbyshire’s semi-precious mineral, Blue John Stone.

Climbing

The Peak District has some of the most challenging and popular rock-climbing routes in Europe including the internationally important Stanage Edge. Alongside Stanage Edge, the most popular locations to climb in the Peak District include Stanage Edge, Froggatt Edge, Curbar Edge, and Burbage. The climbing routes vary from easy to hard so you should choose your location based on skill level.

Book your 2023 cottage holiday

We’re now taking bookings for 2023 in our luxury Derbyshire cottages. Our retreat of 10 cottages includes four newly renovated holiday homes. We’re also just one of three finalists in the Visit Peak District and Derbyshire Tourism Awards in the category of best self-catering accommodation. Our 12 acres of Peak District National Park offers so much more than just a holiday cottage. Facilities include an honesty shop, free EV charging, wifi throughout, a children’s play area, a newly refurbished games room, free electric bikes to explore the local area (updated in November 2022), a fabulous office for guests to use if they’re working while with us and a laundry room.

Looking for your 2023 Peak District Cottage? Click here to view our availability.