The Peak District Is A Walkers Paradise
By Advisor. Filed in Florida |
The word peak comes from the old English word ‘peac’ meaning hill and there are plenty of them for your enjoyment. The Peak District itself covers two distinct areas – the White Peak (characterised by limestone rock, dry stone walls, river valleys and dales) and the Dark Peak (wild beauty, with dominating tors, heather moorland, gritstone rock and shale). The Peak District was made into Britains’s first National Park in 1951 and is now protected for all to like. Why not book cottages in the Peak District and get out there and go for a walk…
The Peak District is a walkers dream and has routes to suit all abilities. Mam Tor, ‘The Shivering Mountain’ is on most people’s itinerary. It lies west of Castleton village. The shale hill dominates the valley and is a fabulous sight. The Great Ridge gives stunning views over both the Hope Valley and Edale Valley but it is a challenging climb. Mam Tor is also home to a bronze age hill fort which can still be seen. Close to Mam Tor you will find Kinder Scout – an impressive 600m high, and the limestone gorge known as Winnats Pass. Kinder Scout has a steep ascent and plenty of viewpoints for the landscape below. The Nag’s Head pub in Edale is the start of the Pennine Way that runs all the way to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland. It is the longest walking trail in Britain at about 270 miles and it was officially opened in April 1965. The Peak District section takes in Kinder Scout, an ascent of Jacob’s Ladder, Mill Hill, Devils Dike, Bleaklow Head and Black Hill before descending to Marsden. For an easy walk there’s the Manifold Valley Trail or the Monsal Trail. These follow the path of old railway lines through the heart of the countryside. Alternatively there’s the Limestone Way, a rural footpath that’s fifty miles long. The highest major path across the Derwent Valley is Cut Gate Bridalway. It is also one of the oldest rights of way in the Peak District. If you like moor and valley, try the Derwent edge and Hagg Side circuit which covers the upper part of Ladybower, starting and finishing at the automobile park on the eastern side of the resevoir. For a shorter walk try the Goyt Valley circuit which takes in reservoirs, bautiful moor and gritstone edges.
Whatever route you select I’m sure you’ll enjoy your walk and the wonderful scenery you’ll encounter. If you are in need of Peak District accomodation, try peakdistrictonline.co.uk which has information about villages you can use as your base for walking and tips on shopping and eating out too.
