The Peak District National Park

Local Guide

The Peak District National Park

Britain's first national park begins almost at the farm gate. Mellor Knowl sits on the south west edge of the park, where the Cheshire plain rises into gritstone moorland, and you can be walking in open country within minutes of leaving your cottage.

Walking from the door

You do not need to drive to find a good walk. Footpaths lead from Wincle across the fields to the River Dane, along wooded valleys and up onto the ridges with views back across the plain. Shutlingsloe, often called the Matterhorn of Cheshire for its distinctive peak, is a favourite short climb nearby, and the Roaches and Lud's Church are within easy reach for a longer day.

Further into the park

With the car you can reach the heart of the park in well under an hour. Popular days out include:

• Buxton, the elegant spa town with its opera house and gardens
• Bakewell, home of the famous pudding and a lovely riverside
• Chatsworth House, with its park, farm shop and gardens
• Dovedale and its stepping stones, one of the park's best loved walks

When to come

Every season has its own character. Spring brings lambs and wildflowers, summer long evenings on the moors, autumn colour in the wooded valleys, and winter crisp, quiet paths with the hills to yourself. Whenever you visit, good boots and a camera are the only essentials.