If ever you wanted an additional excuse to discover the UK’s superb countryside, the Peak District Nationwide Park is celebrating its seventy fifth anniversary this yr – and after rising up lower than an hour away and visiting with my daughter, I do know firsthand that there’s an enormous quantity to do within the Peak District with children.
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The dramatic ridges and valleys are good for strolling – you may even begin the Pennine Means footpath right here. However there’s way more to the realm than climbing, particularly should you’re visiting the Peak District with children who don’t merely need to absorb countryside views.
From traditional nation homes to small zoos, caves and theme parks, you’ll discover loads of household sights within the Peak District for a day trip, together with concepts for wet days.
And whereas there’s much more to find close by in surrounding Staffordshire, Derbyshire and into Sheffield, you don’t have to depart the confines of the UK’s oldest Nationwide Park itself (or go far past the borders) with my 14 issues to do within the Peak District.
Peak Wildlife Park, close to Leek
On the southern fringe of the Peak District, this little zoo is ideal for a day trip with youthful children – strolling by way of a number of the open enclosures, previous lemurs and wallabies, is a big deal with.
You too can see the penguin parade and feeding, together with the birds swimming and rock hopping to their coronary heart’s content material – we stood there watching their antics (and the cheeky grasping penguin on the entrance of the road at feeding time) for ages.
There are additionally now polar bears, for an added thrill while you go to, in addition to a brand new capybara walkthrough space.
Take a look at our evaluation of a day on the Peak Wildlife Park with children
Matlock Farm Park, Matlock
There are extra meerkats and wallabies to fulfill at Matlock Farm Park, on the location of a 600-acre working farm – so it’s also possible to anticipate sheep (and sheep races!), pigs and goats in addition to extra unique small animals and the prospect to pet rabbits and guinea pigs.
The farm park additionally has some nice play areas – the out of doors Enchanted Hamlet play space, in addition to the UK’s largest leaping pillow, plus an indoor play space if the climate isn’t so good.
There’s at present no prebooking required if you wish to go to, though you may guide tickets on-line.
Crich Tramway Village, Matlock
With a interval village to find, sculpture path, exhibitions exhibiting the historical past of trams and limitless tram journeys on classic automobiles, the Crich Tramway Village is a superb possibility for a wet day within the Peak District (though it does have extra restricted opening hours in autumn, and is closed over the winter months).
However regardless of the climate, it’s ideally suited for transport-obsesssed smaller children – and anybody who loves stepping again in time just a little, particularly with a conventional candy store alongside the best way. Yum.
There’s an app which has an interactive map, particulars of strolling routes and of the totally different sights on website. There’s at present free return for 12 months on full value tickets, which could be prebooked on-line.
For a full evaluation of a day at Crich Tramway Village, uncover what Life with Child Kicks and her two small boys thought.
Gulliver’s Kingdom, Matlock Tub
Residence to greater than 60 rides and sights, together with the Misplaced World of the Dwelling Dinosaurs – with greater than a dozen animatronic dinosaurs – this family-run theme park is right for major faculty age and preschool youngsters, with play areas for todders, a NERF Zone for over-sixes, plus the JCB Zone the place you may function a digger too.
However there are additionally extra adrenaline thrills, a log flume and different actions to go well with tweens or older siblings.
Tickets should be prebooked – look out for ticket offers on Wowcher as properly, together with occasional in a single day keep and play choices.
The Heights of Abraham, Matlock
Probably the greatest-known household days out within the Peak District, I keep in mind hovering over the countryside within the cable automobiles, trying over the Derwent Valley, after I was a baby – however that’s solely one of many sights on the hilltop park.
Set on a limestone gorge, it’s also possible to head underground to a number of the present caves: courting again to the time of the Romans, the excursions allow you to uncover what life was like at their peak within the seventeenth century after they have been mined for lead.
There’s additionally the fossil manufacturing facility, an journey playground and walks galore, together with previous the marginally surprising metallic cows.
Prebooking is beneficial, with a reduction on tickets purchased upfront.
Go strolling
It appears a bit self-evident to say there are nice walks within the Peak District – and should you fancy strapping on a baby service, you may get out and discover with any age. Nevertheless it’s additionally unbelievable should you’re going strolling with children too, with loads of household walks together with choices appropriate for toddlers and little ones.
There are a number of outdated railway traces which have been transformed into strolling routes, so that they’re simple to wander together with a buggy or for preschoolers to scoot, stability bike and stroll.
Take a look at the Monsal Path, Tissington Path, Excessive Peak Path and Manifold Observe for starters – all ones I’ve explored as a baby myself.
The Manifold path just isn’t removed from the Peak Wildlife Park should you’re seeking to mix a few concepts on that facet of the Peak District, whereas there are wonderful views from the Excessive Peak Path (although the gravel signifies that one isn’t so good for scooters).
That’s solely the beginning: you may wander across the grounds of stately properties, ramble close to reservoirs – take a look at the Derwent Dam, whereas the Ladybower reservoir is a beautiful one – plus the well-known Dovedale Stepping Stones. This does get highly regarded in holidays and at weekends, so take advantage of with the ability to go to on a college day!
When you’re in search of one other good method to hold younger children entertained throughout a stroll within the Peak District, I like the I Spy sequence – I Spy within the Countryside is a enjoyable possibility with a number of photographs
Biking within the Peak District with younger children
The flat outdated railway tracks are good should you’re hoping to go biking within the Peak District – these buggy-friendly and child-friendly paths are flat and generally even tarmacked.
The Monsal Path, Tissington Path, Excessive Peak Path and Manifold Observe are all good ones to have on the checklist, relying the place you’re staying and the way far you fancy biking.
When you don’t have your personal bikes, you may rent them simply too – Middleton High Cycle Rent close to Wirksworth has tagalongs and trailers, for instance, in addition to little one bikes, little one seats and little one helmets, and it’s simple to get to the Excessive Peak Path (open each day through the summer season, at weekends, financial institution holidays and college holidays throughout April/Could and September/October).
Parsley Hay bike rent has the same vary and is an effective begin for the Tissington Path too, plus you’ll discover a few choices for the Monsal Path together with at Hassop Station in Bakewell, and Blackwell Mill firstly of the path.
Or head off to the Carsington Reservoir for the Carsington Water loop, which stretches for round 7.5 miles, and the White Edge Loop on the Longshaw Property in Hope Valley, for a simple style of an off-road path.
Alpaca strolling
Typically, you want a bit extra of an incentive to get children out for a stroll – so the prospect to wander alongside an alpaca is well the most effective motivation.
Brackenfield Alpacas are set on a 17-acre farm in Derbyshire’s Amber Valley, and on their 90-minute treks, you may head off to discover the farm with a cute fluffy-faced companion, studying extra concerning the animals out of your information earlier than heading into the paddocks to feed a number of the different alpacas.
Youngsters of all ages are welcome – under-sixes stroll with an grownup alongside the alpaca, though it’s not appropriate for pushchairs and prams.
The Castleton caves
The world round Castleton is house to semi-precious stone Blue John – and 4 separate present caves the place you may head underground, ideally suited for wet days within the Peak District.
Treak Cliff Cavern is among the few locations the gem is discovered, together with the most important piece ever found, in addition to that includes some spectacular stalactites and stalagmites plus common actions for households, and there’s a self-guided tour to obtain to your cellphone. Blue John Cavern can be open for excursions.
Or take a ship journey underground in Speedwell Cavern, cruising alongside a canal within the 200-year-old lead mine to find the Bottomless Pit – an enormous subterranean lake. Tickets ought to be prebooked on-line.
You possibly can additionally stroll previous outdated miners’ cottages to Peak Cavern, with the ruins of Peveril Fort loooming above, earlier than discovering the rope-makers who lived right here (and nicknamed it the Satan’s arse!) and venturing inside, by way of the most important pure cave entrance within the British Isles.
Every cavern has totally different reserving particulars – prebooked tickets are important for some and suggested for others, because of restricted numbers – so at all times examine earlier than you go to.
Poole’s Cavern present cave and Buxton nation park
There’s one other underground possibility additional west too, and Poole’s Cavern is right should you’re in search of Peak District days out close to Buxton.
Stalactites have grown up over thousands and thousands of years within the limestone cavern (joined by Santa at Christmas-time), whereas exterior there are walks by way of the woodland trails, together with to the point of view and folly often called Solomon’s Temple, searching to a number of the Peak District’s landmarks.
Tickets ought to be prebooked and are for particular time slots for a 45-minute guided tour, though there are some self-guided instances should you choose.
The Nation Park additionally has its personal Go Ape treetop journey course, one of many highest excessive ropes programs within the UK (for youths aged 10+ and over 1.4m tall solely).
Buxton Pavilion Gardens, Buxton
On the coronary heart of the Peak District, the 23 acres making up the Pavilion Gardens is right for someplace to calm down.
In addition to playgrounds and boating on the lake, there’s a miniature practice, which often runs at weekends and through faculty holidays, trails to comply with, together with particular themed occasions through the yr.
There’s additionally a smooth play space, which is useful should you’re in search of concepts of issues to do within the Peak District within the rain.
For extra concepts of issues to do within the Peak District with younger children, take a look at this submit
Chatsworth Home, Bakewell
One other of the best-known days out within the Peak District, this stately house additionally has a woodland playground and a working farm, the place you may pet a number of the animals and see cows being milked.
However do head inside the home too, which dates again to the sixteenth century, and is house to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire – hold a watch out for animals together with some stone lions as you discover.
Prebooking tickets is beneficial, and there are sometimes family-friendly occasions happening – look out for the Household Pageant round Could half-term.
You too can uncover Haddon Corridor, which dates again to the twelfth century, and runs occasional youngsters’s actions, and Eyam Corridor (previously a Nationwide Belief property) with its craft centre.
Ecclesbourne Valley railway
Heritage diesel and a few steam trains journey by way of the beautiful Ecclesbourne Valley, for an opportunity to discover with out tiring little legs.
There are particular occasions all year long, comparable to a Santa practice and Halloween ghost practice, whereas earlier years have included wizarding themed trains, travelling between Duffield and Wirksworth.
Peak Rail
One other heritage railway, Peak Rail additionally has each steam and diesel trains chuntering between Rowsley South and Matlock.
There are occasional free entry days for youths, in addition to themed trains comparable to Santa specials (in any other case there’s a restricted timetable in winter), whereas it’s also possible to hop off at Darley Dale station which has books for preschool youngsters in addition to a small museum on the historical past of the road.
When you’re in search of locations to remain within the Peak District with children, take a look at these vacation cottages within the Peak District.
**First printed 2018, up to date 2026**
PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN THE PEAK DISTRICT WITH KIDS
Disclosure: This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions and reminiscences of flying over the Peak District in a cable automotive are my very own.
Pictures: Peak Wildlife Park picture copyright MummyTravels, all others courtesy Depositphotos/Adobe Inventory/Picfair.
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