English Peak District

The second most visited national park in the world after Mount Fuji in Japan, Peak District National Park is one of the jewels in England's crown. An epic landscape of rolling hills and crags, set in the heartland of the Industrial Revolution, "the Peaks" is prime walking country, as well as being prime rock climbing country, prime caving country, prime mountain biking country and prime country for pretty much every other outdoorsy activity you could mention. Flanked by Manchester, Sheffield and Birmingham, the Peak District built its fortunes on mining and textiles. Towns like Glossop and Matlock were at the forefront of technological ...

The second most visited national park in the world after Mount Fuji in Japan, Peak District National Park is one of the jewels in England's crown. An epic landscape of rolling hills and crags, set in the heartland of the Industrial Revolution, "the Peaks" is prime walking country, as well as being prime rock climbing country, prime caving country, prime mountain biking country and prime country for pretty much every other outdoorsy activity you could mention. Flanked by Manchester, Sheffield and Birmingham, the Peak District built its fortunes on mining and textiles. Towns like Glossop and Matlock were at the forefront of technological advances like the water-powered mill, and children as young as four were brought in from as far away as the workhouses of London to operate the machines. Today, tourism is the main industry, though Buxton still does a healthy sideline in bottled mineral water. If you should happen to tire of the stunning views, the moors are dotted with nature reserves, historic market towns, picturesque farming villages and grand stately homes.

About the Expert

Joe Bindloss has written more than 30 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Time Out and other publishers, with a focus on Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and island nations.