Over Easter, I was keen to get away for a few days with my husband and daughter. But as I am beginning to truly comprehend, trying to go anywhere over school holidays is fucking horrendously expensive. I know, I know, everyone knows that. But until you’re actually bound by term times, you really don’t get it. It’s a hideous increase, lads. Like TRIPLE the price… So, anyway, I was limited in where we could go (even UK breaks are super spenny). But I luckily found a cute little cottage in the Peak District and put together a family-friendly itinerary for the area. Here’s what we got up to.
A Cute Cottage Airbnb in the Peak District
The Peak District cottage I rented was discovered on AirBnb. It’s gorgeously cosy with an open fire, various book nooks located around the house and the perfect amount of space for a family of three. The host was lovely too and sent me lots of recommendations on things to do in the Peak District with a little’un. It worked out to be about £130 a night, was in a fab location – the village of Eyam – and is just everything you want a countryside getaway to be! (It’s dog-friendly too FYI.) Here’s the link: Eyam Cottage AirBnb.
Bakewell
On the way up to the Peak District (about 2 hours from our home in Milton Keynes), we stopped at Bakewell for, you guessed it, a taste of Bakewell Tart! We went to The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop for a taste. I should clarify that this is the birthplace of Bakewell pudding, not Bakewell tart, but let’s all agree that when it’s covered in icing and cherries, it’s way more delicious. So we opted for the tart. It’s really cute in here though and we had some hot chocolates and got our bearings of the little village.
We also checked out a couple of bookshops in town (I recommend Maxwells), had a potter around some little shops, and bought various chutneys from a local deli – Cheese & Wine Emporium. And really, isn’t that all you want to do in cute Peak District towns?
Eyam
Ok, so let’s talk Eyam, where our cottage was based over the 3 days of our Peak District adventure. Despite the cottagecore goals and lovely surroundings, Eyam is known for a less endearing reason. During the Black Plague of 1665-6, the disease spread up to Eyam, and the 800 inhabitants made a decision to go into quarantine to avoid spreading to neighboring villages. The original lockdown! It meant they saved a lot of people from getting the Plague but paid a steep price with a higher death toll than London.
I know, this is morbid, but it is why the town is significant and you do see plaques outside cottages saying who lived there during this time.
More relevant to staying in Eyam in modern day, there is a wonderful little area called Eyam Courtyard. There’s Coolstone, which is a lovely bar and restaurant we visited a couple of times on this trip – would be very nice in the summer with the outside area. There’s also a deli, a yoga studio, a boutique and some street food, so definitely worth a look.
Padley Gorge / Longshaw Estate
As part of our trip to the Peak District, the main thing Josh and I wanted to do was see a bit of nature and go on a hike. But, elephant in the room, we have a 4 year old in tow. So I was worried we wouldn’t find anything appropriate for little legs. However, our lovely host recommended Padley Gorge and we gave it a go.
The Padley Gorge walk is perfect for kids. It’s a circular route of 2.7km with nothing too taxing for children. But it’s also filled with things to entertain kids – cool bridges to walk over, boulders to climb over, a pond with ducks, etc. It really is ideal. I’ve seen that locals mostly start this hike from a free parking spot (check out this blog post on Peak District Kids for the details), but we started from the Longshaw Lodge. We fuelled up on coffees and snacks and used the toilets (something you need to consider with kids!) and did the loop from this point. We actually parked a short walk away, through an extra little woodland walk. It had the nicest views, so although a little bit longer for kids to walk, was worth it for the viewpoint!
We really loved this walk. It was a good chance to see some of the Peak District’s beauty, entertain my 4 year old, and soak up a bit of nature!
Castleton
We briefly stopped at Castleton for some lunch after our big Padley Gorge hike, and loved Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn. A cosy pub for a glass of wine and some bangers and mash was really what we needed! Other than wandering the village, we didn’t get a chance to see the main attractions of Castleton – Mam Tor, an iron-age fort, or the Show Caverns, a series of caves to explore. They look pretty cool though if you have more time in the area!
We did however drive through Winnats Pass on the way out of the village and it was honestly the prettiest drive we did the whole time we were in the Peak District. So I recommend going this way if you can. You can of course hike the limestone gorges, but just driving through was a personal highlight of the trip.
Cromford Mills
We visited Cromford on a bit of a whim. We essentially just needed to stop somewhere for coffee on the way to Matlock (our main activity for our last day in the Peak District) and parked at Cromford Mills. But the 1800s water-powered cotton mill was actually a good little stop to make. There are cafes and independent shops in the little courtyard, and although not a main event for your trip, it’s nice to stop in and have a wander.
The Tor Cafe is a unique place to stop for coffee, as is Parky’s, where we got some snacks. But the absolute draw to Cromford (for me at least) is Scarthin Books. I’m obsessed with this bookshop. It has three floors of books, moving bookcases, a resident cat, a special room for kids books, and even a lovely little cafe hidden away. I spent way too much time in this indie bookshop, but it is wonderful and I wholeheartedly encourage a visit if you’re in the Peak District and consider yourself a bibliophile.
Matlock
The last stop of our family-friendly trip to the Peak District, was to Matlock Farm Park. It’s a really nice farm, that’s perfect for younger children with play parks and activities. And when we visited they had an extra special Easter event where Elsa and Anna from Frozen were there to sing and dance and entertain the kids. Now, I need to stress, it was very busy. The car park was hellish. But for an Easter-event, it was very fun, and I imagine when it’s not a big event it’s an even nicer place to visit. We got to feed animals, see baby lambs, ride go-karts, pet small furry animals, eat lots of sweet treats, explore the play areas and my daughter even got to ride a pony. It was a fun day out by all accounts.
Other Places to Visit in the Peak District
I was only in the Peak District for a few days, so naturally I didn’t get to see everything. But I thought I would list out a few other ideas for your trip –
- Ilam Park – A National Trust site with Italian gardens, woodland walks and great views. It seems they do lots of family events in this country park, so it’s worth checking before you go.
- Chatsworth House – A stately home in the Derbyshire Dales, where you can explore the history and beauty of this iconic landmark. It also has a playground, farmyard and gardens that kids will enjoy. Again, check out their events as they had some lovely ones over Easter.
- Scrivener’s Books – Another bookshop, this time located in Buxton. I haven’t visited yet so can’t personally recommend, but it looks glorious from the outside.
- Lud’s Church Walk – Another hike that is meant to be good for families. This circular walk is 5.3km and includes a deep, moss-covered chasm!
- Peak Rail – A steam train you can ride on a preserved railway. They often do family events too.
Of course, there’s lots more to do than this little list. But these are the ones I was eyeing up!
We had a gorgeous few days in the Peak District, without breaking the bank, and I totally recommend a visit if you’re looking for a UK-based trip that will entertain both kids and adults. I would definitely return, and honestly, the highlight for us was the cottage we stayed in. For sure go check it out!
