Visiting

Make the most of your visit to the glorious Peak District.

Visitor Centres
Locations and contact details of our four visitor centres
Pedal Peak District
Route maps, bike hire and how to get fit for free
Guided Walks and Events
Free guided walks suitable for all and other events all year round
Getting here
Make use of the best public transport links for any National Park

Edale, Castleton and Hope

Barber Booth, Edale

Map ref: SK 107847

A small roadside car park without views, surfaced in stone with a smooth surface.

The picnic area has a picnic table and a bench, commanding fine views of the Edale Valley, and can be reached by a 50m surfaced path (gradients 1:10 to 1:6).

Toilets with facilities for disabled people

Fieldhead Campsite, Edale

Map ref: SK 124856
Tel: 01433 670386

Edale Visitor Centre

Map reference: SK 123857

The Moorland Centre. Tel 01433 670207

Located in Edale, this flagship centre of the Moors for the Future Partnership will provide information for visitors and ramblers who visit Edale and is an important environmental learning experience for visitors, a national focus for moorland research, and community facilities.

Built near the start of the Pennine Way, the Moorland Centre’s design reflects its upland setting. It has a living roof of sedum turf, intersected by a waterfall tumbling over glass panels into a pool at the entrance. The turf acts as an eco-friendly insulator, and the building is fuelled by an energy-saving ground-source heat pump.

Inside the centre, interactive exhibitions for all ages explain why the Moors for the Future Project was set up to restore vast tracts of this threatened habitat, and conserve its heritage. 'Listening posts' enable visitors to hear reminiscences of people who live and work on the moors, as well as those who use them for recreation.

Our experienced and welcoming team are available at the Visitor Centre to help and advise on how to make the most of your visit to this beautiful valley of quiet hamlets and dramatic moors.

Information is available on accommodation, attractions, public transport, the Peak District National Park, the Pennine Way and details of local events.

The splendid retail area offers an outstanding range of products, from a variety of maps and guide books, through to wonderful gifts and clothing for the outdoors as well a large selection of literature to appeal to walkers, cyclists and enthusiasts of the Peak District National Park.

How to get to the Moorland Centre

Parking spaces reserved for disabled people

Edale Car Park

Map ref: SK 124853

A pay and display car park operated by High Peak Borough Council (free to blue badge holders). The surface is of smooth tarmac and there are two spaces reserved for disabled people next to the toilets.

There is a toilet suitable for disabled people for which a RADAR key is required. The village is about 700m from the car park along a narrow road with slight gradient and a footpath only part of the way.

There is a pub and cafe about 300m away.

Edale Railway Station

Map ref: SK 122853

Edale station has level access to both its platforms and is just a short walk from the main car park, which has toilets on it.

There is a cafe at ground level adjacent to the station and there is also a public house nearby.

Edale information centre is about 5 minutes walk away and the village shop, post office and another public house are about 10 minutes away. Care must be taken as much of the village has no footpath.

There is a connecting bus service to Castleton at weekends and Bank Holidays, which is free to rail and Wayfarer ticket holders.

Mam Nick Car Park

Map ref: SK 124833

A steeply sloping site close to Mam Tor on the A625 Rushup Edge road. Although the main tarmac access road has gradients of 1:10 to over 1:6 the tarmac parking bays are fairly level.

There are 2 accessible picnic tables.

The car park is pay and display, free to blue badge holders.

No toilets; the nearest public facilities are at Castleton car park (RADAR key required).

Blue John Cavern

Map ref: SK 131831

This cul-de-sac at the top of the closed Mam Tor road provides parking for visitors to the Blue John Cavern and others wishing to see the remains of the road which is steadily being lost in a landslip.

A parking bay has been constructed by Derbyshire County Council for disabled people to sit and enjoy the splendid view over the Hope Valley, Win Hill and the Mam Tor ridge. The parking area is surfaced in smooth tarmac with a gradient of 1:36, but with a cross gradient of 1:12.

An interpretive board accessible to wheelchair users has been installed nearby.

Castleton Car Park

Map ref: SK 148830

This large pay and display car park (free to blue badge holders) is run by High Peak Borough Council. The surface is of smooth tarmac and 2 spaces are reserved for disabled people close to the toilets.

There is a toilet suitable for use by disabled people for which a RADAR key is needed. There is a baby change unit in the ladies toilet.

Castleton often becomes congested with visitors and traffic, particularly at weekends.

Castleton Information Centre

Map ref: SK 151829

This is next to the large car park. Excellent facilities and has good access.

Toilets are on the adjacent car park.

Losehill Caravan & Campsite, Castleton

Map ref: SK 155835
Tel: 01433 620636

This site lies next to Losehill Hall, the Peak District National Park Study Centre, and is run by the Caravan Club.

The level site has tarmaced roads and gravelled parking bays, with level grass areas for tents and caravans (separate). There is a ramp up to the main reception building but not to the information room which has a 100mm step up.

There is level access to a well-equipped unisex shower, toilet and washbasin suitable for disabled people; all other indoor facilities have a step up or doors too narrow to accommodate a wheelchair.

Access to external taps, vegetable preparation areas and waste disposal is via level or gently ramped paths.

The site is very clean and well organised.

Hope Valley Railway Line

Stopping trains run along the Hope Valley railway line between Sheffield and Manchester with stations in the Hope Valley at Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope and Edale. The line passes through spectacular scenery and there are interesting villages to see with pubs and cafes to visit. Northern Rail, who currently run the local train service, will try to provide space as far as practicable in their trains for customers using standard wheelchairs (670mm wide). However, scooters and other runabout vehicles cannot be carried.

All local Hope Valley trains can carry bicycles but this is usually limited to two per train.

Access/Disabled Information & Cycle Assistance
Phone: 0845 600 8008
Text: 0845 604 5608

Timetable and fare enquiries: 08457 48 49 50
Text: 0845 60 50 600

Visit the Northern Rail website for more details [opens in new window].

Hope Railway Station

Map ref: SK 171835

Hope station has ramped access to the platform where trains going towards Manchester stop (ie west bound) but there is a footbridge with a lot of steps leading to the other platform.

There is limited parking outside the station. The station itself is quite a long walk from the village but it is all on the level. There are several pubs, cafes and shops in the village of Hope.

Hope Car Park

Map ref: SK 171835

Public car park on Castleton Road, Hope, operated by High Peak Borough Council. Free for blue badge holders.

The site is level and surfaced in smooth tarmac.

There are 2 spaces reserved for disabled people close to the toilets, one of which is suitable for disabled people (RADAR key needed).

Thornhill Trail

Map ref: SK 203869

This narrow disused railway line runs in a north-south direction for 1.5 miles, close to Thornhill to the west of Bamford, linking to routes round Ladybower Reservoir.

It does not have an associated car park, but can be reached from the Severn Trent car park at Heatherdene, overlooking Ladybower. Alternatively it is possible to drop people off halfway along the route at a forestry turnaround.

From Heatherdene a new route across the dam wall is accessible to all. This is followed by a steep downhill track of uneven tarmac with gradients of up to 1:7 to reach the Thornhill Trail. The trail is a mixture of grass (sometimes muddy) and compacted stone, with occasional protruding tree roots and exposed stones. There are a number of weighted bridlegates 1.15m wide. This is a quiet place to walk and the views are good; be aware of cyclists and horseriders also using the route.

Bamford Railway Station

Map ref: SK 208828

Bamford station has easy access to both platforms.

A level walk along the station approach takes you to the main road where you turn left over the bridge to the bus turnaround where a bus (Summer Saturdays and Sundays and Winter Sundays only*) will take you to the Upper Derwent Valley.

There is a small car parking area adjacent to the station.

Bamford village is about 15 minutes walk from the station and is uphill. There are two public houses in the village. There are also public toilets and a few shops.

* For further information about the bus services contact Derbyshire Busline on 0870 608 2 608 or use Journey Planner on www.derbysbus.net