Public transport around the Peak District

The Peak District enjoys an extensive public transport network, enabling you to have a full day out exploring the area without using the car. Getting to the Peak District couldn’t be easier by train or bus, and regular services link many of the area’s most popular destinations.

Travel survey: read the results

Between August and October 2012, we carried out a travel survey targeted at both visitors to, and residents of, the Peak District.

The aim of the survey was to find out how people prefer to receive information about public transport and sustainable travel. This will help us consider how we provide information and promote sustainable transport in the Peak District in the future.

Read a summary of the results of the travel survey (547KB)

Getting here by train

The cities neighbouring the Peak District all have regular intercity rail services from destinations across the country. From these cities, it’s easy to make onward journeys into the Peak District by train. You can catch:

• The Hope Valley Line between Manchester and Sheffield stopping on the way at villages in the beautiful Derwent, Hope and Edale valleys
• The Derwent Valley Line from Derby to Matlock
• The Manchester to Buxton line
• The Manchester to Glossop line.

For information on train times and fares on all these routes, you can call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950, or visit their website at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

From Matlock and Buxton, regular bus services will take you into the heart of the Peak District.

Getting here by bus or coach

You can get to the Peak District by bus or coach. National Express service 440 runs from London to Manchester, stopping in Matlock, Bakewell and Buxton. They also offer services to towns and cities around the edge of the Peak District, from where easy local connections are available, as do Megabus.

From Derby, Nottingham and Manchester you could catch the TransPeak bus service, which runs right through the heart of the Peak District.

There are also bus services into the Peak District from many other towns and cities. You can find out more by visiting the website or calling the enquiry number for your area.

Derbyshire or phone Traveline below

Cheshire or phone Traveline below

Greater Manchester or phone Traveline below

LinkNottingham or phone Traveline below

Nottinghamshire or phone Traveline below

South Yorkshire or phone 01709 515151

Staffordshire or phone Traveline below

West Yorkshire or phone 0113 2457676

Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33

Getting here by plane

If you’re coming to the Peak District from further afield, there are two convenient international airports locally. From Manchester Airport a regular rail service runs to Manchester city centre, from where you can connect by rail into the Peak District. Alternatively, take bus service 199 from the Airport to Buxton.

Further south, it’s easy to get to the Peak District from East Midlands Airport. A regular bus service runs from East Midlands Airport to Derby from where you can get to the Peak District by train or bus.

Travelling by bus and train in the Peak District

Once you’ve got to the Peak District, there are plenty of public transport services to get you around the area. There are even special events and discounts that you can make the most of as a public transport user.

The Peak District Bus Timetable, published in March and October, is a comprehensive source of timetable information. It is available from any Tourist Information Centre in the area or you can order the Peak District bus timetable online. Alternatively, you can use the East Midlands online journey planner or view an interactive map of Peak District bus routes.

Peak Connections

Peak Connections provides a range of guides giving information on how to have a day out at some of the area’s main attractions by bus or train, such as Chatsworth and the Castleton Caverns.Enjoy days out by bus or train across the Greater Peak District. Download one of the Peak Connections guides for ideas.

Enjoy funfilled days out exploring the Peak District by bus or train by using a Peak Connections guide leaflet.

 

If you’re travelling by train, Transpeak Walks offer a range of free guided walks suitable for all ages and abilities. The volunteer guides meet designated trains for a stroll, or more strenuous walk, into the surrounding countryside. For details of the walks programme visit the Transpeak Walks website.

The Hope Valley Line also has regular Folk Trains, running into the Peak District from Manchester and Sheffield, and also on the Manchester to Glossop rail line.

At the other end of the Peak District, you can travel back in time by train – Peak Rail run steam trains between Matlock and Rowsley.

Cycling in the Peak District

You don’t have to use public transport to travel sustainably in the Peak District. There are plenty of opportunities to travel by bike – the Peak District benefits from a significant traffic-free cycle network. There are traffic-free cycle routes from Ashbourne and Cromford towards Buxton (the Tissington Trail and High Peak Trail) and from Bakewell towards Buxton (the Monsal Trail).

If you don’t have your own bike, you can hire bikes from one of three National Park cycle hire centres.

You can also find out more about the National Cycle Network by visiting the Sustrans website.