Throughout the Peak District are picturesque villages where you’ll find scenic rows of cottages, cosy pubs and winding streets. There’s so many to visit that it can be hard to see them all - not to mention the challenge of dealing with the logistics of navigating this wild and rugged national park.
Luckily there are several bus routes which serve the area and stop off at these incredible locations. Under a new bus scheme launched by the government, single bus fares on specific routes are capped at £2 until March 31, making these destinations even more accessible.
Several bus routes in the Peak District are participating in the scheme, one of which is the number 65, operated by Stagecoach. The Guardian recently listed it among the most scenic bus routes in the country, describing it as a “well-kept secret”.
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The 65 runs between Buxton and Sheffield, taking approximately two hours in total. It stops at some of the Peak District’s most beautiful villages, from tiny hamlets such as Foolow to well-known destinations including Eyam.
Below are the villages you can visit if you catch a ride on the 65. Whether you choose to visit just one, or plan to stay on board for the whole journey, one thing is for certain: make sure you bag yourself a window seat.
Millers Dale
A tiny hamlet located in one of the most beautiful valleys in the Peak District, Millers Dale is a great starting point for lots of walks in the area. It’s located by the River Wye, which weaves through the limestone dales creating gorgeous scenery.
At Millers Dale you can pick up the Monsal Trail; a cycling, horse riding and walking trail which follows a former railway line. The trail crosses the River Wye over two spectacular viaducts. In the surrounding area are the remains of old lime kilns which hark back to Miller’s Dale’s industrial past.
Litton
Litton is a small yet picturesque village where you’ll find charming stone cottages surrounding a pretty village green - which still has a set of old stocks. Overlooking the green is the village’s cosy pub, the Red Lion Inn.
It became a pub in 1787 when it was converted from three miner’s cottages and inside you’ll find exposed stone walls, wood panelling and roaring fires. Litton also has a small village shop and a primary school.
Tideswell
The second-largest settlement in the Peak District, Tideswell is located in the heart of the White Peak on a limestone plateau. It features rows of quaint cottages and a range of independent shops, cafes and pubs.
Tideswell’s impressive 14th century church is known as the “Cathedral of the Peak” and contains several striking features, including three 15th-century wood carvings. Historically the village played an important role for surrounding communities thanks to its markets.
Great Hucklow
Situated six miles north of Bakewell, Great Hucklow is a small village which is tucked under the lofty Hucklow Edge. The village itself contains several rustic cottages and a pub, The Queen Anne Inn.
On the plateau above the village is the Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club. The village is known for its Well Dressings, which are held annually in August.
Foolow
A small but perfectly-formed village, Foolow features a cluster of grey-limestone cottages grouped around village green, which has a tiny pond and an ancient, Grade II-listed cross in the centre. Further out there’s a grand manor house and an old hall.
Historically mining was the main occupation for residents in the village. Foolow has an old pub, The Bulls Head Inn or you can walk around a mile away to the hamlet of Bretton which is home to the Barrel Inn, reputedly the highest pub in Derbyshire.
Eyam
Eyam is a stunning village with pretty cottages lining narrow, winding streets and several cosy pubs and tea rooms. Yet despite its scenic appearance, it actually has a rather dark past.
It’s known as ‘the Plague Village’ as its residents took the decision to go into isolation after the bubonic plague was discovered there in 1665. Although it helped to protect nearby villages, more than 250 Eyam residents lost their lives.
Today various features throughout the village hint at Eyam’s past, including clusters of graves and skull and crossbones symbols. Even the stained glass windows in the St Lawrence Church illustrate the actions of the villagers.
Stoney Middleton
Perhaps one of the most striking villages in the Peak District, Stoney Middleton features a limestone gorge which cuts through the village. Thanks to its unusual geological features, there’s even a restaurant - Curry Cottage - where you can dine inside a cave.
As well as a quirky curry house, the village is also home to the UK’s only Grade-II listed fish and chip shop, based inside the old Toll house. Stoney Middleton has Hollywood connections, too, as Tom Cruise was spotted filming scenes for Mission Impossible 7 in nearby Dalton Quarry in April 2021.
Grindleford
Overlooked by rugged moorland, the village of Grindleford lies by the River Derwent. It has a picturesque 17th century bridge which crosses the water.
Around a mile north of Grindleford is Nether Padley, the starting point of the Padley Gorge Trail, a scenic walk through a narrow wooded valley which has a babbling brook flowing through it. To the east of the village is Froggatt Edge, a gritstone escarpment which is popular with rock climbers.
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