The Peak District National Park is known for its outstanding beauty and incredible viewpoints so why not explore them whilst you’re in the area.
Whether you are staying in our Rivendale Lodge Retreat or not, this list of viewpoints we’ve put together are definitely worth considering during your time in the Peak District. If you love walking, taking beautiful photos and exploring new places then you will definitely appreciate all that the National Park has to offer. These viewpoints are perfect to explore all year round and you can enjoy breath taking views at all of them.
Solomon’s Temple
Poole’s Cavern Visitor Centre, Buxton, SK17 9DH | 19 mins
Solomon’s Temple is a historical landmark that sits at the summit of Grin Low hill. Some may know this temple as Grinlow Tower and was built in 1896 by architect William Radford Bryden. The area it is located in is Buxton Country Park which has a 100 acre woods that you can explore along with GoApe, a shop, picnic area and toilets.
- 3 different trails to the viewpoint (25, 30 or 45mins)
- There are stairs to get to the top of the viewpoint
- Enjoy incredible views across the spa town of Buxton
- You can camp at the country park from Easter till October
Derwent Edge
Hope Valley, S33 0AX | 60 mins
Derwent Edge consists of a short but challenging walk with the reward of Derwent Edge at the top where you can enjoy views as far as the eye can see. The walk to get there is easily followed thanks to the signs that you will see along the way. Or follow the link below which gives you a step by step on what the walk consists of and where you can park.
- Views of Ladybower Reservoir, Crook Hill, Win Hill & Kinder Scout
- 2.5 mile walk that will take around an hour to complete
- Short, challenging walk with fairly steady climb up and steep descent
- The terrain consists of moorland and rocky paths
Dovedale Stepping Stones
Dovedale, Ilam, Ashbourne, DE6 2AY | 15 mins
The popular Dovedale Stepping Stones can be accessed from Ilam Park which is a 158 acre country park owned by the National Trust. There’s also Dovedale House within this park along with the Dovedale stepping stones that you can walk to. Along the walk you will see plenty of wildlife like sheep and cattle so ensure if you have dogs that they are on leads.
- 3 mile circular walk which takes around 2 hours
- Head out early for the walk as it gets busy
- After heavy rain stepping stones are often submerged, save walk for when the weather has been dry
- One of the most popular hotspots in the Peak District
Thor’s Cave
Ashbourne, ST13 7TS | 16 mins
Located in the Manifold Valley of the White Peak in Staffordshire, Thor’s Cave has become an extremely iconic natural cavern to explore. The cave can be seen at the foot of the valley 80ft up so you can imagine how impressive the views are when you get to the opening of the cave. The circular hike will take you over a mixture of paths and open grounds.
- One of the Peak District’s most iconic landmarks
- 5 mile walk which takes around 3 hours to complete
- Excavations at the cave revealed 10,000 year old remains
- The Verve used Thor’s Cave for the cover art for ‘A Storm in Heaven’
Stanage Edge
Hope Valley, S32 1DZ | 44 mins
If you are looking for somewhere with stunning views and a unique hike then heading to Stanage Edge would be a great idea. There are various car parks around the area which create different types of walks but the most popular is around 9km long. During the walk you can also find the popular Robin Hood’s Cave.
- Stanage Edge is around 3.5 miles in Length
- Most popular car park to use is Hathersage Village Car Park
- Walking route is 9km and takes around 3-4 hours
- The Dale Road parking will make your route shorter
Ladybower Reservoir
Hope Valley, SS33 6RA | 45 mins
The Ladybower Reservoir is a Y shaped reservoir that the River Derwent and River Ashop flow into. It is extremely popular as a walking route and many visitors also come just to enjoy the views and scenery around the reservoir. Particularly the Ladybower Reservoir “plug hole” which you can see in the image above.
- Built between 1935 and 1943 and opened by King George VI
- Rainbow and brown trout are in these waters
- 5 mile walk around the reservoir takes between 1 and 2 hours
- Shaft spillways (plug hole) is there to regulate water levels after prolonged rain spells.
There are so many other amazing viewpoints in the Peak District that you can explore. They are the perfect way to have a day out if you are staying at Rivendale Lodge Retreat. Our resort can then help you relax and unwind with the on-site bistro & bar.