There are some trips where you come home feeling as though you’ve managed to squeeze an extraordinary amount into just a couple of days. Our latest Peak District adventure was definitely one of those.
We had woodland paths, tunnels, caves, cows, bridges, playgrounds, rivers, rock climbing, cake and - very importantly when you’re travelling with a small child - plenty of opportunities to stop and investigate completely random things along the way.
This time we based ourselves near Bakewell, putting us within easy reach of some of our favourite parts of the Peak District: Monsal Trail, Ravenstor, Buxton and Tideswell Dale.
Wandering around Bakewell
Bakewell is an easy place to begin a Peak District trip with children. It’s pretty, compact and made for wandering rather than rushing.
We walked beside the River Wye, watched the ducks and geese, explored around the old stone bridge and generally pottered around at three-year-old speed. As an added bonus, if you follow the path along the river (with the river to your left), you will eventually arrive at a park with a fantastic playground.
Bakewell truly shines on a sunny day. The river and old stone buildings make it feel unmistakably Peak District, while numerous cafés and shops mean there’s always somewhere nearby for an emergency snack.
Ravenstor & The Monsal Trail
One of the best parts of the trip was heading down through the countryside around Ravenstor.
This was much more Adventure Bear territory.
Joining the footpath that begins on the outskirts of YHA Ravenstor, we descended into shady woodland, with huge trees, mossy rocks and plenty of little places to scramble and explore.
From the valley we climbed upwards and eventually joined the Monsal Trail. (Note: there are a LOT of steps; this is not a stroller-friendly route.) The trail follows a former railway line, so much of it is wonderfully level and easy to walk once you're actually on it. It’s a fantastic family route because there is so much to see along the way, but the real stars are the old railway tunnels.
Walking from bright sunshine into the cool darkness of a tunnel instantly makes an ordinary walk feel like an expedition. The tunnels are lit, but they're still wonderfully atmospheric. There are echoes, dripping walls and that little pinprick of daylight waiting at the other end.
We also scrambled down from the trail towards the river, where the whole landscape changes again: steep limestone sides, woodland and water hidden far below the old railway.
It’s one of the things we love most about this part of the Peak District. Within a relatively short walk you can move between open countryside, woodland, rivers, cliffs and tunnels.
For children, there is always something new coming.
A Buxton day
After all that walking and exploring, Buxton provided a slightly different sort of adventure.
We headed to the Pavilion Gardens, which are a gift to anyone travelling with young children. There are large playground areas, lakes, a miniature train to ride, and pedalos. Alongside the Gardens is the Pavillion building itself; in here, you will find a cafe and bar with a small, free, soft play area. During the summer holidays, various other activities also take place here (on the day we visited, there were multiple bouncy castles set up in one of the Pavillion indoor areas).
Buxton itself is beautiful too, so it works particularly well when the grown-ups fancy somewhere interesting to explore but the small people are lobbying heavily for playground time.
Everybody wins.
Tideswell Dale
Our final adventure took us to Tideswell Dale, one of those Peak District spots that somehow feels both dramatic and incredibly peaceful. The path follows the dale between steep green slopes, patches of woodland and towering plants.
This is a lovely option for families because you don’t need to tackle an enormous hike to feel as though you're properly out in the landscape.
There are bridges to cross, things to spot in the undergrowth, caves, wooden sculptures, and plenty of places where you can simply stop and look around.
The best kind of family adventure
None of the things JJ enjoyed most on this trip were complicated.
Sitting on a wooden sculpture.
Looking inside a cave.
Crossing a bridge.
Spotting cows.
Climbing rocks.
Running through a railway tunnel.
Watching ducks in Bakewell.
Conquering a playground climbing wall.
And that's exactly why we love trips like this.
Family adventures don't have to mean expensive days out or complicated itineraries. Give children somewhere interesting to explore and suddenly a woodland path becomes an expedition, a tunnel becomes a mystery and an ordinary rock becomes something that absolutely must be climbed immediately.
The area around Bakewell, Buxton, Monsal Trail, Ravenstor and Tideswell Dale is particularly good for this kind of slow exploring. There is an enormous amount packed into a relatively small part of the Peak District, so you can have several completely different adventures without spending half your trip in the car.
We came home tired, dusty and carrying the usual collection of completely essential sticks and stones.
Which is generally the sign of a very successful Adventure Bear trip.
Adventure Bear tips
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Bakewell is an easy starting point if you want cafés, riverside wandering and a gentle first adventure.
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Monsal Trail is excellent for children because the old railway route is largely level, and the tunnels provide instant excitement.
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If you're exploring below the trail around Ravenstor, expect rougher paths, rocks and some steeper sections.
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Buxton Pavilion Gardens is perfect for breaking up walking days with plenty of space and playground time.
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Tideswell Dale works beautifully for a slower family walk where simply exploring the landscape is the activity.
Adventure doesn’t have to be far away. Sometimes it’s waiting down the next path.