Begin your adventure into the UK's first ever national park, the Peak District, from Manchester.
You will be picked up by your driver guide from one of our two main pick-up points on Chorlton Street or Liverpool Road and begin your short journey to an area of exceptional beauty and history.
The Peak district became the UK's first national park in 1951 following years of unrest with the general public about being denied access to areas of open country. The Kinder Tresspass is a landmark in the campaign for general access to open moorland in the country which led to the birth of national parks almost 20 years later.
After leaving Manchester you will travel through stunning scenery to the first stops of your journey, the Ladybower and Derwent Reservoirs. These reservoirs provide stunning views along glistening expanses of water and are an unparalleled photo stop on this wonderful journey.
Derwent Reservoir is also home to Derwent Dam, the location which the Dam Buster pilots practised their low flying manoeuvres during WWII before carrying out their attacks on the Möhne and Edersee dams in Germany.
Continuing on you will travel along meanding roads towards Mam Tor, or the Mother Hill, named for the frequent landslips which have created a collection of smaller hills at the base of the slope. Known as the Shivering Mountain locally this part of the Peak District provides stunning views all around, make sure you bring a camera!
From Mam Tor you will travel on to Castleton, a charming, sleepy village in the heart of the Peak District surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. It is also the home of Peveril Castle, built by Henry II this is thought to be one of the earliest Norman fortresses in England.
Travel on to Eyam, a small Anglo-Saxon village in the hills of Derbyshire. It is known as the "Plague Village" due to the village imposing a self-quarantine on its inhabitants during an outbreak of Bubonic Plague in 1665.
From the sinister village of Eyam you will travel onwards to the open grounds of Chatsworth House (please note the tour only stops in the grounds of Chatsworth for a brief time, it does not include entry to the gardens or house itself).
The grounds of the stately home are a pleasantly peaceful place to spend a moment and take in the verdant fields and lazy river which flows through them. Marvel at the incredible house which is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire and has been home to the Cavendish family since 1549.
Continue on through the beautiful scenery of the Peak District and visit Ashford in the Water known for the quarrying of black marble and the medieval Sheepwash Bridge. Shortly after you will visit Monsal Head a stunning Site of Special Scientific Interest and Conservation.
Finally you will visit Tideswell Church, known as the "Cathedral of the Peak" it is one of the largest and most perfect Churches in the area.
After a stop at Tideswell you will return to Manchester to finish your day out exploring the Peak District.