Peak District - rainy day alternatives?

[Nabinium]

I'm heading to the Peak District for a 3-night hiking trip in a few weeks. I'm after some suggestions of things to do in the event there's a torrential downpour, gale force winds or a sweltering hot day that climbing up hills or mountains wouldn't be fun.

I'm prepared in the sense of hiking gear, but I think even with the gear, hiking up hills in very bad weather probably isn't a good idea.

I'd prefer not to cancel the trip altogether. I've got Chatsworth Estate as a place to see if the weather is terrible, but any other ideas that are in the area would be helpful. Perhaps indoor things, or outdoor things like shorter/easier hikes in terrible weather?

Cheers!

 

[mid_gen]

The terrain isn't very serious in the Peak, there's not really anywhere off limits in rainy weather. Worth staying off the gritstone edges if it's very windy though as they properly catch the wind, especially if it's coming in from the West. Walks around the valleys will be better if it's proper blowy.

It really depends what you're into. There's lots of the usual pubs and stately homes and things if that's your thing. Most of the Peak villages/towns like Buxton, Matlock, Bakewell, Hathersage, etc are nice enough to stroll around and poke at some shops. Still not great if the weather's rubbish mind.

Personally if the weather was really grim I would probably take my ice axes down Masson Lees quarry and do some dry-tooling, but that's pretty niche Or just go into Sheffield and do some city things.

 

[Nabinium]

The terrain isn't very serious in the Peak, there's not really anywhere off limits in rainy weather. Worth staying off the gritstone edges if it's very windy though as they properly catch the wind, especially if it's coming in from the West. Walks around the valleys will be better if it's proper blowy.

That's good to know, thank you! Last year when I went to the Peaks for a day trip, I hiked up to Kinder Scout from Edale. Decent weather that day, so no issues. Though, I can imagine climbing the rocky Grindsbrook Clough with the waterfall on the way up sounds a bit sketchy in rainy/windy weather.

It really depends what you're into. There's lots of the usual pubs and stately homes and things if that's your thing. Most of the Peak villages/towns like Buxton, Matlock, Bakewell, Hathersage, etc are nice enough to stroll around and poke at some shops. Still not great if the weather's rubbish mind.

Yeah, we enjoy all of that. Got some pubs to check out. We've already got Chatsworth Estate on our list to see, so any other stately homes or things of natural beauty to explore would be nice.

Or just go into Sheffield and do some city things

Any recommendations of things to do in Sheffield? It'll just be the two of us, so no kids. Thank you for your suggestions.

EDIT: Also, if it's of any use, this was our loosely planned out hiking itinerary:

• Mam Tor and the Great Ridge
• Wetton Dale and Thor's Cave
• Thorpe Pastures, Upper Dove Dale, Bunster Hill, Dove Dale and Lin Dale
• Stanage Edge from Hathersage

Are these OK in rainy/windy weather, or would you avoid any?

 

[mid_gen]

Avoid Mam Tor, it’s become a TikTok trap, the parking is a nightmare and it will be absolutely rammed. Unless walking in crowds at a scene liberally scattered with toilet paper and rubbish is your thing.

Walking from Edale up Jacob’s Ladder or one of the other routes up to Kinder Scout will be much nicer.

Thor’s Cave and the dales are cool, definitely good shouts on windier days as they’re very sheltered.

Stanage Edge is great (I virtually live there at weekends for the climbing), but not the place to be if there’s a gale blowing.

In Sheffield I’d usually go stroll around Sharrow Vale/Nether Edge area, plenty of nice food and drink options and small shops and stuff.

 

[Nabinium]

Avoid Mam Tor, it’s become a TikTok trap, the parking is a nightmare and it will be absolutely rammed. Unless walking in crowds at a scene liberally scattered with toilet paper and rubbish is your thing.

I brought this up too and was actually the reason I wanted to avoid it, but I was told by other people that it's still worth checking out outside the weekend.
We put down to visit it on the Thursday, so would avoid the weekend crowds, but as it's school holidays, I assume Thursdays will be just as bad?

I do agree with you though, and your mention of toilet paper and rubbish is persuading me to just avoid it.

Just trying to think of one hike to replace Mam Tor. I did Edale to Kinder Scout last year, obviously no harm doing it again, but would prefer to explore somewhere I haven't been before.

 

[#Chri5#]

From Longnor you can do a nice circuit up to Hollinsclough to loop round and go up Chrome Hill. Add in Parkhouse Hill, up to Earl Sterndale and then across the valley, crossing the Dove to climb up to the ridge above Longnor. The Chapel Tea Rooms in Hollinsclough has good cake.

Another option could be to park in Over Haddon, drop into Lathkill Dale and head west. Climb out of the dale and head SE on Limestone Way which will take you to the River Bradford and past/into Youlgreave (with refreshment options). If you stay by the river to Alport, you can then pickup River Lathkill and go back into Lathkill Date at Conksbury Bridge to take you back to Over Haddon and the short climb back to the car park.

If you are round Over Haddon / Monyash, then Tagg Lane Dairy isn't far away for an ice cream - https://www.tagglanedairy.com/

 

[200sols]

The roaches down to luds church is a great walk. So many paths around you can make it as long as you like.

 

[Nabinium]

The roaches down to luds church is a great walk. So many paths around you can make it as long as you like.

I assume The Roaches down to Luds Church is fine to do in bad weather? @mid_gen your thoughts too?

We were thinking of replacing Edale with The Roaches, due to the weather.

Looks like the days we're going up to the Peaks next week increasingly looks like it's going to be rainy...

 

[mid_gen]

I assume The Roaches down to Luds Church is fine to do in bad weather? @mid_gen your thoughts too?

We were thinking of replacing Edale with The Roaches, due to the weather.

Looks like the days we're going up to the Peaks next week increasingly looks like it's going to be rainy...

Roaches to Ludd’s is nice. Great views out to the West, Joddrell Bank in the distance.

If you go there, do not park outside of a marked bay. Even an inch over a line you will get a ticket, and they ticket *every* day. You can park in a field by the tea rooms and chuck some money in the honesty box (think they ask for a fiver now).