Accessible days out and places to visit in the Peak District and Derbyshire

Limestone valleys, breathtaking views, stunning countryside and quaint towns and villages… the Peak District and Derbyshire is one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations. It’s also one of the most accessible, and you’ll find a great variety of wonderful wheelchair-friendly places to visit. Here are some great accessible places to visit in the Peak District and Derbyshire, including amazing wheelchair-friendly attractions, pushchair-friendly walks and scenic viewpoints, all given our seal of approval for accessibility.

The historic spa town of Buxton has been famous since Roman times for its healing spa waters. Today, the town is known for its spectacular Victorian and Georgian architecture, including Grade I listed Crescent Hotel. Attractions in Buxton include Poole’s Cavern, a vast limestone cavern with crystal stalactites that have lined the chambers over millions of years. Wheelchair users can access the main chamber of the cave which is 100 metres/300ft long unassisted. There are a total of 28 steps along the remaining cave path, 14 up and 14 down. There are dedicated car parking bays for blue badge holders and level access through the visitor centre. Toilet facilities are fully accessible. The cavern is also dog-friendly.

For a unique experience to remember, take to the spectacular waters of Ladybower Reservoir, in the Peak District's beautiful Upper Derwent Valley, on board one of Ladybower Fisheries' award-winning, specially adapted Wheelyboats. These award-winning accessible boats have adapted fishing equipment and are dog friendly too!

Just a stone’s throw from the vibrant market towns of Matlock and Bakewell, Peak Village offers a quality shopping experience with easy access for all. Here national named retailers mingle with unique independent shops so you’ll find great value and choice in fashion, outdoor gear, homeware and gifts. The car park, shops, restaurant and toilets all offer level access with open courtyards in between. Parking is free and there’s designated disabled parking, with a handy customer drop off point at the entrance. Free wheelchairs are also available for use on-site and you can request one from any retailer.

Take a vintage tram ride through Crich Tramway Village, home of the National Tramway Museum, and marvel at the period street, before exploring fascinating exhibitions and relaxing in the Red Lion Pub or cosy tearooms. The nostalgic cobbled street will make you feel as though you’re stepping back in time, but there’s also a 'smoothway' providing a smoother alternative to the cobbles for wheelchairs and buggies. All buildings have lifts and ramps, and there’s also an adapted tram suitable for wheelchair users.

Wheelchairs are available for a small deposit and Crich Tramway Museum also offers free admission for carers alongside a discounted rate for less able visitors.

Get out into the great outdoors and meet furry friends on a trip to the family-friendly Matlock Farm Park. From deer, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and ducks, to meerkats, wallabies, alpaca, llama and rhea, you’ll find lots of animals to see and feed, with easy level access throughout the park.

Learn more about meerkats through daily talks, enjoy a wallaby encounter and watch ferret or sheep racing. Children will love burning off steam in the indoor play area and popular Garden Room Cafe serving delicious homemade meals and snacks. There are disabled parking facilities and a Changing Places toilet.

Magnificent Chatsworth has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family. Fantastic accessible facilities include full lift access to all floors, so visitors using wheelchairs can discover all of the magnificent rooms in the historic building, ranging from the Painted Hall and regal State Rooms to the beautiful Sculpture Gallery.

Visitors with visual impairments can choose a complimentary audio tour of the house when buying admission tickets and the sensory garden has been developed to stimulate all the senses, including sound, touch and smell. There is a free car park for Blue Badge holders and there are adapted lavatories near the house entrance, in the restaurant and at the farmyard. Assistance dogs are welcome in the house, garden and park.

Visit the world’s first water powered cotton spinning mill at Cromford and learn all about the first complete, factory system. At the heart of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, Cromford Mills was developed in 1771 by Sir Richard Arkwright. Discover how this remarkable mill site changed the world we live in today with a guided tour and trip inside the visitor centre, cafes and shops. Audio Tours are available everyday, and opposite the mill is Wheatcroft’s cafe with level access and a great location situated next to the wheelchair-friendly Cromford Canal. Carers are admitted free of charge and there’s a Changing Places toilet facility in the car park.

A haven for wildlife and wonderful flat walks, Cromford Canal was once a buzzing hub of Derbyshire’s industry. The canal was crucial to the success of Arkwright’s mill as it was the gateway for his cotton products to be shipped around the country. Nowadays the canal can be explored along the easy-going, level towpath between Cromford Wharf and Ambergate, a distance of just over 5 miles. It’s an ideal stretch for walkers of all ages and abilities with stunning scenery along the way. There’s a disabled toilet at Cromford Canal Wharf and at High Peak Junction, where there are also scooters available for hire.

One of the most iconic viewpoints in the Peak District, the pay and display car park (max stay 1 hour) at Monsal Head is free to blue badge holders. It overlooks Monsal Dale and the magnificent Headstone Viaduct, where the combination of the winding River Wye in the steep sided dale, the wooded slopes, and the striking viaduct (now the popular Monsal Trail), make it one of the most photographed locations in England.

After soaking up the views, drive the short distance to Hassop Station, near Bakewell, where you can access the flat-level Monsal Trail and cross the viaduct yourself! At Hassop Station, you can also hire adapted cycles for people with disabilities. The trail runs along the former Midland Railway line for 8.5 miles between Blackwell Mill, in Chee Dale and Coombs Road, at Bakewell.

Nestled between the market towns of Ashbourne and Wirksworth, Carsington Water is England’s ninth largest reservoir and is open all year round. Look out over the water from the level paths and accessible viewpoints, admire the wildlife in the accessible bird-watching hides, and learn all about the role of water in our daily lives in the Visitor Centre. There is also wheelchair access to the courtyard shops and restaurant, so you can dine on tasty food, treat yourself to an ice-cream and purchase unique gifts and clothing before admiring the waterside paths. Admission is free and there is free parking for blue badge holders. Mobility scooters and electric bikes are also available to hire.

Running almost flat throughout beautiful limestone countryside, these picturesque former railway lines have been converted into recreational routes for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. The trails are generally level and provide easy walking conditions for all abilities, including wheelchair users.

The High Peak Trail runs for 17 miles from near Buxton to High Peak Junction, Cromford. The Tissington Trail runs for 13 miles from Parsley Hay to Ashbourne. At Parsley Hay, the fantastic cycle hire facilities include accessible bikes such as trikes, tramper mobility scooters, hand-cranked bikes, trikes and wheelchair bikes.

Castleton is one of the highlights of the Peak District, with its central location and fantastic accessible bus services, there is ease of access to this wonderful ‘picture-postcard’ village, which is only 30 minutes from Sheffield. In this downloadable How to spend a day in Castleton itinerary, you can get a taste of accessible things to do in and around the village, including peaceful walks, places to eat and drink, and accessible viewpoints.

Having won multiple awards for its excellence accessibility credentials, including the Gold Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award at the 2024 Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards, Hoe Grange Holidays offers fantastic facilities for people with disabilities and those using a wheelchair.

Nestled in stunning countryside near Brassington, their cosy accessible log cabins have been designed with access in mind from the very beginning and offer a true home-from-home experience. You’ll find fantastic disabled features, spacious accessible layouts and even, level floors. There's a large range of specialist equipment such as large wet room showers with grab rails, plus state-of-the-art facilities for guests with hearing or visual impairments.

Hoe Grange is also located right next to the accessible High Peak Trail, and guests can hire a Boma 7 off-road wheelchair to explore the beautiful farm fields and surrounding countryside.