Towns & Villages
Discover a world of charming market towns and picture-postcard villages.
Steeped in history, surrounded by countryside and brimming with idyllic cottages, quaint shops and characterful pubs, there are so many picturesque towns and villages to explore in the Peak District and Derbyshire.
Admire everything from historic houses to Georgian grand designs on a circular town centre trail, or browse for local produce and quality souvenirs in one of our vibrant market towns.
Plus, with so many great attractions to visit nearby and unique places to stay, you'll be spoilt for choice. Here are some of the best towns and villages to visit in the Peak District and Derbyshire.
Near Ashbourne
Alstonefield
Alstonefield is a small picturesque village in the White Peak area of the Peak District National Park.
Hartington
The home of cheese-making in Derbyshire and one of the prettiest villages in the Peak.
Ilam
Ilam (eye-lamb) nestles beside the River Manifold in the Staffordshire Peak District among limestone hills. It sits in the Peak District National Park on the Staffordshire border with Derbyshire, close to the famous Dovedale valley.
Osmaston
A very picturesque estate village with pretty cottages along tree-lined lanes. Just off the A52 south east of Ashbourne, this really is a model village. Built to serve the now demolished Osmaston Manor.
Sudbury
A delightful former estate village with charming rows of red-bricked cottages and gabled houses line the main street. Sudbury Hall is a splendid late 17th Century mansion, with sumptuous interiors, formal gardens, deer cote and lakeside meadows.
Tissington
A perfect picture book village with beautiful cottages built around a noble old hall, fine church and duck pond. Home of the FitzHerbert family for over 400 years and it is their splendid Jacobean residence at the Hall.
Near Bakewell
Ashford in the Water
One of the Peak District's most picturesque villages and most photographed bridges.
Baslow
Nestling on the northern fringe of Chatsworth Park, the attractive village of Baslow is close to some of the Dark Peak's most dramatic scenery.
Beeley
Situated six miles north of Matlock, at the southern end of Chatsworth Park, Beeley was originally an estate village inhabited by employees of the Duke of Devonshire.
Calver
A pleasant stone built village in the Derwent Valley, its' surroundings combine some of the best of both White and Dark peak scenery.
Curbar
A delightful hillside village with fantastic views over the Derwent Valley to the White Peak.
Edensor
Specially commissioned by the 6th Duke of Devonshire, Edensor is a quintessentially English village.
Great Longstone
An attractive limestone village set around a pretty little green with an old cross.
Grindleford
In a glorious setting in the Derwent Valley, Grindleford is surrounded by wooded hillsides, looking up to some classic gritstone edge scenery.
Hassop
A small picturesque hamlet with some grand buildings and fine architecture set in beautiful countryside.
Monyash
A picturesque green, with the remnants of an old market cross. The attractive church of St Leonard has an elegant spire atop and is a landmark in the surrounding countryside. The Limestone Way passes through the village.
Over Haddon
There are some pretty little cottages in this quiet village and spectacular views over the surrounding hills and dales. Nearby are good camp and caravan sites, holiday homes and also some guest accommodation is available in the village.
Pilsley
A very pretty village on the Chatsworth estate. The mellow gritstone cottages, many occupied by estate workers at Chatsworth. There is a spacious green in the centre of the village and there are some superb views all around.
Stoney Middleton
Stoney Middleton is an idyllic blend of history, nature, and rural charm.
Near Belper
Brackenfield
Surrounded by beautiful countryside, this pretty village is close to Ogston Reservoir.
Heage
Heage is a scattered village lying between the larger towns of Ripley and Belper. The village ls in two main parts, Heage itself, and Nether Heage. Neither village has a centre with Heage Windmill being the most notable attraction
Milford
Once a quiet hamlet situated in the large deer forest, from Duffield to Wirksworth, until Jedediah Strutt set up a water powered cotton mill here and built housing for his workforce. Some of the housing still remains in Hopping Hill.
Near Buxton
Bamford
Bamford is an attractive village and popular visitor destination close to walking routes and the reservoirs.
Flagg
A small Peak District village nestled in the Derbyshire Dales near Buxton and Bakewell.
Great Hucklow
A charming, peaceful little village set under Hucklow Edge in splendid countryside.
Hurdlow
A small hamlet consisting of a cluster of buildings around Hurdlow Hall and Hurdlow Grange. Hurdlow Hall is a working farm, whilst Hurdlow Grange, dating back over 300 years, which is now holiday accommodation.
Litton
This typical of the limestone White Peak village, set in glorious countryside. At the heart of the village is a pretty village green with its' old stocks, surrounded by pretty cottages.
Longnor
A sizeable village with its bustling square and streets of stone houses. Overlooking the cobbled marketplace, from where you can embark on a tour of the village and discover several hidden alleyways and passages, is the historic Longnor Craft Centre.
Miller's Dale
Here an exceptionally beautiful section of the River Wye, where it winds through sinuous limestone dales. Set in the heart of the Peak District few places can match the fabulous scenery. The National Park Ranger Centre.
Parwich
With its' back against Parwich Hill, the village spreads around the old pond and spacious green, has some pretty cottages and neat gardens. Close by are both the High Peak Trail and Tissington Trail, former railway lines.
Tideswell
Tideswell has some fine old buildings and a magnificent church, St John the Baptist, known as the "Cathedral of the Peak", built entirely in the 14th century.
Near Chesterfield
Millthorpe
Millthorpe is a tiny hamlet in the parish of Holmesfield, surrounded by beautiful countryside verging onto the Peak District National Park. Visit in early summer to see the rhododendrons in Cordwell Valley in full flower.
Renishaw
A pretty village in the north of Derbyshire, is most famous for Renishaw Hall, the home of the Sitwell Family for the last 400 years, built in 1625 by George Sitwell. Renishaw was also a mining village.
Near Derby
Breadsall
A picturesque old village on the outskirts of Derby, surrounded by woodland and steeped in history.
Swarkestone
An important crossing point of the River Trent, marked by the handsome river bridge of 1797, known as Swarkestone Bridge; this is the longest stone bridge in England.
Near Leek
Near Matlock
Bonsall
An attractive, historic former lead-mining village set in steep-sided converging limestone dales.
Lea
Lea is situated in picturesque countryside climbing up from the Derwent Valley. Its most famous resident was Florence Nightingale and is home to the official John Smedley factory shop at Lea Mills.
Winster
Hidden up in the limestone hills and surrounded by glorious scenery. With more than 70 listed buildings, foremost being the Old Market Hall, dating from the 17th century, together with The Old Hall and Dower House, and a conservation area.
Near New Mills
Buxworth
This small village at the start of the Peak Forest Canal is home to Bugsworth Basin.
Chapel-en-le-Frith
Historically kown as the 'Capital of the Peak', the quaint village of Chapel is brimming with history.
Hayfield
Situated at the foot of the Kinder Scout, Hayfield is renowned for its annual Country Show and Sheepdog trials. You will find a range of shops as well as a popular art gallery and gift shop and the Sett Valley Trail links Hayfield to New Mills.
Rowarth
The picturesque hamlet of Rowarth sits below the plateau of Cown Edge and is a popular destination for walkers. With fabulous views over to the kinder plateau and the other nestled at the bottom of the valley still has an original working waterwheel.
Near Wirksworth
Carsington
A peaceful little limestone village, which gave its name to the nearby Carsington Water.
South Derbyshire
Melbourne
A small and attractive Georgian market town in South Derbyshire. One of the best-known features is the old mill pool known as Melbourne Pool.
Repton
Former capital of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, today the principal street is lined with a number of handsome Georgian houses and cottages. The Medieval cross on its imposing octagonal steps serves as a focal point. For lovers of real ale,
Shardlow
Shardlow and Stourbridge are the only two inland ports which still exist largely intact in Britain. Shardlow's impressive collection of warehouses and boat owner's houses, with the waterway as a backbone.
Ticknall
Until the 1980's, most of the village of Ticknal in The National Forest was owned by the Harpur Crewe estate. It still has the character of an estate village and enjoys an unspoilt countryside setting.
Willington
Situated north of Repton between the River Trent and the Trent and Mersey Canal, home to Mercia Marina - Derbyshire's largest waterside marina attraction, a shopping and holiday destination.
North East Derbyshire
Erewash
Kirk Hallam
Situated on a branch of the Erewash canal, near Ilkeston, about 8 miles from Derby. The wildlife haven of Kirk Hallam Lake and Meadows is close by and comprises a large lake, home to a variety of waterfowl.
Amber Valley
Alfreton
Visit the town of Alfreton for a range of national high street shops, small local businesses plus a traditional Indoor Market Hall
Heanor
Visit the town of Heanor for a stroll around the established high street. From family butches to local florists, independent bakers and ale houses, and a range of places to shop!
Ripley
This market town offers a small traditional outdoor market. Established by Henry III by royal decree in 1250, the Charter Market is one of the oldest in Derbyshire.
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