Last winter we went to the Peak District in the United Kingdom, a place I have been multiple times before but that I always find magical. It is a beautiful area where you can do wonderful hikes, scrambles and climbing.
We stayed in this very romantic English cottage near Bakewell, known for its Bakwell tarts, a lovely treat you should try when you are around! Now even though it was winter we specifically went to go walking in the beautiful landscape.
On the first day we went to see Robin Hoods Stride, a crop of gritstone rock sticking out of the landscape. This place was already inhabitated in the time of the Romans and still people come here to look at the rocks and the view. From the parking by the side of the road it is a short 30 minute hike to the top and the views.
On a nice summer day you could go for a picnic here, or if you are feeling adventerous you could go for a climb, there are a few short routes on the gritstone. But even if you are not a climber, there is enough places to clamber through and feel like one. To be rewarded with a beautiful view.
After a super rainy day spent inside our romantic cottage the weather improved and we decided to go to one of my favorite places: Lud's Church. This is a beautiful place in the Peak District in the woods where after a hike of about an hour suddenly you find yourself in a landscape that is like Jurrassic Park.
It is a large chasm that opens up suddenly in the bedrock. You can walk around here and look at all the ferns that are growing in the rock. During the rainy time of the year (and when is the UK not rainy?) you will get a bit muddy here, but that only makes it more fun!
In the summer it will get pretty busy here, but as we were here in January it was nice and quiet and we practically had the place to ourselves. You can park the car at the bottom and decide to hike up to Lud's Church and then head back. But for an even better walk you can combine it with a visit to the Roaches, perhaps the most well-known landmark in the Peak District. The Roaches lies on the high ground above Lud's Church and is a beautiful place to hike with a view, or to climb or do bouldering on the rocks.
On the way back we had this beautiful view and we felt happy and accomplished for our walk of the day. In short, the Peak District is a beautiful and magical place and no matter the weather a place you should visit! All pictures are of course my own and I hope you enjoy!