Bagging the Welsh dragon in the Black Mountains
Crossing the Black Mountains, starting at Pandy and moving on to Hay-on-Wye, the route has incredible views and a line of trig points ending in one decorated with a Welsh dragon.
The Peak District is home to some of the best examples of the British countryside, from rolling hills, river dales and stunning rock displays. Discover some of the best locations to find these views here.
Discover amazing views from natural vantage points at every turn in Britain’s first national park. Enjoy rolling hills, river dales and panoramic views across the plateaus in the beautiful White Peak – limestone country – where you will see miles of distinctive drystone walls, scattered farmsteads and picturesque villages. Experience the wilder landscapes of the Dark Peak – gritstone country – with breathtaking vistas of majestic moorlands and dramatic rock edges. Or escape to the South West Peak for hidden valleys, moorlands and stunning rocky outcrops.
Top spots for best views:
- Stanage Edge – the jewel in the Peak District National Park’s crown. Popular with climbers, walkers and wildlife watchers. It is near Hathersage, Derbyshire. Buy a Stanage Sticker and park for free for a year.
- Tissington Trail – 13 miles of gently sloping, traffic-free trail, suitable for all ages and abilities, with cycle hire centres at Ashbourne and Parsley Hay.
Tissington Trail - Image//PDNPA
- Monsal Head – the Peak District’s most photographed view. Gaze at beautiful Monsal Dale and the impressive high stone arches of Headstone Viaduct and the accessible, multi-user Monsal Trail route.
- Edale Skyline – walk up Jacobs Ladder and enjoy incredible views from the edge of the Kinder Plateau. Maps available at the Moorland Centre in Edale. Camp at Fieldhead.
Cycling at Stanage - Image//PDNPA
Stanage Edge - Image//PDNPA
- Winnats Pass and Mam Tor – local maps and information available at Castleton Visitor Centre.
- Roaches – discover breathtaking views and amazing wildlife at this Staffordshire Wildlife Trust reserve. Excellent for climbing, walking and bird-watching.
Bakewell - Image//PDNPA
- Shutlingsloe – the ‘Cheshire Matterhorn’ – a lovely hill offering views over the Cheshire plain to the Welsh mountains on a clear day. Park at Trentabank in the Macclesfield Forest.
- Thorpe Cloud – this hill in the south of the national park, near Ashbourne, towers above the unforgettable limestone gorge of Dovedale and the famous stepping stones across the River Dove.
Derwent Reservoir - Image//PDNPA
Discover more of the Peak District National Park at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/.
