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Peak Connections Guides

Travel by train to the Peak District and DerbyshireTravel by train to the Peak District and DerbyshireIf you're looking to explore by bus or train, the Peak Connections Guides are a great way to get a flavour of attractions and places to visit within the Peak District and National Park – they also give details of how to get here using public transport.
 
However, there's much more to see and do across the whole of the Peak District and Derbyshire region – use the Guides to plan your own great days out in this stunning part of the UK. You'll find an overview of each Guide below, together with a link to download a pdf of each.
 
 
Peak Connections Guide - ChatsworthPeak Connections Guide - ChatsworthChatsworth
There's so much to see and do for all ages at Chatsworth... and improved bus services now take you direct to the entrance.
 
Chatsworth was recently voted the UK's favourite stately home and it's easy to see why – inside the house, the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire present one of Europe's finest private collections of treasures, while the gardens and parkland are stunning throughout the seasons.
 
Younger visitors love to see the animals in the working farmyard and the woodland adventure playground is a real draw, too. The Chatsworth Peak Connections Guide has details of what's on offer, together with information on public transport links and discount entry vouchers for visitors arriving by bus.
 
 
 
 

 
Peak Connections Bus 58Peak Connections Bus 58Macclesfield, Buxton and Bakewell (Bus 58)
 
Bus 58 – the route with a view! Enjoy a spectacular journey across the Cat & Fiddle road which links Cheshire and Derbyshire. Visit Macclesfield on the edge of the Cheshire plains, home to the historic silk museums which tell the story of the town’s history producing silk textiles.
 
Explore Buxton, one of England's original spa towns, with its many splendid buildings including the Crescent and Pump rooms. You can also sample Buxton spring water, which flows freely from St Anne’s well opposite the Grand Crescent, or stroll through the recently restored Pavilion gardens' 23 acres of Victorian splendour.
 
On Sundays and bank holiday Mondays, bus 58 also connects to the market town of Bakewell and the delights of Chatsworth house and gardens.
 
To help you get the most from your days out, the Guide includes vouchers for the Macclesfield Silk Museums and Chatsworth House – these give discounted admission when presented with a valid bus ticket and are available to download in the guide.
 
 
 
Peak Connections - Days Out from SheffieldPeak Connections - Days Out from Sheffield
 
Days Out from Sheffield
 
This guide highlights the wide range of destinations that can be visited by catching a bus or train in Sheffield to the Peak District and National Park.
 
It provides a good mini-guide of places to visit and sights to see, together with relevant bus numbers and train stations for getting here easily using public transport.
 
There’s a wide range of discount vouchers giving reduced admission to attractions across the region when accompanied by a valid bus ticket on the day of entry.
 
 
Peak Connections Guide - Castleton Peak Connections Guide - Castleton Castleton and Edale, Hope Valley (Bus 260)
 
Bus 260 operates all year on Sundays and bank holiday Mondays, and also on summer Saturdays – the route passes through the stunning scenery between Edale Station and Castleton, via Winnats Pass and the Caverns.
 
Edale Station has a good train link between Sheffield and Manchester, offering easy access from a wide area. The village, which lies at the head of the beautiful Edale valley, is celebrated as the start of the Pennine Way, while the valley itself is home to small hamlets, known locally as booths. Grindsbrook Booth has a railway station, two pubs, a café and several campsites.
 
Castleton has been a popular tourist destination for hundreds of years thanks to its stunning location and unique attractions. It is renowned for its four limestone show caves – Treak Cliff, Blue John, Speedwell and Peak - all of which can easily be visited by using Bus 260.
 
Peveril Castle, positioned majestically above the village, offers breathtaking views across the Hope Valley and is an ideal spot for children to go back in time and imagine themselves as Norman soldiers!
 
See the Peak Connections Days out to Sheffield Guide for discount vouchers that can be used to visit Treak Cliff Cavern and Peveril Castle
 
 
 
Peak Connections Guide - Park and RidePeak Connections Guide - Park and RideUpper Derwent Valley - Park & Ride (Bus 222)
 
The Upper Derwent Valley is home to the spectacular reservoirs of Ladybower, Derwent and Howden dams, an area popular with walkers and cyclists.
 
It is world renowned as the location where RAF 617 squadron 'Dambusters' practiced their daring mission on the Ruhr valley in Germany and where Dr Barnes Wallis' famous 'bouncing bombs' were tested.
 
Located in the tower of the Derwent Valley dam is a museum which houses a collection of memorabilia dedicated not only to the dam raids but also to their construction, detailing the stories of tin town and the sacrificed villages lost under the waters of the dams.
 
Bus 222, operating on weekends and Bank Holiday Mondays, offers a range of opportunities when visiting the area. You can enjoy a trip along the banks of the dams to see areas which are closed to traffic on summer weekends, or simply use the bus as a means of exploring different areas on foot by hopping on or off and walking the rest!
 

 
 
Kedleston HallKedleston HallPeak Connections to Kedleston Hall, Derby

Take a trip back in time to the 1760s, when wealth and power enabled the creation of this outstanding house and beautiful landscaped park.

Let Mrs Garnett, the 18th century housekeeper, welcome you to the Hall, where you can discover stunning Robert Adams interiors – the most complete sequence in the country and containing their original furniture and paintings.

The redeveloped Smoking Room provided an information and rest facility and includes the new virtual Tour, which gives access to the state floor for visitors who are unable to climb the stairs.

There are four superb walking trails around the 800 acre park, while the garden has been restored as an 18th century 'Pleasure Ground'.
 
 
 
Hop On and ExploreHop On and Explore
Hop on and explore the Peak District as a family.
Tess the TrainTess the Train 
Let younger members of the family meet Bruce the Bus and Tess the train in this delightfully illustrated leaflet aimed at children.
 
In the leaflet are lots of ideas of places to visit as a family, some with sample bus routes and times. In the centre is a map showing showing key bus routes so why not plan a family day out using the information  and websites featured. Bruce the BusBruce the Bus
 
Many of the featured attractions offer discounted entry for visitors arriving by bus simply show your bus ticket accompanied by the relevant voucher.
 
Children, why not have a go at the word search, all the words to find are linked with green transport. There is a free gift and prize draw for correct answers and for younger children you can have a go at spotting Bruce the Bus and Tess the Train hidden on the pages of the leaflet.
 
 
 
Ride and RambleRide and RambleRide and Ramble

New for 2008, Peak Connections has produced a book of 20 linear walks linked with public transport. It is available from Tourist Information Centres in the area or from the National Park online shop priced at £6.95
 
Explore the Peak District the green way, Ride and Ramble features walks across the Greater Peak District all linked with public transport. Plan your walk using the free bus timetable which accompanies the book.
 
Either take the bus to the start of the walk or complete the walk and catch the bus back. One of the best ways to explore the Peak District is on foot so enjoy the walks in the book and know that by traveling by public transport you are helping keep the Peak District green!
 
 
Your views are welcomed
More Peak Connections Guides are planned, but if there are any particular areas you'd like to see featured, or you've planned your own itineraries that have worked really well, please share them with us by emailing peak.connections@peakdistrict.gov.uk
 
 

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