Edale

Edale village is a walker’s paradise and the soul of the Peak District. Situated in the Hope Valley region, you get the best of Dark Peak moorlands on your hikes. There are only a few hundred residents, and yet, Edale covers a whopping 7030 acres of beautiful rolling hills. As a result, it feels less like a village and more like a collection of tucked away houses with shops spread out along wild footpaths. You’ll find lots of visitors embarking on long hill trails as it’s home to some of the best around. Here’s what to expect and everything to know before you visit.

Activities in Edale mostly consist of long hikes for more serious adventurers but there’s also a handful of places to eat and drink such as pubs and cafes if you’d rather enjoy the surrounding hills from the comfort of the village. So, let’s start with Edale walks.

Edale pubs have a good selection of drinks, lovely decor and a great atmosphere, mostly from visitors coming and going. However, don’t expect good value for money. The two pubs have little competition in a vast remote area flooded with tourists so food and service quality could be improved. The ‘main’ pub in Edale is The Old Nags Head. It’s the go-to place for hikers with ample space to stand at the bar and chat among friends and strangers alike. The Rambler Inn is more ideally situated being closer to the station so it still gets plenty of footfall. Rambler Inn is also the preferred choice for sitting outside in the summer. You get a nice view of surrounding hills from both sides with several benches and a grass area for relaxing. Castleton is a 15 minute drive away and the most popular village for pubs in the Peak District.

If you want places to eat other than a pub lunch, there are just two cafes at opposite ends of Edale village. Penny Pot cafe is ideally situated next to the station and a perfect stopping point to grab a tasty sandwich, sausage roll, pasty and coffee. It’s also unmatched for tea with a great selection. The inside is small but cosy while seating is quite scarce so it’s a better choice for food to eat on the go. The Fold cafe is part of Newfold Farm so it has a wider variety of locally sourced ingredients and hearty meals like english breakfast, burgers, woodfired handmade pizzas and sunday roast. Or grab some ice-cream and locally made cakes if you have a sweet tooth. They serve more vegan options and there’s room to sit inside and outside both in the front and back with nice views so overall it’s the best place to eat in Edale.

If you need any supplies before your walk or staying at one of the many holiday cottages, head to Newfold Farm near Edale primary school. It’s also a post office, which is handy for locals.

Holy Trinity church is a Parish Church in Edale. While not quite as magnificent as Hathersage church or Tideswell church, it’s a nice addition to the scenery and you can venture inside during your stay.

There are more campsites in Edale than just about anywhere in the Peak District. It’s the number 1 recommendation. All the campsites can get quite busy and there’s not much difference between them. Greenacres campsite and Waterside Farm campsite are a bit further out and nearer to the road but there’s less footfall walking past the campsites. Whereas Newfold Farm is best situated in Edale a short walk from the pubs with better facilities such as the general store and The Fold cafe and bar. But that also means more people are around throughout the day. They also offer glamping, a more luxurious type of camping in a tent which includes a bed, large wooden patio, firepit, cooking stove and equipment. Become Wild is another glamping option around Barber Booth, a quieter area with an exclusive hot tub, bell tent, bed, and the option for lovely home cooked meals from the farm owners.

Whilst wild camping isn’t permitted, there’s no better place to venture out into the wilderness for the night than the vast area north of Edale. The further up you go, the less likely you are to run into locals or tourists, which significantly increases your chances of going under the radar. However, it’s essential that you follow wild camping etiquette to avoid problems and go prepared in case of strong winds, flooding and freezing temperatures. Alport Castles is another wild alternative if you’re willing to hike 3-4 hours to get there.

Edale Visitor Centre is along the way into the village but closed from March 2025 after the council has struggled to keep up with rising costs. This is quite surprising given the amount of footfall but Peak Places is here to step in as your local source of information. The building still remains but the land could be sold and repurposed.

Edale is situated in the Hope Valley region of the Peak District, which is in rural central England. You can spot it between Castleton and Snake Road to the north. It’s easily accessible from Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Derby, and even Birmingham.

Getting there by train (recommended): Take the Sheffield/Manchester Northern Rail train from Sheffield station in 34 minutes or Manchester Piccadilly station in 44 minutes and get off at Edale station. You’ll arrive at the bottom of the village. Head north up Mary’s Lane.

Getting there by bus: Take the 62 Buxton to Castleton High Peak bus and get off at Edale rail station in 35 minutes. Or if you’re near Hope then get the same bus from there in just 15 minutes. Other routes are quite long and train or car is the preferable option.

Getting there by car: Use your GPS or Google Maps to find the village. Unless you’re staying at a private residence with parking spaces, you can’t park in the village and need to walk in. So, most visitors park in Edale car park – Water Meadows, Hope Rd, Edale, Hope Valley S33 7ZQ. It’s large but still difficult to get a space at peak times. Avoid non-allocated parking spots as they often hand out fines. There are free laybys all along Edale Road which may require an extra 5-20 minute walk.

• Winnats pass
• Castleton
• Barber Booth
• Blue John Cavern
• Bamford Edge
• Ladybower reservoir
• Buxton
• Lose Hill & Win Hill