The Peak District has two distinct characters which are derived from the geology.

To the South and East there is a Limestone deposit, and here the characteristic light grey dry stone walls and buildings dominate the landscape. Rolling hills, farm land, with steep sided valleys, clear streams and rivers - generally referred to as The White Peak

To the North and West Gritstone is evident by the dark bare stone that strikes out of the ground in places to form weather sculptured buttresses and windswept tors. The less fertile soils result in large areas of moorland. Again the dry stone walls are to be seen but they are of a dark colour and look almost black as they divide up the moors. Farming tends to on the more fertile land in the valley bottoms. This is known as The Dark Peak, dark stone and it gives the appearance of having a dark nature.

The area is the home and workplace for many people, the national park is not a museum, it is part of the modern world, the locals welcome visitors, the local economy derives much of its income from tourism but it is a home and workplace please be patient if you find yourself behind a slow tractor.

The area can offer much in activities and past times, walking is probably the most obvious, cycling, fishing, horse riding too but there is potholing, rock climbing, hang gliding and paragliding . The area has for a long time been a favourite with artists, photographers and bird watchers and for a landlocked part of the world there are many water sports available on some of the lakes and reservoirs. It is a place where you can be active or relax and loose yourself.

There is a variety of accommodation available from basic camping to fully pampered luxury. The area is after all well used to servicing tourist’s needs and it has some excellent Hotels, Restaurants and Country Inns.

Cheshire encroaches into the National Park and from the high moor of Shining Tor on a clear day there are views far across the flat Cheshire plain, but as the roads wind down towards Macclesfield the moor is left behind and the Macclesfield Forrest takes over. Though some of this area is still within the Peak District the hills and wooded valleys continue outside the boundary across towards the border with Staffordshire.

There is some good walking and some strenuous cycling or mountain biking to be had around here. The area has many small villages that have retained their charm and good country pubs. There is more on the 'Hidden Gems' page