Buxton

Roman baths still bubble away at the heart of this Georgian spa town, their warm waters having drawn visitors for nearly two millennia. Buxton sits dramatically in the High Peak, surrounded by limestone plateaus and ancient burial mounds that speak of Bronze Age settlements.

The thermal springs made this place famous. They still flow today, though most visitors now come for the stunning Georgian crescents and the opera house rather than taking the waters. The town sits at over 1,000 feet above sea level, making it one of England's highest market towns.

Arbor Low lies just a few miles southeast - this 4,000-year-old stone circle gets called the Stonehenge of the Peak District, though its fallen stones create a very different atmosphere. The nearby barrow of Gib Hill adds to the prehistoric landscape that surrounds Buxton. These ancient sites sit on the limestone plateau, offering proper big-sky country with views that stretch for miles.

Hartington makes for a lovely day out to the east, a proper Derbyshire village that's well worth the drive for its cheese shop and traditional pubs. The area around here is riddled with dry stone walls and field barns - classic Peak District farming country.

Getting here is straightforward enough. The A6 runs right through town, connecting Buxton to Manchester in the north and Derby to the south. The train line from Manchester still operates, though it's a bit slow through the hills.

Staying at one of the holiday parks scattered around the area puts you right in walking country. Rivendale Lodge Retreat and the various camping options at places like Bank House Farm give you easy access to both the town's Georgian architecture and the wild moorland beyond.