Birchen Edge

The walk up to Birchen Edge takes about twenty minutes from the car park near Bakewell, and you'll know you're getting close when the gritstone starts looking properly dramatic. It's a weathered sandstone outcrop that rises sharply from the moorland, and once you're up there the views across the Peak District are genuinely impressive - Chatsworth House sits in the valley below like something from a stately home brochure, but seeing it from up here actually does something.

The edge itself is a scramble rather than a stroll. There are carved steps worn into the rock face, some ancient, some from Victorian walkers who clearly thought the same route looked good. A few weathered stone seats sit at the top - local legend has it they were used for courting back in the day, though I reckon people mainly just sat here to catch their breath. You get maybe an hour up here before you've seen what there is to see, unless you're the type who'll spend two hours trying to photograph the light hitting the rocks at different angles.

This works best for walkers and people who like a bit of grit beneath their feet. Kids who enjoy scrambling will get a kick out of it; younger ones might find it a slog. There's no tea shop, no facilities - bring water.

Staying at Chatsworth Park Caravan and Motorhome Club or Lambs Glamping puts you minutes away, making this a perfect half-morning activity before heading into Bakewell proper for lunch. Free to visit, open whenever you fancy really.