Curbar Edge

The gritstone edge rises abruptly from the moorland just outside Bakewell, and once you're up on top of Curbar Edge, you understand why people keep coming back. It's a proper walk - nothing too punishing, but it demands respect from your legs. The rocky outcrops give you genuine views across the Peak District, the kind that make you stop and actually look rather than just snap a photo for the feed.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a casual stroll - you're scrambling up millstone grit, picking your way across uneven terrain, and the reward is solitude that's genuine rather than manufactured. On a clear day the vistas stretch for miles. On a grey one, the mist rolls in and everything becomes moody and atmospheric. Both are worth experiencing.

The walk takes a couple of hours depending on your fitness and how many times you stop to catch your breath or admire the view. It's free to access - this is proper Peak District, which means it's just there, waiting. No gates, no entrance fees. Go early if you can, especially weekends, because the car park does fill up.

If you're camping nearby - Chatsworth Park or one of the other sites within a few miles - this makes a cracking half-day expedition. Combine it with a wander around Bakewell itself and you've got a solid morning. Not for families with small kids unless you're confident on uneven ground, but older children who can manage rough terrain will find it genuinely exciting rather than a boring parental obligation.