hoe grange blog posts
Browse through our blog posts to find out what life is like at Hoe Grange Holidays along with some great ideas for days out in the Peak District.
75 years of the Peak District National Park: why it still matters today
February 24, 2026Archives
Order
75 years of the Peak District National Park: history, walks and wide open spaces
If you’re planning a stay at Hoe Grange Holidays, you’re already on the southern edge of something very special. In 2026 the Peak District National Park celebrates 75 years since becoming Britain’s first national park; a landscape shaped by history, loved for its beauty, and treasured by generations of walkers, families, and countryside lovers. On the 17th April 22 church bells will ring out across the Peak District in celebration.
From rolling limestone dales and panoramic viewpoints to ancient sites, traditional villages and peaceful night skies, this remarkable place is one of the most accessible and inspiring corners of the UK. Read on to learn why the Peak District matters so much and how you can experience its magic during your stay.
A national park born from people power
On 17 April 1951, the Peak District was officially designated as Britain’s first national park, covering around 555 square miles, an area roughly the size of Greater London. But the roots of the park go back even further, to a time when much of the countryside was off-limits to ordinary people.
In 1932, a group of working-class ramblers staged the now-famous mass trespass on Kinder Scout, a rugged moorland plateau in the northern Peak. It was a bold and controversial act, challenging the right of landowners to deny public access. Several of the walkers were arrested, but their actions lit a fire that would lead to real change, including the creation of national parks and greater public access to open land.
That legacy lives on. Today, the Peak District National Park includes 34 miles of traffic-free trails and a huge network of permissive paths, making the outdoors easier to enjoy for people of all ages and abilities. The landscape is criss-crossed by over 26,000 miles of dry stone walls, enough to wrap around the Earth! These aren’t just boundaries; they’re part of the region’s identity.
Image credit: Wesley Kristopher Photography / @peopleofthepeak
Where heritage meets the hills
The Peak District is a place where stories are written in stone. From Neolithic burial grounds and Roman roads to industrial relics like lime kilns and old railway lines, there’s history written into every field and hillside.
Right on our doorstep is one of our favourite reminders of that layered past: the High Peak Trail. Once a bustling railway line transporting goods between Cromford and Whaley Bridge, the trail is now a peaceful route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders passing through dramatic cuttings, over stone-built bridges and past limekilns and onwards to Middleton Top with the original steam operated beam engines.
And then there’s Minninglow, a real gem and one of our favourite local walks. The ancient burial ground at the summit offers panoramic views across the White Peak and offers a chance to reflect on the generations who walked (and rested) here long before the idea of a national park ever existed. The path there winds through quiet farmland and is especially peaceful at sunrise or dusk.
Celebrating traditions: well dressings in Tissington
Just three miles from Hoe Grange lies the village of Tissington, home to one of the most cherished traditions in the Peak District: the art of well dressing.
The earliest recorded well dressing took place here in 1349, during the time of the Black Death, as a thanksgiving for the village’s clean water supply. Today, more than 70 villages across the Peak District still create stunning floral mosaics around their wells each summer using petals, seeds, berries and natural materials pressed into clay boards, creating intricate pictures that are unveiled during village celebrations. Some designs stick to traditional, biblical themes, while others reflect modern ideas, cultural events or familiar characters, from local heroes to NHS tributes and even children’s TV favourites such as Wallace and Gromit.
If you’re staying with us during May don’t miss the Tissington well dressings. It’s a tradition full of colour, care, and community, just like the landscape itself.
Our favourite walk: Minninglow magic
There’s a reason we always recommend the walk to Minninglow for guests who want a mix of landscape, history, and quiet beauty. Starting straight from your door at Hoe Grange, the route climbs gently through limestone pastureland and fields dotted with dry stone walls.
At the top, the site’s ancient burial chamber stands sentinel over rolling countryside. A perfect spot for a picnic or simply to take in the wide views. It’s one of those walks that stays with you: peaceful, rich with heritage, and spectacular scenery. The route is also suitable for off-road wheelchairs. Bring sturdy shoes and a sense of curiosity, and don’t forget your camera.
Bring on the stars: dark skies and open spaces
One of the most magical qualities of this part of the Peak District is its dark sky status. With little light pollution, the sky fills with stars on clear nights, an awe-inspiring sight after a day of exploring.
Our guests love sitting on the decking, a mug of something warm in hand, or relaxing in the log-fired hot tub watching the stars emerge over the hills. With our peaceful setting, low lighting and wide open skies, Hoe Grange is a brilliant spot for stargazing. Bring a blanket or better still a telescope and let the night work its quiet magic.
At Hoe Grange, we care about preserving night sky views just as much as we do the landscapes themselves. Our eco ethos reflects a belief that these open spaces are precious, and worth protecting for the next 75 years and beyond.
Deep underground: the secrets of Blue John
Further north in the Peak District National Park, you’ll find something totally unique: Blue John stone. This rare, precious mineral is found only in a few caves near Castleton, about an hour’s drive from Hoe Grange.
Blue John has been prized for centuries due to it's extraordinary semi opaque appearance with bands of blue, purple and creamy white. A visit to Treak Cliff Cavern, Blue John Cavern or Speedwell Cavern (this one involves a boat ride!) is a fascinating day out, combining natural wonder with a slice of Peak District geology you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Caring for the park, together
The Peak District’s beauty and diversity are special not just because they’re scenic, but because they’re alive with wildlife and shaped by centuries of traditional farming and human stewardship. From flower-rich limestone dales to expansive peat bogs and meadowland, the park supports a variety of habitats that are nationally significant.
At Hoe Grange, we believe caring for these places is a shared responsibility. We work hard to run our farm and your holiday sustainably, from low stock grazing, natural fertilisers on the farm fields to EV charging on site, eco-friendly cleaning products and promoting low-impact travel. We encourage guests to shop locally, explore gently and leave only footprints.
As Farmer David puts it, “We are custodians of the landscape, and it’s our duty to leave it better than before.”
The national park's next 75 years depend on all of us.
Come and explore the Peak District with us
From ancient trails and flower-strewn villages to dark skies and stone circles, the Peak District is full of stories waiting to be uncovered. Whether you're walking to Minninglow, admiring Tissington’s well dressings, or stargazing from your glamping pod, there's a quiet kind of magic here that stays with you.
As the Peak District National Park celebrates 75 years, we’re proud to be part of its story and keen to help you explore it. From peaceful paths to rich heritage, it's a place that inspires, restores, and brings people together.
So pack your walking boots, bring your curiosity, and come and make your own memories. We’d love to welcome you to Hoe Grange Holidays soon. Feeling inspired? Book your next stay now!
Felicity
Image credit: Visit Peak District & Derbyshire
View our accommodation...
rose hip caravan
swallow pod
skylark pod
hipley log cabin
pinder log cabin
Contact us or book direct online to avoid disappointment
Hoe Grange Holidays Tripadvisor Comments...
- KBarry
We stayed in the Skylark pod last October (2018) and had a lovely time. There was homemade, rustic goods (bread, biscuits etc) when we arrived. Felicity and David who run... read more 
September 15, 2019Paula C Myself and my sister travelled to Costa Rica and Panama via Viva Holidays Ltd. The holiday was exceptional and one to be treasured forever. Andrew at Viva Holidays... read more
July 4, 2019Jan Horsman J We stayed in Rainster cabin for a long weekend 6 th to 9 th September. This was my 5 th visit to the amazing Hoe Grange. I had visited before... read more
September 17, 2019
