Rainy Day Activities in the Peak District

We all know that the Peak District is an outdoor haven for many people, but we also know that the British weather sometimes doesn’t play ball. We hope the sun shines for all our guests whilst they are with us, but if we do get inclement weather what are the Peak District tourist attractions that are good in rainy conditions? What else can you do in the Peak District on a wet day? We want you to make the most of your holiday, so here are some ideas that may help you get out and enjoy the beautiful Peak District, even when the skies are grey.

If you are in one of our Buxton hot tub lodges, do you really want to leave at all? The hot tubs have a gazebo covering them, so you barely even notice a bit of rain. The lodges are equipped with all the amenities that you need to feel at home, so you can just get cosy and wait for the rain to pass. This obviously isn’t an option you have if you are in one of our camping pods in Derbyshire, so please keep reading for more ideas!

Stately Homes

 If you enjoy adults only UK holiday parks, then you obviously enjoy some of the finer things in life. The Peak District boasts some of the best examples of Country Houses in England. Chatsworth House has been rated as the most beautiful stately home in the world by research undertaken in 2021 using TripAdvisor reviews. There are over 25 rooms to explore, from the magnificent Painted Hall, regal State Rooms, restored Sketch Galleries and beautiful Sculpture Gallery. Haddon Hall is steeped in history; it is one of the oldest houses in England to have remained in one family’s ownership. It also has long tradition as a film location, lending locations to Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, The Other Boleyn Girl and The Princess Bride. In either of these magnificent buildings, you can easily immerse yourself for the day. Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.

Pubs

To me there is something quintessentially English about a country inn, luckily, we are one of the Peak District campsites near pubs and have some great options close by. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, what better way to while away a wet afternoon than spending time in the Royal Oak at Hurdlow or the Tickled Trout at Meersbrook. A refreshing beverage by a roaring fire is my idea of heaven. You may also get to try out some of our local delicacies, such as Hartington Chicken or Bakewell Pudding.

Caverns

We are located in a unique and special place. One of the things to do in the Peak District, and only in the Peak District, is visit the Blue John mines. The semiprecious mineral is found only in the caves in Castleton. There are two different caves that you can visit for Blue John, Treak Cliff Cavern, or the Blue John Cavern . There is also Speedwell Cavern that gives you the chance to travel underground by boat to explore the cave systems. Another option is the ‘Devil’s Arse’, as it used to be known, before it was changed to Peak Cavern to avoid offending Queen Victoria on a royal visit. This is the largest natural cave entrance in Britain, and you can take a guided tour in to this intriguing subterranean world. Closer to the site there is Poole’s Cavern in Buxton. The vast limestone caverns with their crystal stalactites are an incredible sight to behold. There’s also a cafe and a shop, selling gems and mineral samples, jewellery and a whole range of Peak District products.

Museums

We have a plethora of museums as Peak District tourist attractions and there really is something to cater to everyone’s taste. The Buxton Crescent Experience tells the stories of Buxton, The Crescent, its famous water, and the many people who came to seek its cure. An all-weather boutique attraction, the Buxton Crescent Experience offers a taste of the Buxton story and provides an ideal starting point for anyone visiting or learning about the town. The Bakewell Old House Museum has a varied collection of artefacts, some found encased in the walls from the Tudor period to Macedonian ceremonial swords, ceramics, textiles and costumes, toys, and cameras. The Peak District Mining Museum has something for everyone to enjoy and learn from. You can take a guided tour into an authentic 1920s lead and fluorspar mine and try your hand at panning for ‘gold’.

Get Out Anyway

It was Alfred Wainwright who wrote “There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing”, and I would tend to agree with him. There are so many incredible things to do in the Peak District, that you can’t wait for the weather to be exactly as you want. I’d even go as far to say that there are some places that are even better for a bit of rain, or at least to get there soon after it is done. Any of the waterfalls will obviously have more power, but I’d say seeing the ‘plug holes’ in full flow or the water ruching over Derwent Dam are two great Peak District experiences. Get your big coat on and get out and explore the many treasures that this wonderful part of the world has to offer.

The bad weather never lasts too long, the blue skies will always return, but hopefully with the aid of this blog you can get out and make the most of things on a rainy day in the Peak District.