Wet Day Wonders

The saying goes that, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing” and that analogy is certainly true in the Peak District! Even when the weather is bad, the Peak District is still breathtakingly beautiful, so we would still recommend you put on your waterproofs and get out and explore.

However, if you are looking for indoor activities to keep you entertained on a wet and rainy day in the Peak District, then why not…..

Explore a Cave: There are lots of caves to explore in the Peak District including the magnificent Poole’s Cavern at Buxton where its spectacular natural showcave has been described as “The Wonder of the Peak.”  At Castleton you have the choice of Treak Cavern, an underground wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites and home to the famous Blue John mineral, Speedwell Cavern where you can enjoy an underground boat ride and Peak Cavern which has the largest natural cave entrance in the UK. 

Visit a Stately Home or a Museum: Derbyshire is home to numerous stately homes including the magnificent Chatsworth House and the medieval Haddon Hall. There are also National Trust properties in the area including Hardwick Hall and Kedleston Hall and English Heritage’s Bolsover Castle. Local museums include the Peak District Mining Museum in Matlock Bath, the Eyam Plague Museum, the Old House Museum in Bakewell and Richard Arkwright’s Cromford Mills.

Go Shopping: Derbyshire is home to market towns including Ashbourne, Bakewell, Chesterfield and Matlock. All these lovely towns have an array of shops and cafes to explore. If you are visiting Bakewell why not stop at the famous pudding shop? There is also Peak Shopping Village at Rowsley or further afield there is McArthur Glen at M1 J28, Meadowhall at Sheffield or Derbion at Derby.

Enjoy a Pub Lunch or an Afternoon Tea: What better way to spend a rainy day than enjoying a delicious pub lunch and a real ale or a cream tea. With numerous pubs, cafes and tea rooms to choose from, you can enjoy a different delight every day!

Family Activities: You can enjoy swimming at both Darwin Forest and Sandybrook or tire the children out at Little Monkeys at Darwin Forest. There are also cinemas, bowling alleys, climbing walls and trampoline parks in either Chesterfield or Derby.

Many of the local attractions have both indoor and outdoor areas to explore, so please don’t let the weather put you off getting out and about!