High Peak and Hope Valley

Explore the Peak District by train and enjoy a great day out in the stunning countryside.

Soak up breath-taking views as you travel through Britain’s first National Park on the Sheffield to Manchester “Hope Valley” Line. From the rugged gritstone edges of the moorlands to limestone dales and rivers, to picturesque villages and bustling towns, let the train take you on a voyage of discovery to see what the Peak District has to offer.

For more information, visit the Peak District By Train website

You may also be interested to read the High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership's Annual Report 2020-2021

Must-sees and dos

Hope Valley Line:

Visit Grindleford for a beautiful riverside walk to Hathersage or walk up Padley Gorge through leafy glades with a burbling stream by your side and emerge high up on the open moorland of the National Trust’s Longshaw Estate. See the curious Toad’s Mouth rock formation or enjoy a magnificent vista of the Hope Valley from Surprise View. (More information available at Longshaw Estate Visitor Centre.)

Visit Castleton, a short bus ride from Hope Station, and home of the unique Blue John gem stone much coveted for jewellery. Explore the famous caverns - Speedwell, Treak Cliff, Blue John and the Devil’s Arse (Peak Cavern) or how about Peveril Castle, built by the Normans, overlooking Castleton village. (More information available at Castleton Visitor Centre.)

From Edale, follow in the footsteps of the Mass Trespassers, who in 1932, campaigned for the ‘Right To Roam’ on Kinder Scout. Britain’s first National Trail, the Pennine Way, starts from Edale – only 268 miles to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders! (More information available at Edale Visitor Centre.)

Trains along the Hope Valley Line

East Midlands Railway operate an hourly express train service between Nottingham, Sheffield, Stockport, Manchester and Liverpool. It’s a lovely quick journey through the Hope Valley but please note this express service does not stop at our lovely Hope Valley Line stations. The all stations stopping train service along the Hope Valley Line is provided by the hourly Manchester Piccadilly – New Mills – Sheffield service operated by Northern Trains. This is the train you much catch at either Manchester Piccadilly or Sheffield in order to get off at a Hope Valley station and stretch your legs in the fabulous Peak District scenery.

Our Community Rail Partnership

Not only does our rail partnership cover the Hope Valley Line but also we work with local communities and train companies to improve stations and train services on the Buxton to Manchester Line and the Glossop to Manchester Line. Both of these railway lines are very close to the Peak District National Park and have their own unique character and charms.

Buxton Line

Explore Buxton, a bustling spa town renowned for its therapeutic waters and iconic Georgian architecture, such as the magnificent sweep of The Crescent built in the 1780’s for the Duke of Devonshire. Visit Pooles Cavern, one of the ‘Wonders of the Peak’, where it is said that Mary Queen of Scots visited in 1582. And if music and art are your interests too, then Buxton enjoys all year round stage productions in its’ beautiful Opera House with the attractive Winter Gardens and Pavilion complex just next door. A Fringe Festival of music and art is held in the town every July and there are art galleries and museums open all year round. (More information available at the Information Centre in the Buxton Pavilion.)

Also, why not visit the fascinating town of New Mills with its’ dramatic river gorge splitting the town in two close by the town centre. How about traversing The Millenium Walkway just feet above the waters of the River Goyt in the bottom of the gorge or taking a stroll along the Sett Valley Trail towards Hayfield? Perhaps a browse around the range of small independent shops along Market Street is more your style followed by a cup of tea and a bite to eat in one of the town’s cafes or restaurants? Find out more about the history of this former mill town at The Heritage Centre next to the bus station.

Or hop off the train at Disley Station to enjoy a walk through pleasant parkland to see the National Trust’s magnificent Lyme Park, made more famous in 1995 by the BBC filming its production of Jane Austen’s novel “Pride & Prejudice” here.

Trains on the Buxton – Manchester Line are operated by Northern Trains but the East Midlands Railway train service between Nottingham, Sheffield, Stockport, Manchester and Liverpool connects with the Buxton trains at Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly, so change trains at either of these stations.

(Note that New Mills has two railway stations. New Mills Newtown is on the Buxton – Manchester Line and New Mills Central is on the Sheffield – Manchester Line. Central Station is very close to the town centre but up/down a short, steep hill. Newtown Station is about a mile away from New Mills town centre. )

Glossop Line:

The bustling market town of Glossop with its attractive architecture and historic Old Town is one of the key gateways into Derbyshire and the Peak District National Park. The town lies at the foot of the famous Snake Pass mountain road and forms a great base to explore some fantastic walking country including Kinder Scout and the Longdendale Trail.

Old Glossop dates back to the 12th Century and retains beautiful stone cottages and a medieval market cross. Manor Park nearby is a large town park with attractive flowerbeds, sports facilities, childrens’ playground, etc. and is a great place for a family picnic.

There are plenty of cafes, pubs and restaurants in the town centre, so no need to go hungry, and there is a coffee house full of character inside the splendid railway station. Look up to see a fine sculpture of a lion above the doorway as you enter.

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