Accessible things to do in the Peak District

Head to the trout-rich Ladybower Reservoir for a spot of fly fishing surrounded by some of the best views in the Peak District – breathtaking woodland and moorland. The wonderful Troy Chadwick – the Accessibility Coordinator for the Ladybower Fisheries – took me out on his adapted Wheelyboat. There’s also an adapted fishing tackle shop with wheelchair access and complimentary hot drinks, plus a wheelchair-accessible toilet.

Spend the day exploring Castleton, a historic High Peak former mining village in the Hope Valley. Hire an all-terrain scooter from the Visitor Centre (which also has an accessible toilet) and take in the interactive wall telling local stories. Stop for coffee and cake at the Blueberry Café, inside the visitor centre.

Drive through dramatic scenery from Castleton up to Winnats Pass, a deep and rugged limestone gorge carving through the hillside. From here, drive on to Blue John Cavern, where there’s a car park overlooking the valley with awesome views of Mam Tor – a famous peak meaning Mother Hill – in the distance.

On the Buxton Crescent Experience, soak up the history of the area, take a virtual reality hot-air balloon ride and visit an 18th-century apothecary, all within this well-thought out attraction. On arrival, there are pay-and-display accessible parking bays within 50 metres of the Crescent, level access and five rooms at ground level with lifts to the upper floors.

The Buxton Crescent is a Grade I-listed Georgian landmark built by the fifth Duke of Devonshire to establish Buxton as the spa town. The five-star hotel's spa includes a heated outdoor pool, a mineral-rich thermal pool, bio-thermal sauna and a refreshing ice fountain (for brave souls). Restful rooms feature pretty wallpapers, four-poster beds and heritage colours.

Beautiful and baroque, Chatsworth House has hosted everyone from Queen Victoria to John F. Kennedy and Damien Hirst. This stately sprawl of mansion house and gardens includes the Sculpture Gallery and chapel. A lift allows access to the entire visitor route; the garden is accessible for manual wheelchairs and electric scooters.

With winding streets flaunting Tudor and Georgian heritage, Ashbourne is a lovely place to visit. Nudging the edge of the Peak District National Park, meaning some of the best views in the Peak District, there’s no lack of accessible places to stop for lunch. Jack Rabbits Cafe is a glass-fronted, accessible bistro with seasonal dishes from comforting fish finger sandwiches to punchy garlic wild mushrooms on toast and craft beer.

The Tissington Trail follows the old railway line between Buxton and Ashbourne. The 13-mile route runs from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay, and provides great “I spy” opportunities, spotting former station platforms and old signal boxes among the rolling countryside and wildflowers. You’ll pass through super-cute villages such as Thorpe and Tissington. The trails are generally level, mainly on compacted stone, and are suitable for wheelchair users.

The Cock Inn at Mugginton is a traditional English pub given a modern makeover with a Grand Designs-style glass extension. The menu is eclectic and global, with everything from fillet of Derbyshire beef to chorizo and Manchego croquettes with paprika aioli. The disabled access is great, too.

Winner of the VisitEngland Gold Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award 2024, Hoe Grange Holidays’ facilities for disabled people are top-notch. Stay in cute log cabins with a large wet room, electric profile beds and rise and recline armchairs. Sorted!