The Peak District National Park is one of Britain’s most ancient landscapes: a vast expanse of hills, forests and patchwork fields, crisscrossed by rivers and dotted with great lakes and reservoirs. It’s a fantastic place to go hiking, and one of Britain’s great National Trails starts here in the village of Edale. You can get to the Peak District by train in 45 minutes (direct and regular service) from Manchester Piccadilly, so it’s ideal for a day trip.
For short trips like this one, you can book your individual rail tickets in advance through The Trainline. If you’re making a longer journey, one of the easiest and most relaxing ways to explore Britain is with a BritRail pass that allows you unlimited journeys, giving you the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Start your journey
Catch the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Edale, a village on the southern fringes of the Peak District National Park. To make the most of the daylight, catch the 08.49am or 10.49am trains.