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Sandwiched between the northern industrial conurbations of Manchester and nearby Sheffield in South Yorkshire, the Peak District was one of the first of England's national parks - established to protect an area of exceptional natural beauty from environmental threats posed by these nearby cities.
The Peak District National Park begins just to the south of the village of Holmfirth and the Kirklees area of West Yorkshire's Bronte Country
Here the scenery is dominated by Millstone Grit, an almost black Pennine sandstone seen across the moors around Holme Moss, Longdendale, Ladybower and Derwent reservoirs, the Snake Pass and Kinder Scout. This area is known as "The Dark Peak".
To the south of Kinder Scout the geology is mainly of limestone, with lush pastoral valleys, gorges and caves cutting across these somewhat gentler hills. Being karstic in nature the area is popular with cavers and potholers, and some of the caves are also open to the public as well (some of which are listed below).
Most of the Peak District lies within the county of Derbyshire, and forms the southern most reach of the Pennine Hills (the geographer's familiar "Backbone of England"). Indeed, Britain's longest long distance footpath - the Pennine Way - begins here at Edale on its 250 mile journey northwards through West Yorkshire's Bronte Country and The Yorkshire Dales en route to Kirk Yetholm - just across the Scottish border at the furthest reaches of the northern dales.
Places to visit in the Derbyshire Peak District include Castleton (famous for its show caves - the Blue John Mine and Caverns, Treak Cliff Cavern, the Speedwell Mine and Cavern, and Peak Cavern), Hathersage, the spa town of Buxton (famous for its mineral water and Poole's Cavern), Matlock Bath and the Heights of Abraham, and at the southern end towards Chesterfield the beautiful deep valley and hills of Dovedale and the Tissington Spires - an area known as the "White Peak".
Please click here for links to other sites about the Peak District.
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