Edale in Derbyshire is popular with walkers as it is the start of one of the country’s most famous long-distance trails and nearby the highest point in the Peak District
A secret village in the UK which is home to just 300 people has gained a reputation for being a magical paradise.
Edale in the Peak District is popular with locals as well as visitors, with its natural beauty a major attraction for all who frequent the area. Seen as a walker’s paradise, the village is the start of one of the country’s most famous long-distance trails, the Pennine Way. The mammoth 268-mile walking route starts in Edale and finishes in Kirk Yetholm, Scotland. Those wanting long hikes or just a casual stroll after lunch often visit Edale as it offers glorious meandering trails and paths, Derbyshire Live reports. Just a 90-minute train from Derby, Edale is nestled beneath Kinder Scout and very close to the Great Ridge and Mam Tor. Kinder Scout is the highest point in the Peak District at 636m above sea level and offers simply breathtaking views.
And there’s plenty of places to grab some food and drink either before or after your walk, too. Two pubs, The Rambler Inn and The Old Nags Head, can be found in the heart of the village while there are also a handful of cafes and a village shop. One recent visitor to The Old Nags Head wrote: “We had a lovely meal, huge portions, great after a hike. Very fairly priced. A great traditional pub in a magical little village.” With walkers and trail runners regularly flocking to the village, there is plenty of places to stay in Edale. As well as campsites and B&Bs, there are also some holiday lets which tend to be popular in the summer months.
The village is easily accessible by train with a station on the Hope Valley Line, between Manchester and Sheffield, in the village. By car it can be accessed via the scenic Edale Road, the only route in and out of the village. Interestingly, Edale has been named in a number of top polls over the years which highlights why it is such a good place to live and visit. In 2017 the village was a finalist in the Channel 4 “Village of the Year” competition, while it was a regional winner in The Times “Best Places to Live” poll in 2019 and 2021. If that wasn’t enough, it was recently named by holiday rental company HomeToGo as one of this year’s best-hidden gems to visit. According to its Hidden Gem Index, the village rated highly in categories such as under the radar, scenic and things to do.
“Even the travel to this easily accessible gem, which has its own train station, is picturesque,” HoleToGo wrote. “Tracing along the Hope Valley, the rail journeys from the cities of Manchester and Sheffield are recognised as being some of the UK’s most scenic stretches. Fun fact: The Old Nags Head, one of the village’s snug pubs with a log fire and real ale, dates back to 1577.” Edale has also made it on our TV screens in recent years, with Dan Walker and Helen Skelton visiting for Channel 5’s Dan and Helen’s Pennine Adventure, where the duo met a couple of locals. The village also made a small appearance in Peaky Blinders at the beginning of series four, as well as the BBC’s series The Village in 2012.
