The breathtaking views from the rugged mountains of the Peak District are undoubtedly amongst the most beautiful in the country. At the southern end of the Pennines, the Peak District encompasses various counties with 1437 km² of landscape. Split into the moorland of the dramatically named Dark Peak and the limestone White Peak, there are plenty of public footpaths and long-distance trails in the Peak District for hillwalking and hiking; just out of the village of Hayfield is Kinder Scout, the highest summit in the area. The National Park offers lots of opportunities for cycling, walking and photographing the wonderful wildlife of the area; famous for its glacial ribbon lakes, rugged fell mountains and forests, it is the UK’s most visited park with 15.8 annual visitors. One of Britain’s finest stately homes, Chatsworth House is in the south east of the Peak District as well as other historical houses, museums and galleries. There are also lots of lovely little towns and villages to visit, including Buxton, home to two opera festivals and the Buxton Festival Fringe. Bakewell, Leek and Wirksworth offer lots of visitor attractions and for a more cosmopolitan feel, the cities of Manchester, Derby and Sheffield are not far away.