Peak District, National park in northern Derbyshire, England
This protected area spreads across rolling landscapes of dark gritstone in the north and pale limestone plateaus in the south, crossed by river valleys and open moorland. Dry stone walls built from local rock divide pastures and link villages with farmsteads nestled in the valleys.
This protected zone became England's first national park in 1951, created to limit industrial expansion and settlement sprawl. Archaeological finds show that people lived in the caves and valleys here since the Middle Stone Age.
During summer months, villagers decorate wells and springs with mosaics made from thousands of flower petals pressed into clay. This custom, dating back to earlier celebrations of clean water, still takes place in many settlements across the region.
Walking paths and cycling routes cross the entire territory, many of them marked and suitable for day trips. Visitor centers in Castleton and Bakewell provide maps and information about routes and local conditions.
Inside the caves near Castleton lies Blue John, a rare purple-yellow fluorite that exists nowhere else on Earth. Craftsmen have been shaping it into jewelry and decorative objects since the 18th century.
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