Yes ...can very much appreciate that weekends are busy ....as I have to travel form near Lincoln, just wondered if we all could meet for lunch then a short(ish) drive on some particilar nice bits of road then finish off with tea (+cake!) ....mainly to meet and enjoy some good company and weather and scenery?...maybe 4 cars or so?
Lots of options if you are coming in from Lincoln.
I have 2 routes I use frequently that enter the Peaks via Bolsterstone or Owler Bar and take in a lot of the places of interest highlighted in Alex's first post.
But some times it's good to set off without any real plan and just follow the roads that take your fancy.
From a driving perspective I would say the best stretch of roads in the Peaks is from Monsal Head through Wardlow then left to Sparrowpit and round to Winnats Pass.
In terms of photo stops there are numerous points but if you like dramatic backdrops then it's Monsal Head car park, the laybuy behind Mam Tor, the turning circle in front of Mam Tor near the broken road, outside the Barrel Inn at Breton or left after the Yorkshire Bridge when tra elling from Ladybower and up New Road.
In terms of a scenic drives there are some lovely tree lined single track roads down behind Monsal Head and New Road that I mentioned above near the Yorkshire Bridge although single track is really breathtaking at its peak and can take you on to Hathersage or Ringinglow.
Pubs and cafes are plentiful but some of my favourites are The Packhorse at Little Longstone, The Crispin at Great Longstone, The Yorkshire Bridge near Ladybower, The Rutland Arms in Dronfield, The Barrell Inn at Bretton, The Yonderman in Buxton, Cupola Cafe at Stoney Middleton - yes you really are spoilt for choice.
Alternatively stick a flask of soup in the back with some bread and make your own arrangements.
Suffice to say I love the Peaks, I always have. I proposed at the top of Mam Tor, we've always taken the kids and the dogs out there walking and since I started with the Zed's it's always been my go to destination.
I hope you get a chance to enjoy it
