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A budget getaway in the Peak District

Looking for weekend getaways in the Peak District to escape the stresses of daily life but cautious of spending the pennies? We're all very aware of the current worries, stresses and living costs in everyday life but it shouldn't put you off wanting to escape for a break in the Peak District and we can help find the perfect 'budget' stay in the Peak District for you where you can still enjoy a fun-filled, jam-packed 48 hours away without breaking the bank!

The first thing you’ll want to do is check out our latest special offers page for any last-minute deals and grab yourself the perfect Peak District accommodation for less! You can also check out all our other properties to find the ideal place for you, your family, your friends or your Hen/Stag party group (we have something for everyone).  Make sure you book directly with us for the best price!

Consider a break outside of the Peak Season visiting times such as school holidays. Cheap Peak District breaks are easier to come by in November, December (excluding Christmas and New Year), January, February and March. You can also pick up some great deals in April May and June if you avoid half-term! 

Also, consider staying slightly further afield from the main tourist spots. Castleton, Bakewell and Buxton are always jam-packed in Peak Season but we have lots of properties (large and small) that are nestled outside in lovely little villages and rural locations.

All Peak Venues properties are self–catering, exclusive-use homes so feel free to bring along your own food and drink and enjoy cooking your meals in the comfort of your own holiday home, a great way to save some pennies while on your getaway. Alternatively, if there is a gang of you spending a weekend in one of our larger homes then a great cost-effective way to enjoy a celebratory meal together (without all the hard work) is by hiring a private chef. View our outside caterers and recommended chefs, but fear not we do have many great offers in the Peak District to make it an affordable long weekend stay.  

It goes without saying that a stay in the Peak District wouldn’t be complete without spending some time outdoors exploring, walking, trying some new activities, as well as visiting the many eateries and charming little cafes around the area. With budgeting in mind, there are plenty of places offering affordable breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and evening meals, with some eateries having mid-week/special offers available so you really can treat yourselves to some delicious food at cheap, reasonable prices and save money.

From fine dining to street food and quirky hidden gems, The Peak District has so many different cuisines on offer in the best picturesque locations, so it was hard to narrow it down but we’ve managed to hand-pick some of the best 'purse friendly' places to eat with special offers in the Peak District available.  

A budget lunch doesn't have to be boring here!

Eating out

The Royal Oak, Hurdlow is our very own award-winning pub offering great homemade pub food at reasonable prices, not to mention cosy open fires and local ales.  They are offering a '2 dine for £20', Monday - Friday 3pm-6pm 2 people can enjoy 1 of these epic platters for just £20!
Whether you’re feasting with a friend or dining with family it’s the same Royal Oak food…. at a fraction of the price

Great for breakfasts!! The Yonderman Cafe, Wardlow Mires with a wide selection of breakfasts and lunch items and a cheeky slice of cake! You can eat in or out here, so great for grabbing some picnic goodies for a walk around the nearby impressive Cressbrook Dale and Peter's Stone

If you’re staying in or around Buxton then check out The Herb Garden Vegetarian Bistro, serving freshly made wholesome and healthy food from vegan scones to their very own Bengal style lentil dahl.  

The Blind Bull, Buxton offers 'Banquet set menus' for a table for 4 people and over offering some very delicious seasonal produce and if you’re just after a light snack they have a ‘Bar menu’ available everyday for walk ins which is good value for money.  

In nearby Baslow, Bakewell, Prince of Wales have a ‘Fish & Fizz Friday’ at £17.95 from 5:30pm to 7pm every Friday, along with their reasonably priced main menu.   

The Bulls Head, Foolow, have offers on throughout the year but does have a great menu at affordable prices for delicious locally produced food, including a selection of grills from Baslow Beef Co.  

Treat yourself to a delicious meal at The Maynard, Grindleford, with many offers available, including  50% off steaks on Wednesdays, Burger & Drink for £15 on Fridays and their sister pub The George, Hathersage offering 2 for 1 pizza.   

If you're heading out around Curbar, Baslow and Stanage edge then swing by the National Trust car park at Curbar where more often than not you will find a wonderful Vintage Citroen H van serving homemade cakes and freshly ground coffee perfect for keeping you fueled for a hike around the striking edges. Up-to-date opening times and details can be found here Jolly's Coffee and Cake

A favourite of ours is Stellas Kitchen, Eyam, Hope Valley for true authentic Afro-Caribbean flavours, using only the best freshest ingredients with the menu changing weekly to reflect this! Open for takeaways & coffee, cake & delicious lunches from 10am – 5:30pm (closed Tuesdays) and 10:30am – 3:30pm Friday & Saturdays with buffets Friday & Saturday from 7pm and the best part is you can bring your own drinks!!  

Off the beaten tracks you’ll find many hidden gems, set back from the hustle & bustle of the tourist areas and a few to mention are Buxton Brewery House, located on the edge of town, hidden at the end of the industrial estate but with lovely rural views from the beer garden. The brewery makes upwards of 30 distinct brews of all kinds and has many other special editions. Throughout summer they host pop-up restaurants and street food traders all offering a wide variety of food, all at reasonable prices.

Just out of Bakewell you will find a Farm Shop, Gelateria in the Peak District – yes that’s right! Tagg Lane Dairy have many luxury flavours and all are handcrafted by the family team using milk from their beautiful herd of Jersey cows. The result is heavenly.  You can also pick raw jersey milk and their own cuts of beef in their shop.  A top tip is to visit in the mornings to avoid the busy times and you can take away your favourite flavour ice cream in a tub and keep it in the freezer, alternatively grab an icecream with your morning coffee! Who says you can’t have ice cream for breakfast?! 

Walking and Exploring

Something that won’t cost a penny in the Peak District is walks, walks and more walks! With so many fantastic extensive walking trails and scenic routes on your doorstep you’re spoilt for choice!  The Peak District can be visited all year round and is just as idyllic through all the seasons with the impressive landscape and scenery changing colour throughout, but you’ll want to pack for ‘all weathers’ as The Peak District can be unpredictable with its ever-changing climate.   So a walking break is a great, cheap way to escape for a few days.   

While out exploring the Peak District you must visit Chatsworth, the grand stately home of the ‘Devonshire family'.  Walk the grounds and see the historic features of this garden and explore Stand Wood which is free to access. The kids can enjoy the park and keep their eyes out for spotting some of the local wildlife including the semi-wild red deer! You can also pack a lovely picnic and eat amongst the impressive grounds and make a full day out here.  

If you’re staying around the Buxton area, venture out and enjoy a beautiful stroll around the Pavilion Gardens and see the many flower beds, the garden feature lakes and the extensive children's play park.  Have a wander around the Historic Spa Town and see its impressive Georgian and Victorian architecture with its many quaint little shops and cafés.    

If you’re feeling brave, then why not try some 'Wild Swimming' at some of the best swimming spots in the Peak District?  A free and fearless activity for those looking for a bit of adventure (See our Wild Swimming section for more info).  

Days out on a budget

If you didn’t know about the many unique, natural Caves to explore in the Peak District you must have been living under a rock! Castleton has some of the best show caverns in the country, home to Peak Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern.  You can grab an ‘Early Bird’ discount and children under 5 are free, so plan ahead and don’t miss out on seeing these impressive historic gems. (See more in our Caving section).  

Nestled amongst the rolling hills of the Peak District are many exquisite historic buildings & Stately homes, full of history, impressive architecture and grand interiors.  

Some of the homes are reasonably priced for admission with some having special offers, one being Haddon Hall, which continues to offer free admission to all children under 16, and also offers Derbyshire residents a 30% discount at the Ticket Office on adult admission.  

Always check websites prior to visiting for the latest offers.   

Head to the Skys and spend the day at The Heights of Abraham - take a cable car flight up and see the spectacular views over the stunning Peak District Hills. Enjoy a bite to eat at either the Vista Restaurant, The Terrace Café, The Tavern or enjoy your own picnic somewhere quiet or under shelters too if the weather isn’t on your side.  There are many discounts available for ‘Bus & Rail’ travellers, ‘NHS workers’, ‘MOD discounts’, ‘Blue Light Card holders’ and ‘Blue Peter Badge' free entry.  

If you're after an educational day out for all then there are quite a few museums around the Peak District to visit.  Crich Tramway Village.  Under 4 year olds are admitted free of charge. Free return admission on full price tickets only (including Adult, Senior, Child and Family tickets). Does not apply on re-entry to 1940’s events and refers to the 12 month period from when you purchase your full priced ticket and available during our public opening dates only. 

They have also joined forces with other local attractions to give you a great Derbyshire Day Out with discounts! 

Present your 2022 Crich Tramway Village ticket at the following attractions for the discounts or prices described below: 

Bakewell Old House Museum is hidden away in the heart of the Peak District, this Tudor house has many stories to tell.  

The Children's Country House at Sudbury is a National Trust Museum so its worth checking out their website for up to date offers.  

Eyam Museum has been created by people from the village, and is run by people who live in Eyam and the surrounding villages. The Museum explains the Eyam Plague story fully, and also to look at plague more widely throughout history. We look at when and where it happened, where it came from, how it spread, and how many people were killed. 

Cromford Steam Rally, Derbyshire’s premier steam heritage and vintage rally set in the Derbyshire hills. Cromford Steam showcases the very best in our steam, transport and leisure industries, from steam traction engines, showmans engines, road rollers to vintage cars, motorcycles, and commercial lorries. Beat the queues and buy your tickets in advance to get fast track entry into the show. All ticket purchases will be subject to a £1.00 booking fee to cover payment and postage costs. 

Visit Buxton Museum & Art Gallery to view galleries showcasing core collections of Peak District archaeology, geology, art and local history. Take a journey through time and place in the Wonders of the Peak gallery, and find out more about archaeologist Sir William Boyd Dawkins, and other collectors, in a recreated study. The best part is its free admission!  

For a Thrill-seeking day out on a budget, Alton Towers have great savings when you book in advance! Enjoy a full day out for all and experience over 40 rides and attractions at the UK’s biggest theme park and you can also pack your lunch and enjoy a picnic on the many benches around the park so no need to fork out on restaurant meals.  

If you’re looking to burn off some energy or wanting the kids to burn off energy, then a day out at Go Ape for all the family is a must! With great offers you can save 15% on a family adventure when you book a Treetop Challenge and they also offer a 10% student discount, so you can enjoy a cheap day out for all.  

Relax

If all the above sounds too vigorous and energetic for you and its quiet, mindfulness time you're after during your stay or you’ve had a full-on day exploring and want to ‘wind down’ and relax then there are many Hotels and Spa’s in the Peak District perfect for a few hours of self-indulgence and no it doesn’t have to cost a pretty penny as there are some great offers out there so you can sit back, relax and feel guilt free while enjoying your pampering.  

  • Devonshire Spa, Buxton offer an introductory spa discount voucher when you sign up to their newsletter on their website and also have seasonal spa offers.   
  • Three Horseshoes Country Inn & Spa has an ‘Autumn Bliss’ offer from £79 per person (1st September – 30th November, choosing from a morning or afternoon Spa including a 2 course meal and choice of a treatment.  
  • Feel Good Pamper Company Bring the pampering to your holiday home. The team at Feel Good Pamper Company can provide all kinds of treatments for your group, whatever the occasion.  With treatments starting from £30 you and your friends or family can relax an unwind in the comfort of your holiday home.

Cycling

The Peak District is now the go-to destination for cyclists in the UK and with the many great cycle routes in the area and stunning landscape to see it's no wonder there’s such high demand for cycle hire here. 

So, we want to make sure on your budget 48hrs in the Peak District you have the opportunity to get out and enjoy a cycle on the many fabulous routes without cutting into the budget too much.  So here are a few of the cheapest cycle hires in the area: 

Hassop Station Cycle Hire. £17 for 2 hours or £24 hours for the full day and this is a great starting point location as you have access straight onto the Monsal Trail which is one of the best cycle routes in the area.  

Carsington Water Cycle Hire.  Mountain Bike – Adult £14.00 for 2 hours, £17.00 for 3 hours. Enjoy the short, family-friendly 3 mile route, or the full 8 mile reservoir circuit now all off-road 

Derwent Bike Hire, Repair and Service Centre Adult bike up to 4 hours £16 and a full day £19.  

We have lots of handy hints for Cycle trips to the Peak District. (Read our Cycling Blog for inspiration) 

Quirky Activities

If you're a bit of a night owl and you fancy some evening activities exploring the Peaks then there's still plenty of activities to discover. Be sure to visit Wirksworth’s Stardisc and enjoy the dark skies of the Peak District. A one-of-a-kind installation is its own modern stone henge, designed by Aidan Shingler and carved into black granite. The star chart reflects the night sky of the northern hemisphere, showing the different constellations and illuminated by solar powered lights at night.  

They also host productions of plays, music performances and even yoga practices! There is also a guided tour walk up to the StarDisc with its creator and dog friendly too so bring your little furry friend with you. 

Open 24 hours a day all year round and with free parking available in Wirksworth Village from the main road, two good sized car parks are sign posted from the road side and public foot paths from each car park lead to the StarDisc and to the Tissington Trail, access is also available to the National Stone Centre which is just a short distance away.   

If you’re a bit of a superstitious person and you revel in all things paranormal and supernatural then there are some venues around the Peak District that hold some true ghost stories and there is ‘Ghost tours/events’ throughout the year.

One location in particular known for its strange activity is Ashbourne Town Hall built in 1861 the town hall is a fine example of one of the few Victorian buildings in existence in the town. Formerly the site of the old Talbot Inn, a public house which dated back at least to the early 17th century.  

Another firm favourite with ghost hunters. Ghost Hunting at the Old Haunted School in Belper. If you're feeling brave book yourself a tour of this spooky place!  

So enjoy a cheap getaway in the Peak District this year with us! 

Published on December 12, 2022 in Whats On