The best pubs in the Peak District for walkers
· Updated
The best pubs in the Peak District are the ones that welcome muddy boots and a tired dog at the end of a long walk, pour a proper local ale, and sit within a mile or two of a great trail. The Old Nag's Head at Edale, the Barrel Inn at Bretton and the Three Stags' Heads at Wardlow Mires are three of the finest, and there are plenty more scattered across the White Peak dales and the Dark Peak moors.
The Peak District was Britain's first national park, designated in 1951 under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. It covers roughly 555 square miles across Derbyshire, Staffordshire and beyond, which means an enormous choice of walks and a very good pub within reach of almost all of them.
This is part of our guide to camping in the UK's national parks, brought to you by Camping Sites in Britain, where you can find and compare campsites, caravan parks and glamping across the UK. Find your base near the trails on our campsite directory.
The best Peak District walking pubs at a glance
Here are the pubs worth planning a walk around, with the nearest village and what you get for the detour.
| Pub | Where | Why walkers go |
|---|---|---|
| Old Nag's Head | Edale | Official start of the Pennine Way, welcomes boots and dogs |
| Barrel Inn | Bretton | Highest pub in Derbyshire, huge views over the Hope Valley |
| Three Stags' Heads | Wardlow Mires | Proper old drovers' inn, flagstones and real fires |
| Lathkil Hotel | Over Haddon | Terrace views down Lathkill Dale |
| Bulls Head | Monyash | On the green at the top of Lathkill Dale |
| Old Hall Inn and Beehive | Chinley | Cask ale, walks up to South Head and Mount Famine |
| Charles Cotton | Hartington | Base for Dovedale and the Tissington Trail |
| Yorkshire Bridge Inn | Bamford | Steps from Ladybower Reservoir and the dams |
| Snake Pass Inn | A57 Snake Pass | Remote moorland stop near Kinder Scout |
Pubs for the big walks: Edale, Kinder and the moors
If you are walking the Dark Peak, three pubs stand out. The Old Nag's Head in Edale dates back to 1577 and marks the official start of the Pennine Way, the 268-mile route that runs all the way to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. It is used to walkers arriving caked in peat off Kinder Scout, so boots and dogs are no bother, and Edale has a train station on the Manchester to Sheffield line, which makes it easy to reach without a car.
Higher up the pass, the Snake Pass Inn sits alone on the A57 between Glossop and the Ladybower Reservoir. It is one of the more remote pubs in the park, a proper refuge on the moor, and a natural finish for walkers coming off the northern edges of Kinder. Down by the water, the Yorkshire Bridge Inn near Bamford is a short walk from Ladybower and the Derwent dams, the ones used to practise for the Dambusters raid, and makes an easy family stop after a flat lap of the reservoir.
The Barrel Inn at Bretton is the highest pub in Derbyshire, perched at around 1,275 feet with views that run for miles across the Hope Valley and towards Eyam. It is a 16th-century inn with low beams and open fires inside, and on a clear day the beer garden is one of the best viewpoints in the White Peak.
Pubs for the White Peak dales
The limestone dales of the southern Peak have their own cluster of walking pubs. The Lathkil Hotel above Over Haddon looks straight down Lathkill Dale, one of the prettiest and quietest valleys in the park, with a terrace made for a slow pint after a riverside walk. At the top of the same dale, the Bulls Head at Monyash sits on the village green and works well as either the start or the end of a Lathkill Dale circuit.
Further south, the Charles Cotton in Hartington stands on the village square and is a fine base for Dovedale, the Tissington Trail and the walk up to Wolfscote Dale. Hartington is also cheese country, so a wedge of local Stilton is rarely far away. These dales are riddled with caves, springs and old lead workings, and if the geology grabs you, our guide to the UK's geological wonders near campsites covers what to look for.
For something wilder, the Three Stags' Heads at Wardlow Mires is a 17th-century drovers' inn that has barely changed in generations. Think flagstone floors, a wood stove, hand-pulled ale and the pub's own pottery on the tables. It keeps limited hours, usually weekends, so check before you set out, but as a slice of old Peak District character it is hard to beat.
Pubs for cask ale and a comfortable night
Chinley, on the western edge of the park, is worth the trip for beer alone. The Old Hall Inn and its neighbour the Beehive share a garden and between them pour a long, changing list of cask ales and ciders, with walks straight from the door up South Head and Mount Famine. It is a good example of how the Peak's pubs pair a serious drinks range with proper hill country on the doorstep.
Many of these pubs sit on classic driving routes too, from the Snake Pass to the Winnats Pass. If you are touring the park by road, our pick of the best scenic drives to campsites links the finest of them to places you can pitch up for the night.
Don't leave without a Bakewell pudding
No tour of the Peak District is complete without stopping in Bakewell for its famous pudding. The Bakewell pudding, a flaky pastry case filled with jam and a rich almond-set egg mixture, is said to have been created here by accident in the 1800s, and it is a different thing entirely from the more familiar iced Bakewell tart. Several shops in the town claim the original recipe, so the only fair thing to do is try more than one and pick a favourite.
Bakewell sits right in the middle of the park on the River Wye, making it a handy lunch stop between the White Peak dales and the moors to the north. It is also a good hub for ancient woodland walks, and our guide to the best campsites for exploring ancient woodlands points you to the greenest of them.
Dog-friendly pubs and camping nearby
Most Peak District walking pubs are happy to see a well-behaved dog on a lead, and several keep water bowls and treats behind the bar. The Old Nag's Head, the Barrel Inn and the Three Stags' Heads are all firmly dog-friendly, as you would expect of pubs that live off passing walkers.
Camping is easy to sort across the park. Edale, Hope, Castleton, Hartington and Bakewell all have campsites within a short walk or drive of the pubs above, so you can leave the car and enjoy the evening properly. Browse and compare pitches on our campsite directory and book a base near the trails you fancy walking.
A quick word on drinking sensibly. These are proper walking pubs, but the moors and dales are exposed and easy to underestimate, so it pays to save the pint for the finish rather than the middle of the route. Never drink and drive on the park's narrow lanes and mountain passes. If you want to know your limits, the guidance on the Drinkaware website is a sensible place to start.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest pub in the Peak District?
The Barrel Inn at Bretton is the highest pub in Derbyshire, sitting at around 1,275 feet with wide views over the Hope Valley. Higher moorland pubs such as the Snake Pass Inn on the A57 are among the most remote in the park.
Which Peak District pub is the start of the Pennine Way?
The Old Nag's Head in Edale is the official start of the Pennine Way, Britain's oldest long-distance path, which runs 268 miles north to Kirk Yetholm. The pub dates to 1577 and welcomes walkers, muddy boots and dogs.
Are Peak District pubs dog-friendly?
Many are, especially the walking pubs. The Old Nag's Head, the Barrel Inn and the Three Stags' Heads all welcome dogs on leads, and several keep water bowls behind the bar. Always check the current policy before a longer trip.
Where can I get a real Bakewell pudding?
In Bakewell itself, in the centre of the Peak District. Several shops in the town claim the original recipe for the jam and almond pudding, which is different from the iced Bakewell tart. Trying a couple and comparing is part of the fun.
Is the Peak District a national park?
Yes. The Peak District was Britain's first national park, designated in 1951 under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. It covers roughly 555 square miles across Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire and Yorkshire.
Where should I camp for the best Peak District pubs?
Edale and Hope suit the Dark Peak pubs and Kinder Scout, while Hartington, Monyash and Over Haddon put you among the White Peak dales. Compare sites near each village on our campsite directory and pick a base near the walks you want.
The short version
Pick a walk, find the pub at the end of it, and you have the Peak District sorted. The Old Nag's Head, the Barrel Inn and the Three Stags' Heads are the pick of the traditional walking pubs, Bakewell has the pudding, and there is a campsite near almost every one.
Plan your trip with our guide to camping in the UK's national parks, then find your pitch on our campsite directory.
