The Peak District National Park is situated in the heart of England. It lies at the Southern most tip of the Pennine hills and is generally defined as being between Manchester and Sheffield. It was the first National Park to be created in Britain in 1951 and encompasses areas of six counties.

The national park is administered by the Peak District National Park Authority which is divided into four divisions, each division has its own group of specialist teams. The Authority looks after the planning of the Park, conservation, recreation and administration.

The Peak District has an immense wealth of cultural heritage, an amazing diversity of wildlife and landscape that is most likely unsurpassed anywhere else in the country.
The Peak has the most extensive system for public transport integrated into any of the National Parks in England and Wales so even a short break will allow anyone to appreciate the scenery, the wide variety of pastimes and sports that are available and receive a warm and genuine welcome.

There are many types of countryside to explore and relish. These areas range from stark exposed moorland and edges to rolling meadows accompanied by peaceful dales. A unique situation of rocks, bedding planes and strata in the area has led to the layout of the Peak. In the South there lies the area known as the White Peak which has the more gentle limestone plateau dissected streams and rivers running through the steep dales. To the North, East and West lies the Dark Peak which has peat bogs, large expanses of moorland and gritstone outcrops.

The Peak District lies between the lowlands of England and also the higher areas of the Pennines and so receives the varying weather patterns of the two areas. Due to the slightly unusual climate of the Peak District wildlife from both the lowlands and the highlands can be found. It has been calculated that there are as many fifty species per square metre (Peak District Website) some of which are classed as rare or hard to find.

The Peak District has thousands of years worth of heritage and culture dating back to prehistoric times. The Peak District has existing burial mounds, stone circles, ancient remains, chapels, castles and working evidence of the industrial revolution. There are many towns and villages each with its own unique character and attributes. Within the area there are historic homes and halls, public gardens and much in the way of custom and tradition. As can be seen, The Peak District National Park is a resource for everyone, not just a few climbers and careful management is needed going into the 21st Century.