Themed Trip

Experience Nature

Escaping the city? Wanting to ‘get back to nature’? Wondering where to bird-watch? Or where to take photographs of interesting flora?

Buxton is nestled in the heart of the Peak District, surrounded by the National Park, and is full of green spaces – a great base for your nature activities. Read on for suggestions of how you can experience nature in and around our wonderful town.

Wild Walks

The simplest way is to get your walking boots on, source an OS Map (OL1, OL24) and get out into the Peak District National Park. There are lots of public footpaths so you can easily make up your own route or or download the Local Walks’ Derbyshire & Peak District Walks app.

There are many nature reserves nearby with birds, bees and wildflowers – find more information about the nature reserves on our walking page here – and farm animals are never far away – sheep, cows, donkeys, horses, chickens, geese, llamas…

Click here for more information on walking in the Peak District. Also see our listing of popular walks near to Buxton and the woodland walks in the town.

Fascinating Flora

We have an SSSI right here in town – visit the ‘wildflower glades’ in Buxton Country Park (Grin Low Wood) – they typically bloom June to August. A book on the flowers can be purchased from the Poole’s Cavern Visitor Centre. Can you spot them all?

You can also get up close to the trees of Grin Low Wood with the tree-top high-ropes adventure Go Ape.

Find bluebell meadows in the spring in Corbar Woods on the north side of the town, the sensory garden on Water Street with views of the Crescent and The Square, or the biodiversity garden at Poole’s Cavern Visitor Centre.

For those wanting to get hands-on, visit the Serpentine Community Garden, hidden away by the Serpentine Walks. It is open to visitors (and volunteers) on Wednesdays and Sundays. There’s always a lot which needs doing.

Further afield, wildflowers line many of the cycle routes along the old quarry railways on the Park’s cycle trails.

Natural Wonders

Visit the wondrous natural caverns of the area, such as Poole’s Cavern right here in Buxton, or other natural caves including the Devil’s Arse (Peak Cavern) in Castleton and Masson Cavern in Matlock.

Head down the imposing Winnat’s Pass on your way into Castleton, an impressive natural gorge in the limestone of the White Peak, boasting spectacular views.

Climb the historic gritstone edges which line the Dark Peak – Stanage, Frogatt, Curbar, Derwent, Baslow and The Roaches.

Unfortunately, the ebbing and flowing wells which were included in the Stuart-era ‘Seven Wonders of the Peak’ no longer ebb or, in some cases, flow. Another wonder, Eldon Hole – a large, vertical hole in the limestone – can be accessed from Peak Forest. Find out more about the Wonders of the Peak with Discover Buxton Tours.

For a truly mysterious, rock-based experience, head to Lud’s Church, once known as “the home of the devil”. Find out how to visit Lud’s Church here.

Animal Lovers

Find Boris the Fish in the Pavilion Gardens Winter Conservatory fishpond, the many ducks, geese and swans who live in the Pavilion Gardens or the woodland creatures – squirrels, rabbits, birds – in the Buxton Country Park.

Further afield, there is the Peak Wildlife Park over towards Leek – open throughout the year, the Park has animal walk-throughs with lemurs, penguins, wallabies and more – head on an alpaca walk at Naze View Farm near Combs, or look out for the monthly open days at the Donkey Sanctuary near Hurdlow.

Other nearby attractions include Chatsworth Farmyard toward Chesterfield, or perhaps you can find the deer at Lyme in Disley.

English National Park Experience Collection

You can now get hands-on with the National Park ranger team as part of the English National Park Experience Collection. National Park rangers help to look after the Peak District National Park (PDNP) for everyone. They help and advise visitors and make visits safe and enjoyable, working with farmers and landowners to enhance wildlife and biodiversity, engaging with school and youth groups and helping to maintain public access to open countryside. National Park Rangers have a unique perspective on our countryside and you can hear their stories and discover more about the wildlife and cultural heritage, and meet other local people throughout your experience day. 

Click here to find out more about the PDNP experiences.

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