Where Are Hartington and Hulme End?

Hartington and Hulme End sit towards the western side of the White Peak, close to the Derbyshire and Staffordshire border.

Hartington Hills is tucked into the countryside between the two.

Their Position in the White Peak

The White Peak is the limestone heart of the Peak District.

Rather than the exposed moorland and gritstone edges associated with the Dark Peak, you'll find green valleys, dry-stone walls, traditional villages and limestone dales.

Hartington sits above the upper Dove Valley, while Hulme End lies beside the River Manifold and provides a gateway into the Manifold Valley.

It's an excellent location if walking and cycling are high on your holiday wish list.

Beresford Dale and Wolfscote Dale are close to Hartington, while the Manifold Track begins at Hulme End. The Tissington and High Peak Trails are also within easy reach.

Distances and Transport

From Hartington Hills, Hulme End is approximately 0.7 miles away, while Hartington is around 1.7 miles away.

That means both are close enough to reach without automatically getting into the car.

Our nearest railway station is Buxton. From there, the 442 bus travels towards Ashbourne and stops at Hulme End, outside The Manifold Inn.

Rural public transport can change, so always check the current timetable before travelling.

If you're arriving by caravan or larger motorhome, we'd also recommend looking at our Find Us page before setting off. There are straightforward routes to the site, but following a sat nav blindly in the Peak District can occasionally result in a much more exciting journey than anybody asked for.

Why Stay in This Area?

For us, the appeal is the balance.

You're surrounded by peaceful countryside but not cut off from everything.

You can walk to a pub.

You can head into Hartington for coffee, lunch or supplies.

You can start a day's walking without driving to one of the National Park's busiest car parks.

And when you do want to explore further, Bakewell, Buxton, Ashbourne, Chatsworth, Dovedale and many of the Peak District's best-known attractions are all within easy reach.

Have a look through our Things to Do pages if you're planning a longer stay.

Things to Do in Hartington

Hartington is one of those villages that's worth visiting even if you don't have anything particular planned when you get there.

Wander around, look at the beautiful stone buildings, choose somewhere for coffee and see where the day takes you.

Village Shops and Cafés

Hartington has a useful collection of independent businesses for such a small village.

You'll find somewhere to stop for coffee, breakfast, lunch or cake, alongside shops where you can pick up food and local produce.

Hartington Farm Shop & Café is one of our personal favourites for breakfast and lunch, while Beresford Tea Rooms provides the traditional Peak District combination of tea, homemade cake and a very good reason to stop walking for half an hour.

If choosing where to have coffee is becoming the most difficult decision of your holiday, we've already done some of the research for you in our 5 Best Cafés and Tea Rooms in the Peak District.

Cheese and Local History

You can't really write a guide to Hartington without mentioning cheese.

The village has a long association with cheesemaking, and Hartington Cheese Shop is one of its best-known stops.

It's the sort of place you go into intending to buy one small piece and emerge from considerably heavier.

Hartington itself has centuries of history, with its traditional limestone buildings, village pond and church creating the classic White Peak village scene.

You don't need to rush around it.

Part of the pleasure is simply having a wander.

Short Walks

Hartington is also a brilliant starting point for walks.

For something gentle, explore the paths and lanes surrounding the village before returning for coffee or lunch.

For a longer outing, head south towards Beresford Dale and follow the River Dove into some of the loveliest limestone scenery in this part of the National Park.

Continue further and you'll reach Wolfscote Dale.

You can make the route as long or as short as you want, which is particularly useful if the weather is looking slightly indecisive.

Pubs and Places to Eat

Hartington has several options for eating and drinking, including The Devonshire Arms in the centre of the village.

A drink outside the Dev on a sunny evening is a particularly pleasant way to finish a walk.

If you're looking for somewhere else to eat during your stay, have a look at our 6 Best Pubs in the Peak District.

They're all within eight miles of Hartington Hills, and more importantly we've actually tried them.

It's a difficult job, but somebody has to do it.

Things to Do in Hulme End

Hulme End is very different from Hartington.

It's tiny.

There aren't rows of shops or lots of attractions.

What it does have is one of the best locations in the Staffordshire White Peak.

Manifold Valley

Hulme End sits beside the River Manifold at the northern entrance to the Manifold Valley.

From here, the countryside narrows into a beautiful limestone valley surrounded by steep hillsides, farmland and woodland.

It's an area that's particularly good for walkers, cyclists and anyone who simply wants a quieter day outdoors.

You can read much more about our immediate surroundings in our dedicated Hulme End guide.

Manifold Track

The Manifold Track begins at Hulme End and follows the route of the former Leek and Manifold Light Railway through the valley towards Waterhouses.

The route is approximately eight miles long and is mainly traffic-free, with a largely surfaced and relatively level track.

You certainly don't need to do all eight miles.

Walk for half an hour and turn around.

Take the bikes and make a day of it.

Or follow the trail further into the valley towards Wetton Mill and Thor's Cave.

It's one of the easiest outdoor activities to recommend to guests because you can adapt it to almost any sort of day.

Visitor Facilities

The former railway buildings at Hulme End have found a new life.

The old ticket office now provides visitor information, while the former engine shed is home to The Tea Junction.

There are also public toilets, picnic tables, cycle racks and parking at the northern end of the Manifold Track.

The Tea Junction is another of our favourite local café stops, particularly if you're setting off down the trail.

And conveniently, The Manifold Inn is only a short distance away.

Camping holidays really do become easier when you can combine the day's exercise with strategically positioned cake and pubs.

Local Walking Routes

The Manifold Track is only one option.

From Hulme End, footpaths spread out through the surrounding countryside towards places including Ecton Hill, Wetton and Hartington.

Ecton Hill is particularly interesting if you want something a little more challenging, combining excellent valley views with the area's historic copper-mining landscape.

A map is useful if you're heading away from the main Manifold Track, as the network of field paths and lanes allows you to create all sorts of circular routes.

Walks and Activities Nearby

Between Hartington and Hulme End, you have a surprisingly large number of days out within a very small area.

Beresford Dale

Beresford Dale is one of the closest classic White Peak walks.

Starting from Hartington, the route follows the River Dove through meadows and woodland.

It's beautiful without requiring an enormous expedition and can either be enjoyed on its own or used as the beginning of a longer route.

Wolfscote Dale

Continue beyond Beresford Dale and you'll enter Wolfscote Dale.

Here the limestone scenery becomes more dramatic, with steep cliffs rising around the River Dove.

Combining the two dales creates a fantastic walking day and gives you much of the scenery people associate with Dovedale without having to begin at the famous stepping stones.

Good walking footwear is recommended, particularly after rain.

Cycling

Cyclists have plenty of choice.

The Manifold Track starts at Hulme End, while the Tissington Trail and High Peak Trail are both nearby.

Parsley Hay is especially useful if you don't bring bikes with you because cycle hire is available there.

Families and leisure cyclists can stick to manageable sections of the former railway trails, while more experienced riders can link routes together for much longer adventures.

Take a look through our Things to Do section for more cycling inspiration.

Family and Dog-Friendly Options

You don't have to plan a major hike to enjoy this area with children.

A short stretch of the Manifold Track, a wander around Hartington or an afternoon exploring the local countryside can be enough.

Dogs are very welcome on many local routes too, although remember that this is working farming country.

Keep dogs under close control around livestock, follow signs requiring leads and always clean up after them.

For families, the mainly level former railway trails can be particularly useful because they allow you to choose a distance that suits the youngest legs in the group.

Practical Information for Campers

The beautiful views are important.

Knowing where to find milk, breakfast and the nearest pub is arguably just as important after three days in a tent.

Food and Supplies

Hartington is the most useful local destination if you need to stock up.

The village has shops and places selling local food alongside cafés and places to eat.

Hulme End is much smaller, but The Tea Junction offers food and refreshments beside the Manifold Track.

At Hartington Hills itself, our shop stocks a selection of everyday essentials, local produce, snacks, drinks and camping supplies.

So if you've forgotten something, there's a good chance you won't need to embark on a major supermarket expedition.

Parking and Public Transport

Both Hartington and Hulme End have parking, although spaces can become busy during sunny weekends and school holidays.

If you're staying with us, walking is often the better option.

Hulme End is around 0.7 miles away and Hartington around 1.7 miles, so you can leave the car on your pitch and enjoy the countryside on the way.

For visitors without a car, the 442 bus connects Hulme End and Hartington with Buxton and Ashbourne.

Always check the latest timetable before relying on it, particularly outside the main season.

And if you're arriving at Hartington Hills with a caravan or motorhome, follow the recommended directions on our Find Us page rather than simply accepting whatever shortcut your sat nav offers.

Staying at Hartington Hills

Perhaps we're biased, but we think being between Hartington and Hulme End gives you a particularly lovely base for exploring the Peak District.

You're close enough to walk to both villages and surrounded by countryside, yet many of the National Park's best-known destinations are still easy to reach for day trips.

If you're bringing a tent, caravan or motorhome, explore our Touring & Camping options.

If your idea of camping involves a proper bed, a little more luxury and considerably less tent assembly, take a look at our Glamping stays.

And for a countryside escape with all the comforts of home, browse our Holiday Cottages.

Whichever you choose, Hartington and Hulme End are waiting just down the road.

And that's one of the things we love most about staying here.

You don't necessarily need to plan a big Peak District adventure every morning.

Sometimes the perfect day is much simpler.

Walk into Hartington.

Buy some cheese.

Follow the river for a while.

Stop for lunch.

Or wander down to Hulme End, join the Manifold Track and see how far you feel like going.

Then head back to Hartington Hills, put your feet up and decide what you're doing tomorrow.