— Great Escapes for Discerning drivers —

Peak District Canine Car Tour

April 12, 2027

Discover a region of contrasting natural beauty, with moors and dales, rivers, springs and caverns in the Peak District National Park. The area is known and loved by many for its breath-taking views, bustling market towns and pretty villages, historic houses, famous attractions and traditional events.

From the high, moorland plateaus in the north, to the steep-sided, deep dales and rolling green hills in the south of the area, the Peak District has just about any landscape you can imagine in Britain, making it one of the finest areas in the country to explore, especially with your four-legged friend.

As well as opportunities to enjoy the stunning landscapes, the tour will also visit some of the famous, historic villages that line the valleys of the Peak District. Enjoy some wonderful dog walks, hearty food, and lovely driving. We shall stay in an excellent and very dog-friendly hotel with lovely walks on the doorstep.

Tour Highlights

Explore the beautiful Peak District
Stay in a fabulous country house hotel
Visit the renowned Chatsworth House & Estate
Visit stately & historic houses such as Haddon Hall
Indulge in some Bakewell Pudding & see the original pudding shop
Drive the famed roads of Winnats Pass, Snake Pass, Woodhead Pass, Cat & Fiddle Pass & other great driving roads
Learn about the plague village of Eyam
Discover the lovely spa town of Buxton
See the famous dams of the Upper Derwent Valley
Cultural delights such as historic castles & churches, ancient towns & villages, & fascinating museums

Tour Map

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in the Peak District

Arrive anytime after 3pm to check-in to the hotel – your base for the next four nights.

Day 2: Explore the Western Peak District

59 Miles

Spend the day touring the western part of the Peak District, starting with a visit to Bakewell, famed for the unique and eponymous pudding. Idyllically situated on the banks of the river Wye, the biggest town in the Peak District National Park’s mellow stone buildings, medieval five-arched stone bridge and quaint courtyards are a magnet for painters, photographers and sightseers alike.

Continue to picturesque Ashford, with its much-photographed medieval Sheepwash Bridge, and then past Buxton and over the famed Cat & Fiddle Pass. Then loop north and drive back to Buxton, the spa town famed for its beautiful Georgian and Victorian architecture.

The route then winds back to Eyam, renowned as the Plague Village, and learn more about the story at the museum. It’s then a short drive back to the hotel for dinner.

Day 3: A Drive around the Northern Peaks

87 Miles

Explore the northern part of the Peak District with a lovely drive up to Castleton. Visit the Norman ruins of Peveril Castle, or the famous Blue John Cavern, where the semi-precious stone Blue John is found – the only place in the world, or Speedwell Cavern, where there are underground boat trips.

Drive through the gorge of Winnats Pass and past Mam Tor, one of the highest peaks in the area at 517m, to Edale, then loop round to the pretty village of Hope.

Head across Snake Pass and back across the Woodhead Pass and then back to Baslow.

Day 4: Discov er the Southern Peak District

57 Miles

Start the day with a visit to the pretty estate village of Pilsley before enjoying a scenic drive around the southern part of the Peak District. Many of the villages around here were renowned for lead mining.

Visit Haddon Hall, a medieval and Tudor manor house gem with a fine medieval kitchen and Elizabethan long gallery.

Then drive through the gorgeous Chatsworth Estate and visit the sensational Chatsworth House, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and home of the Cavendish family since the 1550s.

Return to the hotel.

Day 5: Depart for Home

Depart for home after a hearty, full English breakfast.

Where we'll stay

Spend four nights at the gorgeous and renowned Peacock at Rowsley. We have the whole hotel with a variety of room categories booked for your comfort. Each room has its own unique character, with elegant interiors and curated touches throughout – all individually decorated with antique furnishings, rich fabrics, and subtle nods to the heritage, all while offering the modern comforts you would expect from luxury Classic Traveling hand-picked accommodation. You will find sumptuous linens, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, fresh artisan tea and coffee, luxury Penhaligon toiletries, cosy robes, a radio and complimentary Wi-Fi in every room.

Price: for two people sharing a double or twin room, plus 1 dog
Suite: £TBC
Junior Suite: £TBC
Superior Room: £TBC
Classic Room: £TBC
Single Room: £TBC per person and 1 dog
Extra dogs: £50 for four nights

What's included

- Four nights excellent accommodation at a dog-friendly hotel for you and your dog/s
- Full breakfast each morning
- Three-course dinner each evening, with wine
- Comprehensive tour book with easy to follow route directions and jam-packed with information, including suggested walks each day
- Rally plate & ties
- GPS route files and app for easy navigation
- Accompanied by experienced Tour Director, Sarah Dowding and assistant, Tilly, a (non)working cocker spaniel, to ensure the tour runs smoothly and is lots of fun

Requirements

This tour is open to all dog lovers and owners, with classic, vintage or sports cars of any age
Please keep dogs off the hotel beds and use the dog towels provided if you return wet and muddy
Please check with your travel, motor and pet insurers that you are covered for travel
You are advised to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, two fluorescent jackets and a set of replacement bulbs.
We also advise carrying spares for your car. See our recommended check list here

Gallery

Spaces available

Price from £TBC

Founded 2003

Since 2003 Classic Travelling has specialised in driving tours and motoring holidays for classic, vintage, and sports cars of all ages in the UK, Europe, USA and South Africa.