THE PEAK DISTRICT

Britain's first national park, established in 1951, is a paradise for walking, family cycling, mountain biking and adventure sports such as caving, rock climbing, hang gliding and paragliding, but there's also plenty to do for those with a more relaxed approach to nature and the great outdoors!

An area of great diversity, it is conventionally split into the northern Dark Peak, where most of the moorland is found and whose geology is gritstone, and the southern White Peak, where most of the population lives and where the geology is mainly limestone-based. Proximity to the major conurbations of the Midlands, Yorkshire and Lancashire, coupled with easy access by road and rail, make it the most visited national park in the UK and the second most visited in the world.

PEAK DISTRICT WALKING FESTIVAL 2008

This year's Festival runs from 19th-27th April and offers a series of walks that will allow you to explore the special environment of the Peak District from a different perspective.You'll also be able to uncover new and intriguing facts and figures about the area along the way – for example, did you know that the Peak District has 26,000 miles of dry stone walls – enough to encircle the Earth?!

Set amid the spectacular Peak District scenery, the nine-day Walking Festival is host to a wide range of guided walks of varying grades, with local experts leading walks on themes such as food & drink, ghosts, heritage and geology. Together with storytelling walks for the family and evening events which include talks, presentations and entertainment, you're sure to find an ideal walk, whatever your ability or interest.