Peak District National Park - Geography

The Peak District National Park lies directly west of Sheffield. With easy access by road and rail, this is thought to be the world's second most-visited national park (after the Mount Fuji National Park in Japan), drawing an estimated 22 million visitors per year.

Covering an area of 1,440 square km (555 square miles), the park is the fourth largest national park in England and Wales. Although its boundaries were drawn to exclude large built-up areas and industrial sites, much of the (non-industrial) west of Sheffield lies within the park's borders, along with numerous villages.

Forming the southern end of the Pennines, much of the Peak District area comprises uplands over 300m (1,000ft), characterised by rounded hills and gritstone escarpments. The striking landscape presents endless opportunities for outdoor pursuits.