The UK’s national parks are beloved by tourists, but they’re not always easy to spend time in.
A lack of transport, facilities and accommodation options (unless you fancy camping, of course) can be obstacles for visitors.
But now, a brand new resort, PEAK, is being built in the Peak District, offering up a Center Parcs style destination for visitors to the beloved national park.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is PEAK?
Dubbed a ‘gateway resort town’ it will be similar to the ski-resorts of the Alps — but without the skiing.
The site will feature 250 holiday lodges, restaurants, shops and leisure facilities, including 10 miles of cycling trails.
Plans show a village shop, artisan market, a ‘green skills academy’ and an ‘experiential outdoors’ facility.
There will also be hotels, with around 2,000 rooms in total, but the facilities will be available for both ‘stay’ and ‘day’ visitors.
The website for the development reads: ‘PEAK proposes to bring the scope and services of internationally successful ski resorts to create the UK’s equivalent for biking, hiking and other adventure sports as well as for nature, culture and heritage experiences.’
There will also be the PEAK Express a ‘carless service’ that will assist tourists in getting around the site, without the need of their own transport.
Similar to a ski lift, visitors will have to buy a day pass to access trails or places of interest. Details of how much this would cost are yet to be released.
Where is PEAK?
The site is on the Birchall Estate, a 283-acre piece of land on the eastern boundary of the Peak District National Park in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
The area has long history dating back to the Middle Ages, and has been used for quarrying, coal extraction, landfill and even had an 18-hole golf course which closed in the 2000s.
Plans state that around 70% of the land will be kept as green space to continue boosting biodiversity.
When will PEAK open?
According to the PEAK website, phase one of the development — which covers about 10% of the land — includes ‘overnight and short stay accommodation in hotel, lodge and hostel formats, a world class medical and wellness campus and conferencing facilities’.
Work has already started, but at the moment, these facilities have got a pretty vague opening day of ‘2027/8’.
It’s worth noting that PEAK has been anticipated for a long time. In fact, the initial stages of planning permission were initially secured back in 2008.
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