Known for being a popular hiking spot for locals and tourists alike, the Peak District is a stunning national park located in central northern England. It offers a rich tapestry of mosaic landscapes, including rolling hills, rugged moorlands, and picturesque valleys. Charming villages, historic landmarks, and a variety of wildlife dot the area, making it an ideal destination for couples looking to elope in the peak district.
For your Peak District elopement, there are abundant gorgeous locations you can choose as the backdrop. Sunrise or sunset, each location offers a different view of the peaks. Whether overlooking the delights of Ladybower Reservoir from Bamford Edge or look at the rolling hills of Hope Valley from Curbar, couples can find so much to enjoy in the Peak District as they share their vows amidst breathtaking landscape views. In this blog, I’ll be sharing four fantastic locations where you can elope in the Peak District and consider as the backdrop to your special day.
Peak District Elopements
Hope Valley offers breathtaking backdrops for your elopement, with iconic spots like Curbar Edge and Bamford Edge providing stunning views for your special day. As your dedicated elopement photographer, I am here to capture every beautiful moment, ensuring your memories last a lifetime in these picturesque locations.
Scroll to read the full blog or click each heading to find out about each location!
Location #1 Bamford Edge, Hope Valley
Location #2 Curbar Edge, Hope Valley
Location #3 Stanage Edge, Hope Valley
Location #4 Padley Gorge, Grindleford
Bamford Edge – Bamford, Hope Valley
Bamford Edge is a popular location in the Peak District thanks to its gorgeous views of the quaint village of Bamford and its wide-scale views of Ladybower Reservoir. Whilst the ascent from New Road is mildly steep, the path gradually levels out as you reach the top of the edge, making it suitable for novice walkers/hikers. At sunrise, you can enjoy a truly stunning elopement experience here – when the sun begins to rise over the hills in the distance, it casts golden hues over the landscape, bathing the area in warm, yellow light.
Meanwhile, once you turn around, you can still see the landscape cloaked in blue tones from blue hour and it looks truly breathtaking. The area itself is generally quieter at sunrise than it is at sunset, but both equally great times of day to plan your elopement around. There were only a handful of people here when we visited Bamford Edge at 4:30am during April. There is free parking on New Road too and only a stones throw from Bamford.
Curbar Edge – Curbar, Calver, Hope Valley
Curbar Edge is another popular spot within the peak district and arguably has some of the best views of the countryside and village of Curbar. Another location easily accessible thanks to free parking near Curbar Gap, wide paths and marked signage guiding you along the trail. Although the altitude of Curbar is lower than Bamford Edge, the area still offers breathtaking views, greenery and wildlife sighting opportunities.
I photographed Rosie & Jake here during their engagement session and we didn’t have to venture too far along the trail to get a variety of different backdrops for their photographs. Although the weather was slightly overcast, we got a hint of the sunset in the distance and were still able to enjoy the quietness of the landscape. During the summer, you can expect it to be very busy as it is a hot spot for locals and travellers visiting from Nottingham, Derby, Chesterfield and Sheffield. Based on the location of the sun, Sunrise would offer spectacular light and views of the landscape, but you would need to walk further along the trail in order to see the light in its entirety.
Stanage Edge – Hope Valley
Famously known for its feature in Pride and Prejudice, Stanage Edge is hugely popular with outdoor enthusiasts and fans of the film. Generally considered a moderate to challenging route, depending on the route you go, Stanage Edge offers so much for walkers, hikers, bird watchers, climbers – you name it! And its no surprise why, the views of Hope Valley and Dark Peak moorlands are incredible.
Stanage Edge differs from Curbar Edge and Bamford Edge with its expansive and vibrant landscape, creating opportunities for truly gorgeous photos. Whether you’re standing at the bottom of the escarpment, nestled into the greenery that surrounds it, or standing near the edge overlooking the views, the area is perfect if you want to elope in the Peak District because it offers so much versitility and is a truly peaceful spot when timed right. Parking is fairly straightforward with free parking at ‘Hooks Car Park’. Since spaces are limited, eloping later in the morning or afternoon would serve couples better.
A fantastic spot if you are a fellow van lifer (like myself) and fancy having somewhere to park up, get ready, have a cuppa and make some breakfast before ascending the edge for your elopement. Photos from an engagement shoot with April & Matt, who dreamed about eloping instead of having a wedding – so this photoshoot lived out that fantasy for them!
Padley Gorge – Grindleford
Surrounded by ancient woods, meadows, parkland and heather moorland, Padley Gorge is a diverse and narrow valley near the outskirts of the Peak District. Full of character and life, the area is a fantastic place to visit for couples looking to immerse themselves in ancient oak-birch woodland, rare plant life and endangered species sightings. A different viewing experience from the likes of Curbar Edge, Bamford Edge and Stanage Edge but still equally as beautiful.
Padley Gorge nestles deeper in the valley, encouraging you to engage more of your senses – looking closer at trees, listening for wildlife, and smelling the flowers and foliage. Lovely secluded spots throughout the valley offer perfect settings for a quiet, intimate elopement ceremony. Imagine if you elope in the Peak District, at Padley Gorge, surrounded by gorgeous towering trees and wonderful rays of light creeping through them on a bright sunny day! So. Damn. Beautiful!
We ventured here for the second half of an elopement, to capture more intimate moments and couple portraits. Although it was busy by the time we got here (mid morning), we didn’t struggle to find secluded little spots to make it a personal and private experience.
Overall
The Peak District has a lot of locations on offer for couples looking to swap a traditional venue for an elopement amidst the landscape. From its dramatic peaks to peaceful valleys, the area provides a backdrop suited for couples looking to blend romance with adventure. An elopement here isn’t just about getting away from tradition. It’s about crafting your own and choosing a place that amplifies this special day. For those seeking a truly unforgettable experience, elope in the Peak District and discover an enchanting setting that you may revisit over and over, adding even stronger sentiment to the memory of your wedding day.
If you’re looking at having an elopement and considering getting eloped in the Peak District, simply fill in the form here and find out how I can help you bring your elopement vision into reality!
