Biggin

Biggin sits two miles south-east of Hartington in the White Peak, a small farming settlement just off the A515 between Buxton and Ashbourne. First recorded as 'Newbiggin' in 1223, it began life as a Cistercian sheep ranch run by monks from Garendon Abbey in Leicestershire, and by the 18th century had become a modest centre for lead mining. Farming has remained the mainstay of the village ever since, and Biggin today is little more than a scatter of stone houses, a church and a pub, wrapped in the drystone-walled fields typical of the limestone plateau.

What draws visitors is not the village itself but what surrounds it. Biggin Dale, a dry limestone valley that drops away south of the village towards the River Dove at Wolfscote Dale, is a National Nature Reserve known for its spring wildflowers and its underground streams, which surface as a proper watercourse only after heavy rain. The disused Buxton to Ashbourne railway, now the Tissington Trail, passes close by, giving walkers and cyclists a level, waymarked route through some of the finest dale scenery in the Peak District.

Top things to do near Biggin

Biggin's appeal is almost entirely about getting outdoors, with some of the Peak District's best-known dales within easy reach.

• Biggin Dale — a National Nature Reserve running from the village down to the River Dove, notable for its limestone flora and intermittent stream.
• Tissington Trail — a 13-mile traffic-free trail along the old Buxton to Ashbourne railway, ideal for walking, cycling and horse riding.
• Wolfscote Dale and Beresford Dale — riverside walks along the Dove, linking through to the better-known Dovedale further south.
• Hartington — a handsome village two miles away with a duck pond, cheese shop and further access to Dovedale and the Dove valley.
• Tissington village — a well-preserved estate village a short drive south, famous for its well dressings and Tissington Hall.

Getting to Biggin

Biggin lies just off the A515, roughly midway between Buxton and Ashbourne, making it an easy stop for anyone driving that route through the White Peak. Ashbourne is about nine miles south and has the nearest larger range of shops and services; Buxton lies to the north. There is no railway station in the village — the nearest mainline stations are at Matlock or Buxton — so a car is the practical way to reach Biggin, though the Tissington Trail itself is well used by cyclists arriving from Ashbourne or Parsley Hay.

Best time to visit Biggin

Late spring brings the wildflowers of Biggin Dale into bloom and is a good time to see the reserve at its best. Summer offers the longest days for walking the dales and cycling the Tissington Trail, while autumn brings quieter paths and rich colour along the river valleys. Winter can be atmospheric, with the Waterloo Inn's fires a welcome stop, though some of the dale paths become muddy and the shorter days limit walking time.

Where to stay near Biggin

Options in Biggin itself are limited but characterful. Biggin Hall, a Grade II* listed 17th-century farmhouse set in eight acres, has been renovated into a small hotel and restaurant. The Waterloo Inn is the village pub and also has a caravan and camping site behind it. For a wider choice of hotels, cottages and B&Bs, nearby Hartington and Ashbourne offer more options within a short drive.

Food and drink near Biggin

The Waterloo Inn is the village's own pub, a traditional stone-flagged inn with open fires in winter, serving as the natural focal point for walkers coming off the dales. Biggin Hall's restaurant offers a more formal dining option for guests and visitors. For a wider choice, Hartington's cafes, pubs and its well-known cheese shop are only a couple of miles away.