Great Longstone

Great Longstone sits quietly below the long limestone ridge of Longstone Edge, two miles north-west of Bakewell in the heart of the Peak District. It is recorded in the Domesday Book as 'Longsdune', held by Henry de Ferrers, and the village that has grown since then still centres on an old cross standing on a small green, ringed by mellow limestone cottages along Main Street. Lead mining and shoemaking once sustained the village; today it is a peaceful residential settlement that makes an ideal, less crowded base for exploring the White Peak.

The 13th-century parish church of St Giles, with its medieval churchyard cross, anchors the village alongside a Georgian manor house, a village shop and two traditional pubs. A quarter of a mile south runs the Monsal Trail, the former Midland Railway line now a flat, traffic-free path for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, while Longstone Edge itself rises above the village offering wide views across the Wye Valley. With Bakewell, Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall all within a few miles, Great Longstone is a compact, characterful stopover for anyone touring the Peak District.

Top things to do in Great Longstone

Great Longstone rewards a slow pace. Between the village green, the surrounding footpaths and the grand houses just down the road, there is plenty to fill a few days.

• St Giles' Church — a 13th-century parish church with a medieval cross in the churchyard, at the heart of the village.
• The village green and cross — the old stone cross on Great Longstone's green is the natural focal point of the village, surrounded by limestone cottages.
• Longstone Edge — the ridge above the village gives walkers sweeping views over the surrounding dales and was historically worked for lead and fluorspar.
• The Monsal Trail — a level, traffic-free former railway path a short walk from the village, popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders, leading towards Bakewell and Monsal Head.
• Monsal Head — just beyond neighbouring Little Longstone, one of the Peak District's best-known viewpoints, overlooking the Monsal Dale viaduct.
• Chatsworth House — the Duke of Devonshire's stately home and gardens, around three miles away, one of the great houses of England.
• Haddon Hall — a beautifully preserved medieval and Tudor manor house roughly four miles from the village.
• Bakewell — the Peak District's principal market town, two miles away, with its historic bridge, Monday market and the original Bakewell pudding shops.

Getting to Great Longstone

Great Longstone lies just off the A6 between Bakewell and Buxton, making it easy to reach by car from Sheffield, Manchester or the M1. The village is about two miles from Bakewell and a similar distance from the A6, with Chesterfield and Matlock also within easy driving distance. The nearest mainline railway station is Buxton, around 12 miles away, or Chesterfield on the Midland Main Line, both requiring a bus or taxi onward. Regional bus services connect Bakewell to surrounding villages, though a car gives the most flexibility for reaching Great Longstone itself and the wider Peak District.

Best time to visit Great Longstone

Late spring and summer, from May to September, bring the longest days and the best chance of good weather for walking Longstone Edge and the Monsal Trail, and coincide with the village's well dressings and flower and arts festivals. Autumn colours the wooded dales around Monsal Head beautifully and draws fewer visitors than midsummer. Winter has its own appeal for those who enjoy quiet countryside pubs and crisp walks, though some rural paths can be muddy and days are short.

Where to stay in Great Longstone

Accommodation in the village itself is limited to a scattering of holiday cottages and B&B rooms, many in converted limestone cottages along Main Street, plus a country house hotel. Self-catering cottages are popular with walkers using the Monsal Trail and those visiting Chatsworth and Haddon Hall, while nearby Bakewell offers a wider choice of hotels, guesthouses and inns for those wanting more facilities on the doorstep.

Food and drink in Great Longstone

The village has two long-standing pubs on Main Street: the White Lion, restored as a stylish bar and restaurant, and the Crispin Inn, a traditional village local known for its beer garden, open fires and well-kept cellar. Both serve pub food and welcome walkers off the Monsal Trail. For a wider choice, Bakewell's cafes, restaurants and bakeries, including its famous Bakewell pudding shops, are only a couple of miles away.