Little Hucklow

Little Hucklow is one of the smallest and quietest settlements in the Peak District National Park, a scattering of limestone cottages tucked beneath the long grassy scarp of Hucklow Edge in Derbyshire's White Peak. There is no shop and no church here, and the village has changed little since it was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as part of the twin hamlets of Great and Little Hucklow, held at the time by William Peverel. What Little Hucklow does have is a genuine sense of remoteness within easy reach of the Peak's better-known honeypots, plus one of the finest old pubs in the area.

The parish, which also takes in the tiny hamlets of Coplow Dale and Windmill, had a population of just 88 at the 2021 census, making this about as far from a crowded tourist trail as the Peak District gets. Limestone quarrying and lead mining once shaped the local economy, and the 600-foot High Rake mine shaft near Windmill is a reminder of that industrial past, now folded quietly back into pasture and dry-stone-walled fields. Above the village, on the hilltop known as Camphill, a scheduled Iron Age hillfort called Burrs Mount looks out over the escarpment; today it is better known as the home of gliders rather than ancient earthworks.

Top things to do in Little Hucklow

The village itself is small, but it sits at the centre of some of the best walking and open-air activity country in the White Peak, with limestone dales, gritstone edges and show caves all within a short drive.

• Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club — Based at Camphill Farm on Hucklow Edge directly above the village, this is one of the oldest gliding clubs in the country, flying from a grass airfield perched on the escarpment. Trial flights can be booked, and there is a public viewing area where you can watch gliders launch and land against the Peak District skyline.
• The Blind Bull — Reputedly on the site of Britain's fifth-oldest public house, this 17th-century inn (previously the Bulls Head, associated in local lore with the highwayman Dick Turpin) has been beautifully restored and won silver for Pub of the Year at the Visit England Awards for Excellence 2025. It is as much a destination in its own right as a place to eat.
• Hazelbadge Hall — A striking early manor house dating from 1549, half a mile from the village on the road towards Bradwell, and considered one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in Derbyshire.
• Peak Cavern and Speedwell Cavern — A short drive away in Castleton, these show caves cut into the limestone beneath Mam Tor are among the most spectacular in the country, with Peak Cavern's vast entrance chamber and Speedwell's underground boat trip through a flooded mine level.
• Cave Dale and the Great Ridge — Walkers can strike out from nearby Castleton up the dramatic limestone ravine of Cave Dale, or tackle the classic Great Ridge walk over Mam Tor and Lose Hill, all within comfortable striking distance of Little Hucklow.
• Circular walks from Hucklow Edge — Waymarked and informal routes link Little Hucklow with Great Hucklow and the limestone valley of Coplow Dale, taking in dry-stone-walled pasture, old quarry workings and wide Peak District views.

Getting to Little Hucklow

Little Hucklow lies in the heart of the Peak District National Park, roughly three miles from Bradwell and within easy reach of Tideswell, Eyam and Castleton, all of which offer more in the way of shops, cafes and services. The nearest railway stations are at Grindleford and Hope on the Hope Valley line, both around a 20-minute drive away, with connections through to Sheffield and Manchester. By car, the village is most easily reached via the B6049 or the network of minor lanes linking Tideswell, Bradwell and Foolow; the roads are narrow and hilly in places, typical of this part of the White Peak, so a little extra time should be allowed. Sheffield and Manchester airports are both under an hour's drive away, making Little Hucklow a realistic option for a short countryside break as well as a longer stay.

Best time to visit Little Hucklow

Late spring through early autumn is the most comfortable time to explore on foot, with long daylight hours for walking the surrounding dales and edges and the best chance of clear conditions for watching (or joining) the gliders above Hucklow Edge, since thermal soaring depends on settled, sunny weather. Summer evenings in the beer garden at the Blind Bull are a particular draw. Spring brings fresh green growth to the limestone dales and newborn lambs in the surrounding fields, while autumn colours the valley woodland around nearby Cressbrook and Miller's Dale. Winter can be atmospheric, with the high ground around Hucklow Edge occasionally holding snow, but exposed conditions and shorter days make it better suited to those prepared for genuine hill-country weather.

Where to stay in Little Hucklow

Accommodation in the village itself is limited but characterful, centred on the Blind Bull, which now offers five rooms alongside its restored 17th-century bar and dining rooms, plus a self-contained cottage. Beyond the village, the wider area around Little Hucklow and neighbouring Tideswell Moor has a good scattering of self-catering cottages and farm conversions, well suited to walking breaks, while nearby Tideswell, Eyam and Castleton offer a wider choice of guesthouses, bed and breakfasts and small hotels for those wanting more facilities on the doorstep.

Food and drink in Little Hucklow

The Blind Bull is the obvious focus for food and drink in the village, serving a proper gastropub menu alongside traditional real ales, and it has built a strong reputation locally and beyond, culminating in its 2025 Visit England award. With no shop in Little Hucklow itself, day-to-day essentials mean a short drive to Tideswell or Bradwell, both of which have a good choice of independent cafes, bakeries and pubs to fill out a visit.