What and where is the Peak District? The Peak District is the original (and of course the best) national park in the UK. It was the first such park ever created here, back in 1951, and is now one of fifteen spread across the country. The Peak District covers 555 square miles of England and its boundary extends into five counties, encompassing some of the most beautiful parts of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. Part of its beauty comes from its accessibility; it's an area of peace and tranquility sandwiched between the cities of Sheffield, Manchester and Derby, and more than 20 million people live within an hour's journey of its wild landscapes. Back in post-war Britain, the Peak District was originally conceived to provide a protected place