Peak District National Park, England

Starting out in Waterhouses, Stoke-on-Trent, we took the middle route north, mostly on the A53 road.  Our final destination was a camping park in Crowden.

The weather was beautiful with no rain, a delightful blessing on this late October day.

Located on the southern end of the Pennines, these crags give a hint as to the reason for the name of Peak District National Park. 

England's national parks are different than those in the United States. Many of them, such as the Peak District National Park, were designated as such fairly recently. For example the Peak District was deemed a national park in 1951. This makes the area a protected landscape. 

They are not wildernesses, but regions where settlements were established long before the national parks ever became an idea. Industries such as farming, as in the photo above, and mining remain. Tourism is another, more recent contributor to the Peak District's economy.

A lovely English rural landscape is not complete without sheep. 

As we made our way north, we passed by or through several small towns or villages such as Buxton, Dove Holes, and Glossup.

Brian and I so enjoyed driving through this serene landscape. It is ever-changing while retaining its pastoral peacefulness. Crowden, the day's endpoint, is near a series of reservoirs that are located in succession down the valley Longendale. From north to south, the reservoirs are:  Woodhead (pictured below), Torside, Rhodeswood, Valehouse, and Bottoms. Quite an effective system!