With a perfect mix of natural beauty, community spirit, and rich history, there’s something special about living in the Peak District. Made up of the Dark Peak (wilder, gritstone moorland) and the White Peak (softer, limestone dales), the Peak District is a stunning national park located in central England covering an area of 555 square miles. It’s a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, offering breathtaking landscapes, picturesque villages, and a wide range of outdoor activities. It also makes for a great place to live, with a variety of towns and villages that offer good quality of life.
The northern and eastern edges of the Peak District lie within the county of Yorkshire. Covering some of the wildest landscapes, with wide heather moorland, gritstone crags and deep wooded valleys, the Yorkshire Peak District is a spectacular place. With an array of picturesque towns and villages, it’s a wonderful place to move to, and those considering relocating here won’t be disappointed. Whether you are looking for a peaceful village with stunning views, a bustling town with plenty of amenities, or a family-friendly area with excellent schools, there’s something for everyone. Dore lies on the edge of the Peak District and is one of the more affluent areas of Sheffield. Even though it’s just six miles from the city of Sheffield, it has a village feel with outstanding schools and plenty of green spaces. The village of Holme sits at the head of the Holme Valley in West Yorkshire, close to Holmfirth and just within the boundary of the Peak District National Park. It’s surrounded by breath-taking scenery, home to an active community which extends a Yorkshire welcome to visitors from near and far. Then there’s the village of Bradfield which lies just 7 miles out of Sheffield but is surrounded by beautiful, wild moorland countryside on the border of the South Yorkshire Peak District.
Woodland walk in Ecclesall Woods Image: Getty Explore
Without a doubt, the Peak District is best known for its stunning scenery and array of outdoor pursuits. Whether you’re a keen hiker, mountain-biker or fell runner – there’s an activity for you. Not only are the Peaks on Dore’s doorstep, there are plenty of green, leafy spaces nearby, such as Ecclesall Woods, Whirlow Brook Park, and Ladies Spring Wood. A variety of sports clubs cater to plenty of activities from hockey to golf. Holme is the perfect spot for cyclists with its miles of rolling hills, whilst there’s moorland and reservoirs to be explored in Bradfield.
Walkers who like to end a ramble with a well-earned drink in a traditional pub are well catered for with the Fleece Inn in Holme and The Old Horns Inn serving up good pub grub in its lovely beer garden. There’s also a quaint tearoom in Flask End, and Bradfield Brewery which serves up ‘Farmers’ ales. For some more cosmopolitan eats, head to Dore, where you’ll find the likes of Dore Bar & Grill in the heart of the village which is known for its Italian food with a Yorkshire twist alongside cocktails. Curry lovers can head to Delhi in Minutes or Alma’s Indian Brasserie. For something a bit different, head to The Summer House which has a choice of quirky all-day dining in either a conservatory, log cabin, tree house or Eden area. A five minute drive from Bradfield and you’ll find fine dining restaurant JÖRO which relocated to the iconic Oughtibridge Paper Mill. It has bars, an all-day dining terrace, outdoor kitchen, bedrooms and a deli shop on site. If you’re prepared to cross the border, Chatsworth Farm Shop is worth a visit.
Dore Heritage Trail takes in the likes of the Village Green, War Memorial, Dore Stone and Village Well and it can also be completed virtually. The Dore Festival and Gala take place every year for two weeks from late June and activities now include a Walking Fortnight, organised by the Wyvern Walkers. Look out for Well Dressing during July and the annual Dore Show in September. Holme is known for its annual village fete, which includes traditional games, stalls, and a duck race.
Bag A Property
Dore boasts highest prices for property as buyers are paying for the S17 postcode and to live in its well-heeled village. Drive down Dore Road which is lined with elegant Victorian mansions or head to the outskirts of the village for even more exclusive properties hidden behind high walls and towering trees. Properties in Dore have an average price of £519,005 and the majority of sales are detached houses costing around £742,919. Semi-detached homes sell for about £744,443, with flats more affordable at £245,735. Housing is much more affordable in the villages of Holme and Bradfield with the average house price in Holme is £291,647, with terraced properties averaging £224,900, detached properties at £475,500, and semi-detached properties at £293,500 with Bradfield showing similar figures.
Another reason the Peak District is such a popular place to live is thanks to its commutable distance to major cities. Not only is the vibrant city of Sheffield right on the doorstep of the national park, it’s well connected to many other cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Huddersfield. Dore is the best option for those looking to commute with the Dore & Totley railway station offering direct trains to Sheffield (7 mins) and Manchester (around 1 hour) with regular trains connecting Sheffield to London. There are also frequent bus services to Sheffield and surrounding towns and villages. For drivers from Dore, the A625 leads to Sheffield, while Manchester and Leeds Bradford are the closest airports, both just over 30 miles away.
Rebecca Fearn works in Dore as a primary school teacher.
I’ve had the pleasure of working in Dore for well over a decade now and still never take for granted how lovely it is.
Firstly, although it’s quite a large village, it very much has a community feel to it, with the local primary school at the heart of that community.
Dore has some really nice pubs and cafes and plenty of green open spaces to enjoy. In fact, the scenery here is lovely and the area benefits from being on the edge of the Peak District.
Just a few minutes’ drive from Dore will open up some of the most breath-taking scenery you’ll find, with the delights of Chatsworth, Baslow, Calver on the Derbyshire side just a short journey away.
