The Peak District’s Best Spots to Treat Dad This Father’s Day

Father and son on a train ride on Father's Day

Forget another tie, a novelty barbecue apron, or a panic-bought box of petrol station chocolates. This Father’s Day, treat the dad (or grandad, uncle, mentor, or all-round legend) in your life to something much better: good food, a pint with a view, a classic car, a steam train, or even a Sunday roast that makes him feel like royalty.

Father’s Day 2026 falls on Sunday 21 June, and across the Peak District there’s plenty to make it a proper celebration. From cosy pubs and village roasts to crafty workshops, train rides, beer tastings, and family-friendly adventures - we’ve rounded up the best ways to spoil the dads in your life.

Here are our picks for Father’s Day experiences, lunches, and places to book across the Peak District (and slightly beyond).

Father’s Day Experiences

Thornbridge Hall, Bakewell

Best for: the dad who knows his Jaipur from his hazy pale

Thornbridge Hall is hosting what might quietly be one of the Peak District’s best Father’s Day events this year: a beer tasting inside founder Jim Harrison’s private House Bar, led by Thornbridge Brewery experts.

There’s pie and peas afterwards (exactly as there should be), plus a pint of Thornbridge beer and the chance to spend a few hours inside one of the Peak District’s grandest houses talking about beer without anyone judging you.

When: Sunday 21 June 2026, 12pm to 4pm

Good to know: Guests must be 16 or over. Under-18s must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Cost: £68.12 per person. Book here.

Ilam Park

Best for: crafty dads and families with younger children

If lunch out feels like a bit much, Ilam Park has a Father’s Day bird box workshop running with the National Trust.

Families can build and decorate a bird box with help from the rangers, then make a day of it with walks, the Hidden Play Garden, the Stables Bookshop and something from the Manifold Tearoom.

It is wholesome, practical and gives Dad something better than another pair of socks.

When: Sunday 21 June 2026, bookable slots from 10am to 1pm

Good to know: Children must be supervised. Parking charges apply for non-members.

Cost: £15 per bird box kit. Book here.

Derbyshire Dales Bus & Train Festival, Peak Rail

Best for: transport-loving dads

Some dads like football. Some dads like gardening. Some dads absolutely light up at the sight of a vintage bus.

If yours falls into category three, Peak Rail’s Derbyshire Dales Bus & Train Festival is probably the right move.

Expect vintage buses and coaches, steam and diesel rides, shed tours, turntable demonstrations, transport stalls, and free bus rides around the Derbyshire Dales linking Bakewell, Chatsworth, Rowsley, and Darley Dale.

There’s a very high chance someone says “they don’t make them like this anymore.”

Entry to the site is free, with standard fares applying for train rides.

When: Sunday 21 June 2026

Good to know: Parking at Rowsley South Station is for Blue Badge holders only. Other visitors should use the free Park & Ride bus from Darley Dale.

Cost: Site entry free. Train fares apply. Adult rover ticket £15, children under 16 travel free with a paying adult. More details here.

Gulliver’s Kingdom, Matlock Bath

Best for: families with younger children

Adults go free across Father’s Day weekend at Gulliver’s Kingdom, which feels like the universe finally giving dads something back after years of carrying everyone’s coats around various theme parks.

Expect rides, shows, attractions, and the kind of slightly chaotic family day out that somehow becomes a core childhood memory later on.

When: Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June 2026

Cost: Adults go free as part of the Father’s Day weekend offer. Check booking terms before visiting. Book here.

Barrow Hill Roundhouse, Chesterfield

Best for: railway dads and curious children

Barrow Hill Roundhouse is running a Father’s Day weekend with brake van rides, locomotives, museum access, exhibitions, turntable demonstrations and signal box demonstrations.

It is slightly outside the Peak District, but close enough to be useful for anyone on the Chesterfield side.

When: Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June 2026

Good to know: Tickets are bought on the day, with no pre-booking.

Cost: Adult £15, child £10, family ticket £45. Find out more here.

Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath

Best for: views, cable cars and a family treat

The Heights of Abraham is doing Father’s Day with views, ice cream, beer from the Tavern and a Father’s Day menu at the Vista Restaurant.

There is also a giant triple whammy burger on the menu, which sounds exactly like the kind of thing that was invented with Father’s Day in mind. There are certainly worse ways to spend a Sunday.

When: Sunday 21 June 2026

Cost: Standard admission applies. Book here.

Matlock Farm Park

Best for: dads who love animals more than they admit

Matlock Farm Park is doing Father’s Day as usual this year, with dads going free and a full day of family chaos in the countryside.

Alongside all the usual animal fun - including goat kids, wallabies, meerkats, reptiles, ferret racing and sheep racing - there’ll also be Sports Day-style activities for dads and children to take part in, complete with prize opportunities.

There are pony rides, indoor and outdoor play areas and enough to keep younger children entertained for hours, which means there’s a reasonable chance Dad might even get to sit down with a coffee at some point.

When: Sunday 21 June 2026, 10am–5pm

Good to know: One dad goes free with an accompanying full-paying child ticket (ages 2–16 only). Tickets are selling quickly.

Cost: Standard child ticket required for free dad entry. Book here.

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Wirksworth

Best for: Sunday lunch with a bit of nostalgia

The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is running a Father’s Day Sunday lunch aboard one of its beautifully restored carriages travelling between Wirksworth and Duffield.

Expect roast beef, gammon, vegan beetroot Wellington, proper puddings, tea and coffee, and a complimentary glass of Prosecco on arrival.

A little bit old-school. In a very good way.

When: Sunday 21 June 2026

Good to know: Boards at 12.30pm for 12.45pm departure from Wirksworth Station

Cost: From £67 per person. Book here.

Alton Towers

Best for: thrill-seeking dads

If your dad’s idea of a good day out involves rollercoasters, overpriced doughnuts and pretending he’s absolutely fine after Nemesis Reborn, Alton Towers is an obvious Father’s Day shout.

It’s slightly outside the Peak District, but still close enough to turn into a full family day out or weekend away.

Younger children are well catered for too, especially around CBeebies Land.

Good to know: Fast Track is worth considering on busy weekends unless you believe queueing for 70 minutes 'builds character'.

Cost: Varies depending on tickets and booking date. Book here.

Father’s Day lunches, pubs and places to book

The Peacock at Rowsley

Best for: a properly special Sunday lunch

The Peacock at Rowsley is doing the sort of Sunday lunch that makes you briefly consider moving into a countryside hotel permanently.

Their roasts come with duck fat herb-roasted potatoes, maple-glazed root vegetables, truffle cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire pudding and rich gravy, with options including roast striploin of beef, pork loin, lamb rump, or a butternut squash pithivier.

There’s also fish and chips, fillet steak, burgers, and a Bakewell tart dessert that feels extremely appropriate given the location.

Expensive? Slightly. Worth it? Also yes.

Sunday roasts: available Sunday, 12pm to 8pm

Cost: from £24 to £35. Book here.

The Chequers Inn, Froggatt

Best for: a pub garden and a really solid roast

The Chequers is one of those pubs that people end up accidentally staying in for four hours.

Their Father’s Day menu includes roast beef, pork loin, or vegetable Wellington with roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire pudding, and gravy, plus their usual AA rosette dishes if you fancy something different.

Book the woodland garden if the weather looks decent.

Good to know: bookings essential.

Cost: Around £22 per person. Book here.

The Castle, Castleton

Best for: surviving Castleton parking then rewarding yourself

The Castle is all about classic Father’s Day comfort food this year.

Expect king prawn cocktail, creamy mushrooms, roast beef, porchetta, turkey breast, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, and what they describe as “as much gravy as you like,” which frankly feels like the energy Father’s Day should have.

Our recommendation? Walk first. Lunch second. Pint third.

Good to know: £5 per person deposit applies to Father’s Day bookings from 11.30am

Cost: Three courses £32.95. Book here.

The Blind Bull, Little Hucklow

Best for: food-focused dads

The Blind Bull has become one of the Peak District’s most interesting places to eat, and Father’s Day is a very good excuse to book.

The Sunday menu includes things like smoked eel with fennel and mustard jam, baked peach with whipped feta, roast lamb leg, pork collar, and dark chocolate mousse.

It’s cosy, relaxed, and feels more 'smart countryside weekend' than standard Sunday lunch. Ideal if dad's a bit of a foodie.

Cost: from around £20 per main. Book here.

The Tickled Trout, Barlow

Best for: one of the best Sunday lunches you'll ever eat

The Tickled Trout in Barlow is a gorgeous Father’s Day option if your ideal Sunday involves a countryside walk followed by an extremely good roast.

Their Sunday menu includes Derbyshire roast beef served medium rare, roast pork loin or 'A Bit Of Both' for anyone unwilling to make difficult decisions on a Sunday. All come with mashed and herbed roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and glazed vegetables.

If Dad’s not a roast person (controversial, but they do exist), there’s also chalkstream trout with dill cream sauce, garden peas and chive mash.

The pub itself has that relaxed, polished country pub feel that works really well for family lunches without feeling overly formal.

Cost: Roasts from £24.95. Book here.

The Cupola, Stoney Middleton

Best for: dads who’d choose a smash burger over fine dining every time

Not every Father’s Day needs white tablecloths and a three-hour lunch.

The Cupola in Stoney Middleton is a brilliant shout if the plan is burgers, beers and something more relaxed - and yes, the smash burgers really are as good as everyone says they are.

Set inside the beautifully restored historic cupola building, it has a more laid-back feel than some of the Peak District’s smarter Sunday lunch spots, but still feels special enough for a Father’s Day treat.

It’s also ideal if you’ve got children, dogs or family members who just want excellent food without too much fuss.

Good to know: It gets busy at weekends, especially if the weather is good.

Cost: Burgers and mains from around £16+. Book here.

The Bulls Head, Ashford in the Water

Best for: good value Sunday lunch in a pretty village

The Bulls Head in Ashford in the Water is a good one if you want a traditional Sunday lunch. It's the sort of pub meal most dads are probably hoping for.

Their Sunday menu offers two courses for £22 or three courses for £27, with roasts including beef, pork and a vegetarian option, plus pub dishes such as fish and chips and Goan vegetable curry.

The setting helps too. Ashford in the Water is one of the prettiest villages in the Peak District, so you can make a little walk out of it before or after lunch.

Cost: Three courses for £27. Book here.

The Maynard, Grindleford

Best for: sunshine, pints and a long lunch outside

If the weather behaves, The Maynard is one of the nicest Father’s Day spots in the Peak District for a long, lazy lunch outdoors.

Its large terrace and beer garden overlook the Hope Valley, making it the sort of place where one drink somehow turns into three and nobody is in any rush to leave.

The food is strong too, with elevated pub classics, Sunday roasts and generous desserts, but really, on a sunny day, it’s the setting that sells it.

It also works brilliantly if you want to combine lunch with a walk around Padley Gorge, Longshaw or Grindleford beforehand.

Good to know: Book ahead if you want an outdoor table with the best views.

Cost: Sunday roasts and mains from around £20+. Book here.

The Bulls Head Inn, Foolow

Best for: old-school pub done well

Roaring fires, beams, local ales, Derbyshire beef, pork roasts, fish and chips, sticky ginger pudding and Bakewell pudding with custard.

This place feels reassuringly like the Peak District people imagine in their heads before they move here. And sometimes that's preceisely what you want.

Cost: from £17.50 to £22 for roasts. Book here.

The Barrel Inn, Bretton

Best for: views and a proper country pub

The Barrel Inn claims to be the highest pub in Derbyshire, and the views are a major part of the appeal.

It is a traditional inn above Bretton Clough, with beams, flagstone floors, real fires and food that includes local produce, pies, seafood, steak and pub classics.

If the weather is clear, this is a lovely one for dads who value a view almost as much as the food.

Good to know: guide dogs only inside

Cost: £16-24 for a main. Book here.

The Beeley Inn

Best for: Chatsworth estate charm

The Beeley Inn sits on the Chatsworth Estate and has the sort of old coaching inn energy that makes you want to order red wine immediately.

The Sunday menu includes roast beef from Chatsworth Farm, Derbyshire roast lamb, pork belly, vegetable Wellington and a beef and ale pie.

It is a great option if you want lunch somewhere with a bit of history and then a wander around Chatsworth or Beeley afterwards.

Cost. £22-24 for a roast. Book here.

The Packhorse Inn, Little Longstone

Best for: walkers and pub people

The Packhorse is a brilliant choice if Dad would rather have an authentic pub lunch than anything too over the top.

It is well placed for walks around Little Longstone and the Monsal Trail, and it has that cosy, characterful feel people hope for from a Peak District pub.

This is one to book if the plan is: walk, pint, lunch, possibly another pint.

Cost: £19-24 for a main. Book here.

The Old Club House, Buxton

Best for: an easy pub lunch in Buxton

The Old Club House is offering Father’s Day food, drinks and the chance to enter a Glenfiddich prize draw when booking a table for two or more across Father’s Day weekend.

The menu is more classic pub than destination dining, but sometimes that is exactly what is needed.

Expect roasts, burgers, pub classics, small plates and a relaxed town-centre setting.

Good to know: Father’s Day weekend bookings run from 19 to 22 June

Cost: From £15.25 for a roast. Book here.

Final Thought From Us

Father’s Day does not need to be complicated.

Book somewhere good, add a walk if everyone is willing, and maybe throw in a pint, a view, a train ride or a classic car for good measure.

We’ll keep updating this list as more Peak District Father’s Day menus and events are announced. Let us know if we've missed anything at hello@thegoodlifelist.co.uk.