Public toilets in the Peak District

Whether you're tackling Mam Tor, picking your way across the Dovedale stepping stones or just after a Bakewell pudding and a sit down, the Peak District keeps most of its facilities in the market towns and at the big-name spots. Bakewell, Castleton, Edale and Buxton all have public toilets close to the centre, and the busiest car parks usually have a block on hand.

A few of the refurbished National Park loos, at Hartington, Millers Dale and Dovedale, now charge 50p by card, while Castleton's car park block stays free and open around the clock; the district council loos in Bakewell, Ashbourne and Matlock charge a flat 20p. Being the country's first national park, ringed by Manchester, Sheffield and Derby, the Peak gets very busy very fast on a fine weekend. The gritstone edges and the moorland paths are largely loo-free once you're walking, so use the car park before you head out onto Stanage or up Kinder.

Check the map for what's open near your start point, and keep a backup in mind if you're out with children or planning a long day on the moors.

Accessibility

There are full Changing Places facilities at Millers Dale Station, Parsley Hay, Chatsworth and Ilam Park, with a simpler one at Torside, so the park is better served than most for adult changing. Some of the moorland car park loos are locked to a RADAR key, and Monsal Head has no accessible toilet at all, so check the listing first. RADAR keys are sold at the Castleton, Bakewell and Fairholmes visitor centres.

Seasonal

Trail-side car park loos switch to shorter winter hours, often closing by 4pm, and a few village toilets such as Bakewell's recreation ground close entirely off-season. The town-centre ones in Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock are your most reliable bet.

Where the gaps are

Expect nothing on the long moorland and edge walks themselves; toilets cluster at the honeypot car parks, so plan around those.