How to Plan a Peak District Group Trip (With Buxton as Your Base)

Jan 19
3 min read

Peak District group trip starting in Buxton near iconic walking routes

There’s something really lovely about planning a group trip.Whether it’s friends, family, a mixture of ages, or a team retreat — there’s a special kind of anticipation that comes with organising a stay where everyone gets to slow down, reconnect and simply be together.

A lot of guests book the house for reunions or gatherings, and the conversations I have with them before they arrive often make me smile.Someone’s excited for a long walk.Someone else just wants a lie-in. A few are already planning meals.And there’s always one person quietly in charge of the whole thing (every group has one!).

Buxton is a brilliant base for these kinds of trips — soft edges, good food, gentle walks, quiet corners, the Opera House, the Peaks. Something for everyone, without needing to go far.

If you’re planning a group trip this year, here’s a simple guide to help you bring everything together without the overwhelm.

Step 1: Choose the Right Base for Your Group

Buxton town centre, the ideal base for a Peak District group trip

With 6–12 people, comfort and space make all the difference.A group stay works best when everyone has:

A proper bedroom (nobody wants the sofa bed)
Enough bathrooms for morning routines
A dining space where everyone can sit together
A lounge that feels cosy rather than cramped

The house was set up with exactly that in mind — warm interiors, a big dining table, quiet rooms, and a calm neighbourhood. Groups often tell me it feels like an “easy” place to settle into.

Step 2: Keep Meals Simple & Shared

Rasa Coffee Buxton Trackside Cavendish Arcade

Cooking is often one of the nicest parts of a group stay.

Here’s what I’ve seen work really well:

✔ One shared dinner each night

Less stress, more togetherness.

✔ Easy breakfasts everyone helps themselves to

Croissants, fruit, coffee, porridge… it just works.

✔ A “snack drawer”

Every group forms one, whether they mean to or not.

✔ Eating out in Buxton

Santiago, Luciano's, St Moritz, Simply Thai — all lovely, relaxed options if you want to give the cook the day off.

Step 3: Pick Activities That Suit All Ages & Energies

Planning Peak District group trip activities like hiking, caving and spa days

In my experience, the best group trips have a little rhythm to them — something active, something cosy, something gentle.

Here are some ideas:

Walks

Solomon’s Temple
Monsal Trail
The Goyt Valley

Long enough to feel accomplished, short enough that the whole group can manage it.

Cafés & Slow Moments

Warm cafés after cold walks might be the unofficial theme of Buxton. Rasá, Café No.6, and Charlotte’s are all lovely.

Local Experiences

Buxton Crescent Spa
Opera House events
Little shops around the square

Each guest finds their own “favourite corner” of Buxton.

Step 4: Allow Space for People to Do Their Own Thing

Group accommodation in Buxton with large social spaces

This is something I’ve noticed again and again while hosting:

The best group trips aren’t scheduled to the minute. They breathe.

Some people want a slow morning. Others want to head straight out for a walk. A few might want an afternoon nap or a quiet corner with a book.

A house with multiple rooms, soft lighting and warm spaces lets people drift in and out of their own rhythms. That’s where the magic happens — the natural little catch-ups, the unplanned conversations, the gentle pace that group trips often discover on their own.