HOPE VALLEY WALKING TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Dark Tales of the Peaks: Walking the Boundaries of Plague, Justice and Memory in Hope Valley
A 3.5-hour guided walk through Stoney Middleton and Eyam that traces real stories of love, plague, trade and justice and finishes with a traditional Derbyshire feast.
Dark Tales of the Peaks: Walking the Boundaries of Plague, Justice and Memory in Hope Valley.
Step into the past on a 3.5-hour guided walk through Stoney Middleton and Eyam, where guides from the Cupola Visitor Centre lead you along the same paths trodden by villagers confronting love, ambition, tragedy and the desperate choices of quarantine. The route threads together visible markers of history — from village lanes to boundary stones — and concludes with a period-inspired Derbyshire dining experience.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Villages Worn by Memory
The walk moves through the villages of Stoney Middleton and Eyam, placing you where the events unfolded and letting landscape and lanes tell the local stories of trade, community and loss.
Plague, Isolation and Visible Justice
Hear how the plague reached the Peak District, visit the Boundary Stone where isolation became survival, and encounter tales such as the story of Black Harry that made justice a visible part of village life.
A Traditional Derbyshire Feast
The experience closes with a traditional Derbyshire dining experience inspired by the period, offering a communal way to end an afternoon spent among recorded places of hardship and human resilience.
What the day feels like
What the walk feels like
This is an immersive 3 1/2-hour guided experience that unfolds on foot: you walk the same paths, stand in the same places and listen to accounts of how landscape shaped lives. The Cupola Visitor Centre-created tour strings together tangible sites and stories — love, plague, trade and justice — and culminates in a communal Derbyshire meal.
THE ROUTE
Villages Worn by Memory
The walk moves through the villages of Stoney Middleton and Eyam, placing you where the events unfolded and letting landscape and lanes tell the local stories of trade, community and loss.
THE HISTORY
Plague, Isolation and Visible Justice
Hear how the plague reached the Peak District, visit the Boundary Stone where isolation became survival, and encounter tales such as the story of Black Harry that made justice a visible part of village life.
THE CONCLUSION
A Traditional Derbyshire Feast
The experience closes with a traditional Derbyshire dining experience inspired by the period, offering a communal way to end an afternoon spent among recorded places of hardship and human resilience.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this walk suits — and who should check details before booking.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
No specific gear list was provided in the supplied details; the activity is a guided walking tour through villages and includes an indoor dining component.
The outing lasts 3 hrs & 30 mins.
Created and offered by the Cupola Visitor Centre.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Dark Tales of the Peaks walk?
The guided walk runs for approximately 3 hrs & 30 mins.
Which villages does the tour visit?
The experience walks through the villages of Stoney Middleton and Eyam.
What stories are covered on the walk?
The tour explores stories of love, plague, trade and justice tied to the local landscape.
Who operates the Dark Tales of the Peaks experience?
The experience was created by the Cupola Visitor Centre.
Does the tour include food?
The walk concludes with a traditional Derbyshire dining experience inspired by the period.