About an hour and 15 minutes by car — or 45 to 55 minutes by train — from central Manchester sits Chapel-en-le-Frith, a small historic town of around 10,000 people that locals simply call "Chapel." It earned its grander nickname, the "Capital of the Peak," centuries ago when it served as a centre of local governance, and today it combines a lively High Street with serious walking country on its doorstep.

The town dates back to 1225, when foresters in the Royal Forest of the Peak were granted permission to build a chapel — hence the name, which means "chapel in the forest." That original church stood where St. Thomas Becket Church stands today, and the building is worth popping into even for non-churchgoers thanks to its historic architecture.

Shopping along Market Street and the High Street is the main draw in the town centre. Highlights include House of Louis Allen, a wizarding-themed shop packed with Harry Potter goods from Lego sets to robes; Bluebird's Nest, a gift shop selling stationery, books and jewellery; Itsy Bitsy Boutique, a family-run favourite for fashion, homeware and skincare since 2015; and Blythe House Hospice Shop, a classic British charity shop where secondhand finds support a good cause. When you need refuelling, the Pug and Pudding cafe does coffee, pastries and burgers.

Then there's the walking. Eccles Pike, about 1.8 miles from town, is a local favourite — the summit loop is just over a mile, though expect mud and the odd steep stretch in return for 360-degree views stretching northwest to Manchester. Chapel also sits only a couple of miles from Peak District National Park, England's first national park. Popular routes include the roughly 5-mile loop from Barber Booth up to Lord's Seat on Rushup Edge, and a 9-mile one-way walk to Edale, where the 268-mile Pennine Way begins.

Timing your trip around a local event adds extra charm. Traditional folk dancers perform at dawn on Eccles Pike each May Day; June brings a carnival with parade and rides; and July sees a week-long well dressing festival, in which wells around town are decorated with intricate designs made from flowers and natural materials. If you want to extend the trip, the village of Castleton — with its caves and nature walks — is a 15-minute drive away.

For travellers based in Manchester, Chapel is an easy escape from the city crowds without needing a car for the hike-in options. Train journeys from the city take under an hour; from Manchester Airport it's about an hour and 20 minutes, and from London around three to three and a half hours by public transport. Overnight stays make sense if you want an early start in the national park.

Story credited to Islands.