Great British Railway Journeys: Michael visits the Peak District Michael Portillo highlighted one of the most stunning areas of the UK which is just a 56 minute train journey from Manchester Picadilly on an episode of his BBC show Great British Train Journeys. Travelling on the Hope Valley line, which is a trans-Pennine stopping service, he alighted at Edale which is the beginning of the Pennine Way, a 268 mile long walking trail which ends in the Scottish Borders. The area is part of the Peak District National Park, which was the first national park in the UK and covers 555 square miles.
It attracts 30 million visitors every year thanks in no small part to its accessibility by train. Michael explained the history of the National Parks explaining they came about "at a time where the urban working class needed an escape from cities that were smoky and smoggy". In 1951 the Peak District became the first area in the United Kingdom to be designated a National Park and today it is looked after by a dedicated team of rangers.
READ MORE: 'Fuming' Jermaine Jenas maintains there's 'two sides to every story' [LATEST] Michael Portillo visited Edale in the Peak District (Image: BBC) Edale, where Michael stopped to enjoy a hike, is a tiny village whose population was listed as just 353 in the 2011 Census. For those who would rather while away their time than hike, the village has two popular pubs, a café and a local shop. If you don't want to commit to an epic hike but still want to enj.