Now in its 12th year, the Peak Park Preserved Bus Gathering is organised jointly by Transpire and the Chesterfield 123 Preservation Group and has become a popular annual event in the transport rally calendar. In 2017 it is being held on
Sunday 18th June 2017
Located at the Peak Rail Rowsley South station (in between Bakewell and Matlock), the event normally attracts more than 50 vintage buses and coaches and a highlight of our event is the opportunity to travel on some of these vehicles and on the scenic heritage railway to Darley Dale and Matlock. We also operate frequent free vintage bus services to Matlock, Bakewell and to Chatsworth House, allowing less transport minded visitors to our event to also spend time at this magnificent stately home. In addition to the vintage bus services and the steam and diesel hauled train service operated by Peak Rail, there will be a display of static vehicles and transport related sales stalls at Rowsley South, and the Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway is also expected to be in operation.
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Want to see which vehicles have entered so far? – Then please click here.
Interested in entering a vehicle in our Rally? – Then please click here to download an entry form.
Interested in bring a sales stall to our Rally? – Then please click here to download a sales stall application.
You can also see pictures of last year’s event by clicking here .
How to reach the Peak Park Gathering
The event is held at Peak Rail’s Rowsley South Station which is located just off the A6 between Bakewell and Matlock.
Travelling by Car
- From Bakewell, follow the A6 south for 4.2 miles. Turn right onto Harrison Way (signposted Recycling Centre on the approach, then with a brown Peak Rail tourist sign at the junction). Then at the roundabout at the bottom of Harrison Way, turn left through the gate.
- From Matlock, follow the A6 north for 3.8 miles. After passing through Darley Dale (watch out for the speed camera!), turn left onto Harrison Way (signposted Recycling Centre on the approach, then with a brown Peak Rail tourist sign at the junction). Then at the roundabout at the bottom of Harrison Way, turn left through the gate.
Please note that this year, Peak Rail will be making a small charge for parking at Rowsley South, but this will be refunded for anyone purchasing a a ticket to travel on a Peak Rail train that day.
Travelling by bus/train
The following bus services pass Rowsley South Station (click on the route number for a PDF of the timetable*)
- High Peak Bus Company’s “Transpeak” service – Manchester – Buxton – Bakewell – Rowsley – Matlock – Derby
- TM Travel service 217 – Matlock – Rowsley – Chatsworth
Please ask the driver to set you down at the “Northwood Lane” bus stop which is between Darley Dale and Rowsley, from where there is a pedestrian gate direct into the Station site – click here for a Google streetview picture of it !
Buses also operate from Derby (service 6.1), Alfreton (service 140), Ashbourne (service 110) and Chesterfield (service X17) to Matlock, from where you can catch one of the above bus services or a Peak Rail Train, to Rowsley South Station – click here for a map of bus stops in Matlock town centre. Alternatively you can catch one of our free vintage bus services which will run from Bakewell Square and Matlock Rail Station to Rowsley South, every 20 minutes between 12 noon and 4pm.
In addition, if you wish to travel direct from Chesterfield to the Rally, preserved buses will depart from Chesterfield around 8am and return from Rowsley about 5pm – please ring 07727 067278 during June for further details.
* – Please be aware that the bus timetables could change before our event takes place, so please check them a few days before you need to travel and if you find that the links no longer work, click here to go to obtain the latest Derbyshire bus timetables.
