Peak District Dark Tales Walking Tour: Eyam & Stoney Middleton

The Boundary Stone marks where Eyam chose isolation to stop the plague.

A guided walking tour through the Peak District villages of Eyam and Stoney Middleton, led by a live guide in English, that traces true stories of plague, sacrifice, tragic romance, murder, highwaymen and haunted locations across four hours. The tour includes coffee or tea, a freshly prepared meal at The Cupola, and digital content for your phone; children are welcome from age 10.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Eyam and Stoney Middleton

• Walk historic streets of Eyam
• Hear Eyam plague stories
• Visit Boundary Stone in Eyam
• Explore limestone gorge in Stoney Middleton
• Discover Roman Bath House
• Learn about lead mining and boot making
• Hear tales of Lovers' Leap and highwaymen
• Visit haunted Moon Inn
• Tour Church of St Martin
• Return to The Cupola for meal

The Experience

Eyam's story begins with an ordinary decision that became extraordinary. In 1665, when plague arrived in the village, its people chose isolation over flight—a choice that saved surrounding towns and cost many lives. You walk the streets where that unfolded, stopping at the Boundary Stone where the village drew its own line, and hearing the story of Emmott Sydall and Rowland Torr, whose romance played out across that boundary. The guide brings these moments into focus, not as museum facts but as the choices ordinary people made.

Stoney Middleton reveals a different kind of darkness. The limestone gorge that frames the village holds layers: Roman Bath House ruins, centuries of lead mining, the craft of traditional boot making. But the tour lingers on the stories that cling to the place—Lovers' Leap, where tragic romance ended; the Moon Inn, which appeared on TV's Most Haunted; notorious highwaymen; murder; haunted caverns. Each stop builds toward the final tale, one that has echoed through the village for centuries. The Church of St Martin, one of only two octagonal churches in England, stands at the center of it all, its ancient walls having witnessed plague, prosperity and hardship across generations.

The walk covers roughly four hours across both villages, moving through dramatic limestone landscapes and hidden spaces most visitors never find. Your guide carries expert knowledge of the local history, woven through storytelling rather than lecture. At the end, you return to The Cupola for a freshly prepared meal included with the tour. Coffee or tea comes during the walk. Digital content—an image reel of the tour—is sent to your phone so you can revisit the stories afterward.

What’s included

• A live guide in English bringing the stories to life.
• coffee or tea during the walk.
• a freshly prepared meal at The Cupola when you return.
• digital image content sent to your phone so you can revisit the tour afterward.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Peak District Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to move through the landscape while hearing the stories that shaped it—the guide's storytelling and the walk itself are woven together, so you're standing at the Boundary Stone while learning why it mattered, or in the limestone gorge while uncovering the village's darker history. It's built for walkers with moderate fitness who prefer narrative and place over a checklist of stops.

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Top questions

What happened in Eyam in 1665 that makes it so significant?

Eyam was struck by plague in 1665, and the villagers chose to isolate themselves to prevent the disease from spreading to surrounding towns. That decision cost many lives but saved the wider region, and the story of that sacrifice—including the romance between Emmott Sydall and Rowland Torr, separated by the Boundary Stone—is central to the tour.

What is the Church of St Martin and why is it unusual?

The Church of St Martin in Stoney Middleton is one of only two octagonal churches in England. Its distinctive design has intrigued visitors for centuries, and its walls have witnessed centuries of the village's history—plague, prosperity and hardship—making it a key stop on the tour.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Children are welcome from age 10. The tour involves walking through villages and exploring outdoor sites, so a moderate level of physical fitness is needed, but the storytelling format engages younger visitors who meet that age threshold.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes a guided walk with live storytelling, coffee or tea during the walk, a freshly prepared meal at The Cupola at the end, and digital content—an image reel—sent to your phone for later viewing.

How long is the walk and how difficult is it?

The tour runs four hours and covers the villages of Eyam and Stoney Middleton, including walks through a limestone gorge and visits to historic sites. A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended; the tour is not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the starting point?

Transport to and from the meeting point is not included, though public transportation options are available nearby. You'll need to arrange your own way to The Cupola, where the tour begins and ends.