Stranrar to Peak District: Recommend a interesting route

[gambisk]

Hello, myself and the good wife are going for a cheap camping holiday this year in the peak district. Being from NI we will be getting the ferry over to Stranraer and will have to drive to the camp site near Hayfield and back again. Now looking at google maps I could take the A75 and the M6 to get travel with relative ease but that seems rather boring, so I would prefer to take the interesting/scenic route instead.

So over to you folks what good driving roads should I try to take in on my way there and back again? The car will be loaded with camping gear so I won't be wringing the neck out of it, but I would still appreciate a nice interesting drive.

[alangla]

http://goo.gl/maps/rz5Qk - here's a starter for 10 anyway, I'm sure someone will come up with something nicer, quicker & without the 100 miles of M6 though!

[pharmvrs]

Personally having driven the A75 many times off the ferry I'd look to avoid that first as it tends to be a race track as most want off the ferry and away-police/VOSA are a common sight along the first 15 miles! A route through the forest park is scenic BUT it will significantly add to your already fairly long journey time, mind you'll be in the car a long time including waiting to board and disembark.

Google map mind dump incorporating a detour as mentioned in the highlands topic

http://goo.gl/maps/xUOBK

But the travel time!! Stop in Barnard castle for a rest.

Any plans for exploring? I like this route
http://goo.gl/maps/MeZ5x

Snake pass is good if a little crowded
Ladybower reservoir is nice for a walk (15 miles around the lake if you wish, better on a mountain bike)
Hathersage eating, nice pub food and good atmosphere http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/thefoxhouselongshaw/re...
Baslow eating worth a visit http://www.rowleysrestaurant.co.uk/
Castleton is worth a walk around too followed by a swift blast up Winnats pass!

I'm ex NI myself.

[gambisk]

Thanks for the advice so far, I'm thinking of breaking the journey in two rather than a single 6hr+ epic. We have plenty of plans for exploring once we get there, ladybower sounds good as we are both keen cyclists but hadn't planned on bringing the bikes over, hopefully we can rent something out for a day.

Also appreciate the eating recommendations, its always good the have some personal recommendations.