The High Peak Scout District is nestled in the north-west border of the Derbyshire Scouts County, with Greater Manchester East to the north, Cheshire to the east, and Staffordshire to the south. Covering Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Whaley Bridge, Chinley, and Hayfield, we have eight Scout Groups that play fundamental roles in our local towns and rural communities.
With the Peak District National Park directly on our doorstep, our groups enjoy non-stop access to everything the great outdoors has to offer. Our paddlesports team make a splash on the area’s reservoirs and canal basins, taking young people on the water for kayaking, canoeing, and raft-building sessions. On the rock, our climbing team utilise local rocky outcrops for outdoor climbing sessions. The most notable of which being Windgather rocks; a grit-stone crag on the Derbyshire-Cheshire border.
Wallaboree 2026 opening campfire
We’re incredibly lucky to have our very own District campsite, Gradbach! Tucked away in the Staffordshire Moorlands just 10 minutes from Buxton, the site offers Scouters from near and far the opportunity to explore the great outdoors. With two large buildings for indoor accommodation (Farmhouse and Cottage), a pair of camping pods, and over 20 acres of designated camping grounds, our groups certainly get their fair use!
Every two years, we host Wallaboree; our District’s largest event and a staple on the High Peak calendar! The name is derived from the words Jamboree (meaning a large gathering of Scouts), and Wallaby (small kangaroo-like animal which once lived on the nearby Roaches Estate). Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers stay for the weekend, with Squirrels and Beavers visiting on the Saturday to join in the fun. It’s a fantastic demonstration of local Scouting and is enjoyed by young person and volunteer alike!
Despite sitting at the periphery of the County, the High Peak frequently welcomes countless young people to a couple of Derbyshire Scouts’ events. “The Kinder” sees Scouts and Explorers venture to the highest point in the Peak District, Kinder Scout, from the heart of our District in Chapel-en-le-Frith every October.
Another hill-walking event, “Border Hike”, features an incident hike based out of Gradbach around the Three Shires area where Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire meet.
Moving inside, we’re proud to be the birthplace of the cooking competition “Ready, Steady, Cook” which now features District heats for Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers, with Scouts progressing to the County final.
You can find more information about Derbyshire Scouts and their events here.
A checkpoint at Border Hike
With over a century of Scouting history in the area, we’re here to stay; bringing a fusion of traditional and modern activities for young people aged 4 to 18!
