Now is just the right time to see the heather out around the Peak District and Staffordshire Moorlands. A lovely picturesque drive through the countryside would be to drive north out of Ashbourne up the A515. The village of Hartington makes for an excellent ice cream or coffee stop. Continue from Hartington to Earl Sterndale then take the road towards Chrome Hill (Dragons Back) for spectacular scenery then set your sat nav for the country roads towards The Roaches which will take you up to the purple heather Moorlands. There are short but dramatic walks at The Roaches as well as longer ones involving Luds Church. This drive is beautiful year-round, however particularly colourful at the minute.
