The village of Hope is situated where the River Noe and Peakshole Water meet, and has a range of hills to the north including Win Hill and Lose Hill. Hope village was mentioned in the Domesday Book as having both a priest and a church. The present church, dedicated to St Peter, dates from around the 14th century and is famous for its gargoyles, a Norman font and the stump of a Saxon Cross in the churchyard. Hope village is located off the A6187, 1.5 miles east of Castleton and 4 miles west of Hathersage, within the High Peak District Council administration area. The village grew from the central crossroads which marks the junction of the north-south route from Edale to Bradwell (via Eccles Lane) with the east-west route along the Hope Valley. The village has largely grown in a linear fashion, along the two main transit routes of the A6187 and Edale Road. Hope has a pre-school, a primary school and a secondary school which serves the wider Hope Valley area.
Aston is a small farming settlement located to the east of Hope. There has been a settlement at Aston since before the Domesday survey. Aston Hall dates back to 1578 when it was built by the Balguys family, prominent lawyers and landowners of high social standing in the Peak District area.
Hope and Aston are located centrally in the Hope Valley, which lies at the meeting point between two geographically distinct areas: the Dark Peak to the north with high moorlands, peat bogs, and broad valleys cut by glaciers in the last ice age, leaving characteristic ‘edges’; and the White Peak to the south, with rolling farmland and deep dales cut by rivers flowing between limestone hillsides. Hope is a hugely popular visitor destination particularly for walkers and cyclists. While warmly welcoming visitors and recognising the benefits to the local economy Hope with Aston Parish Council along with other Hope Valley Parish Councils are mindful of the impact on the landscape, particularly the need for careful and thoughtful maintenance and management of footpaths, trails and bridleways.