On the west side of the valley is the 1,407 feet (429 m) high Sir William Hill, and to the south-east lies the gritstone escarpment of Froggatt Edge.

Grindleford railway station (actually located in Upper Padley, half a mile away from the village) is at the western portal of the rail tunnel, on the scenic Hope Valley Line between Sheffield and Manchester.

Visitors seeking refreshment are well catered for by a number of establishments, including the Sir William Hotel, the Maynard Hotel and Bar, the National Trust Longshaw Estate Visitor Centre, and Grindleford Station Cafe (in the old station house).

Padley Hall today is mostly in ruins, although part of it—probably originally the central gatehouse range—survives, and in 1933 was converted to a Roman Catholic chapel in honour of the martyrs.

Organisation was taken on by the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom, and pilgrims walked from the nearby station to honour the Padley Martyrs.