Is Peak District worth doing without a car? (Staying in New Mills)

Hey all.

Planning a 2-night trip with 5 people and trying to figure out whether hiring a car is worth it.

Current plan:

• Bus from London to Sheffield, then onwards to New Mills (our accommodation is ~21 mins from the station).
• Mix of hikes, Bakewell, and a few scenic villages/viewpoints.

A few questions:

• Is public transport reliable around the Peak District, especially on weekends and after 5 PM?
• Can you see the best of the Peak District without a car, or do you end up missing a lot?
• Are buses/trains frequent enough between the main hiking spots and towns?
• For a group of 5, does hiring a car make the trip significantly better, or is it not worth the extra cost/hassle?

From what I've read, it feels like a car gives you much more flexibility and access to trailheads, but I'm not sure if that's just online bias or if public transport is genuinely good enough.

Would love to hear from people who've done it both ways. Thanks!