Peak District Walks

A list of Peak District walks with information on walk grading and navigation.

Walks in the White PeakWalks in the Dark Peak

Peak District Area Map

The walks are all within the Peak District National Park. Highlighted on the map are four different areas of the Peak District. Select a Peak District walk from the list below or choose the area you wish to walk in on the map.

Each walk includes an Ordnance Survey location map, a detailed route map and photographs to illustrate the walk. The route directions are intended as a rough guide rather than an aid to navigation. Grades are included for each walk. The length of the walk and the height climbed determine the rating. For comparison the easiest walk is – Robin Hood’s Stride & Rowtor Rocks and the hardest or most strenuous walk is – Manifold and Hamps Valley.

A compass and paper map is recommended to aid navigation.

Easy Peak District Walks

Thorpe Cloud and Dovedale – 1.5 Miles
Many family’s who visit Dovedale never wander further than the stepping stones.  This short but strenuous walk to the top of Thorpe Cloud is for members of the family who have itchy feet and are not content to just picnic by the Dove.

Robin Hood’s Stride & Rowtor Rocks – 4.5 Miles
Weird, fantastic, terror, amazement and fear, words used over the years to describe Rowtor Rocks.  See for yourself on this short but interesting walk.

Milldale to Hartington – 5 Miles
A linear, one-way walk from Milldale via Narrowdale to Hartington. Visit the Old Cheese Shop at Hartington home to some of the finest of English cheeses.

Wolfscote Dale and Beresford Dale – 5.5 Miles
See the stone pike leap from the water at Pike Pool in Beresford Dale, explore the caves in Wolfscote Dale on this gentle walk along the Dove valley.

Moderate Peak District Walks

Thor’s Cave and the Manifold Valley – 5.5 Miles
A walk along quieter paths either side of the Manifold Valley. Visiting Wetton Mill, Ladyside Wood and Grindon. What is a Rindle? Find out on this walk.

Dovedale – 6 Miles
This is a linear there and back walk from Dovedale car park to Milldale. Probably the most popular walk in the Derbyshire Dales. Along the walk you will see Lovers Leap, Reynards Arch, Dove Holes and Lion’s Head Rock.

Ashford in the Water and Monsal Dale – 6 Miles
On this walk from Monsal Head visit Headstone Viaduct and the weir in Monsal Dale featured in an episode of the cult BBC series Survivors. The series filmed in the 1970’s used locations in Monsal Dale and Upperdale for the episode Mad Dog.

Stanton Moor – 6.5 Miles
Winster is the starting point for this exploratory walk on Stanton Moor an oasis of gritstone in the White Peak.  Visit the Nine Ladies Stone Circle and marvel at the weird and wonderful rock formations on the moor.

Curbar Edge and Froggatt Edge – 6.5 Miles
View the ‘Profit of Doom Buttress’ on this exciting walk along Curbar and Froggatt Edge. Returning along the beautiful Derwent valley.

Rowtor Rocks, Stanton Moor and Robin Hood’s Stride – 7 Miles
This fascinating walk starts from the village of Birchover and explores the gritstone areas of the White Peak.

Thor’s Cave, the Manifold Valley and Ecton Hill – 6 Miles
Thor’s Cave and Nan Tor Cave at Wetton Mill are both visited on this interesting walk. Later the route takes us up Ecton Hill once famous for having the deepest mine shaft in the country.

Narrowdale and Wolfscote Dale – 7 Miles
From Milldale the walk climbs up to Alstonefield with views over the Dove Valley.  Look out for the dinosaur as you walk through the village of Alstonefield! On through Narrowdale to the beautiful Wolfscote Dale with it’s many caves and rock tors. Finally finishing by the mill stream back at Milldale.

The Roaches and Lud’s Church – 7 Miles
A fascinating walk along the gritstone ridge of The Roaches including the mysterious Doxey Pool. Returning via Lud’s Church, a dank dark chasm deep in Forest Wood.

Tissington and the Tissington Trail – 8 Miles
A longer but relatively easy walk along the old track bed of the Buxton to Ashbourne railway, followed by a gentle stroll over fields taking in the villages of Alsop en le Dale and Parwich.

Magpie Mine and Lathkill Dale – 9 Miles
Apparently cursed by the wives of three miners that perished underground in 1833 Magpie Mine is the most complete mine in the Peak District. Our walk explores the mine returning along beautiful Lathkill Dale back to Over Haddon.

Ecton Hill and the Manifold Valley Walk – 6.5 Miles
The mines on Ecton Hill were worked from the 17th-19th centuries, the main 1,400 ft shaft was the deepest ever sunk.

Hard Peak District Walks

Chatsworth Circular – 8 Miles
A walk around the Chatsworth estate through Stand Wood taking in the two lakes that feed the Cascade and Emperior fountain.  Visiting the Hunting Tower overlooking the park and the estate villages of Beeley and Edensor.

Youlgreave Circular – 9 Miles
Take a walk through the ancient woodlands of Lathkill Dale looking out for the signs of the old lead working industry and on through Conksbury to Alport. From Alport pass beneath Rhienstor, an impressive limestone crag beside the River Bradford in Bradford Dale and onto Bradford Dams before climbing back up to Youlgreave.

Upper Dove and Manifold Valley – 10 Miles
Visit the village the Doomsday Book referred to as ‘The Shining One’.  And later in the walk admire the view from Pilsbury Castle, an ancient fortress over looking the Dove valley.

Dovedale Circular – 7 Miles
The outward leg of this walk through Dovedale takes the traditional route to Milldale, including Lover’s Leap, Tissington Spires, Reynards Cave, Lions Head Rock and Dove Holes. The return journey is more challenging, with a steep climb out of Dovedale to the summit of Baley Hill. Stunning views across the dale rewards the climb to the summit.  After the descent to Dove Holes the route again climbs high above Dovedale returning via Moor Barn and Lover’s Leap.

Monsal Dale and Millers Dale – 8 Miles
Discover how man and nature has changed the landscape in this attractive part of Derbyshire. The walk takes in Cressbrook and Litton Mills, Water-cum-Jolly Dale and the old lead workings on Priestcliffe Lees.

Chatsworth Park Circular – 9.5 Miles
A lovely walk from the market town of Bakewell through the interesting village of Edensor to Chatsworth crossing parkland designed by ‘Capability’ Brown.

Five Dales around Milldale – 8 Miles
This walk from Alsop en le Dale station on the Tissington Trail visits five dales – Milldale, Nabs Dale, Dovedale, Hall Dale and Coldeaton Dale.

Peaks of the Peak – Chrome and Parkhouse Hill – 8 Miles
Discover the peaks of the Peak on this challenging walk, taking in access land opened for walkers in September 2004.

Strenuous Peak District Walks

Lathkill Dale and Bradford Dale – 12 Miles
Explore one of the finest limestone dales in the Peak District and discover the source of the River Lathkill.

Five Dales From Monsal Head – 9 Miles
A walk that passes through a dale with a name like Water-cum-Jolly is a walk not to be missed!

Manifold and Hamps Valley – 12 Miles
A walk from Ilam in Staffordshire along the Manifold and Hamps valleys taking in the awe inspiring Thor’s Cave.

Cycling in the Peak District

Manifold and Tissington Trail Cycle Ride – 36 Miles
A cycle ride from Ashbourne down to Waterhouses along the Manifold Trail through Hulme End to Hartington. North to Pilsbury, returning via Parsley Hay along the Tissington Trail back to Ashbourne.

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