From Dramatic Ridges to Ancient Woodland
The Peak District delivers some of the finest walking in England — from wild moorland summits to ancient woodland valleys. Here are eight of the best routes to add to your list.
- Kinder Scout – The roof of the Peak District
- Stanage Edge – The Gritstone Giant
- Mam Tor and The Great Ridge – Peak District’s finest panorama
- The Monsal Trail – A walk through railway history
- Winnats Pass and Cave Dale – Castleton’s secret valleys
- Longshaw Estate – Woodland, moorland and wildlife
- Padley Gorge – Ancient oak woodland at its best
- Chatsworth Grounds – Walking in England’s greatest garden
- Plan your trip
Kinder Scout — The Roof of the Peak District
DISTANCE: 10–14 MILES
DIFFICULTY: CHALLENGING
START: EDALE VILLAGE CAR PARK
At 636 metres, Kinder Scout is the highest point in the Peak District. The classic circular from Edale via Jacob’s Ladder climbs through the Vale of Edale before emerging onto a vast moorland plateau of peat hags, cotton grass, and wind-scoured gritstone.
The Kinder Downfall waterfall adds drama to the western edge — in high winds, the water blows back upward in a spectacular plume. Best suited to experienced hikers with map and compass skills; the plateau is disorientating in mist. These slopes are where the 1932 mass trespass began England’s right to roam.
Stanage Edge — The Gritstone Giant
DISTANCE: 7–9 MILES
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE
START: HATHERSAGE OR STANAGE EDGE CAR PARK
Stanage Edge is an exhilarating five-mile gritstone escarpment above the Derwent Valley, with views across moorland, the Hope Valley, and Hathersage far below. The walk from Hathersage passes Robin Hood’s Cave and the abandoned millstones that litter the heather — relics of a lost quarrying industry.
Stanage is a mecca for British rock climbing, and the return via North Lees Hall — said to have inspired Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre — adds a literary footnote to a spectacular day.
Mam Tor & the Great Ridge — Peak District’s Finest Panorama
DISTANCE: 7 MILES
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE
START: CASTLETON VILLAGE
If you do one walk in the Peak District, make it this one. From Castleton, the path climbs to the summit of Mam Tor — the ‘Shivering Mountain’ — at 517 metres, then follows the Great Ridge east through Hollins Cross and Back Tor to Lose Hill.
The Hope Valley lies on one side, Edale on the other. The circular is around 7 miles and takes 3–4 hours, with views that change at every turn.
The Monsal Trail — A Walk Through Railway History
DISTANCE: 8.5 MILES ONE WAY
DIFFICULTY: EASY
START: COOMBS VIADUCT OR BAKEWELL
This converted Midland Railway line through the White Peak limestone dales is one of the most beautiful easy walks in the national park. The 8.5-mile trail passes through five restored tunnels and crosses elegant Victorian viaducts, including the showpiece Monsal Head Viaduct above the River Wye.
Ideal for families and cyclists, the surrounding dales are lush with wildflowers in summer and the river runs clear throughout. No serious climb required.
Winnats Pass & Cave Dale — Castleton’s Secret Valleys
DISTANCE: 4–5 MILES
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE
START: CASTLETON VILLAGE
Short but utterly dramatic, this circular packs in two of the Peak District’s most atmospheric landscapes. Winnats Pass — ‘wind gates’ — is a narrow limestone gorge where towering rock walls press in on either side. The route then drops into Cave Dale, a dry ravine flanked by near-vertical cliffs, with Peveril Castle perched on the ridge above.
The walk back through Castleton passes Peak Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, and Blue John Cavern — all worth adding if time allows.
Longshaw Estate — Woodland, Moorland & Wildlife
DISTANCE: 3–6 MILES
DIFFICULTY: EASY TO MODERATE
START: LONGSHAW VISITOR CENTRE (NT CAR PARK)
This National Trust estate on the Eastern Moors offers a varied landscape of ancient oak woodland, open moorland, and grassland grazed by Herdwick sheep. Paths wind past the boulder-strewn Burbage Brook, and the Victorian shooting lodge — now a tearoom — makes a perfect mid-walk stop.
Outstanding for wildlife: mountain hares on the moor, nesting curlews in spring, and migrant birds in autumn. A walk that rewards those who slow down.
Padley Gorge — Ancient Oak Woodland at Its Best
DISTANCE: 2–4 MILES
DIFFICULTY: EASY
START: GRINDLEFORD STATION OR LONGSHAW CAR PARK
One of the Peak District’s most enchanting corners, Padley Gorge is an ancient sessile oak woodland carved by Burbage Brook. It’s magical in spring with bluebells, and golden in autumn. The path hops between mossy boulders beneath a canopy that filters the light beautifully.
Wood warblers, redstarts, and pied flycatchers nest here in summer — among the best birdwatching in the national park. Combine with a Longshaw loop for an excellent half-day.
Chatsworth Grounds — Walking in England’s Greatest Garden
DISTANCE: 3–7 MILES
DIFFICULTY: EASY
START: CALTON LEES OR BASLOW CAR PARKS
No Peak District visit is complete without Chatsworth. Much of the parkland is free to walk through — miles of Derwent riverbank, ancient oaks, grazing fallow deer, and Capability Brown’s masterpiece landscape from the 1760s.
Take in the Emperor Fountain, the stone bridge, and the wooded heights of Stand Wood for sublime views of the house. The walk to Edensor, the model estate village, rounds out a memorable half-day.
Plan your trip
The Peak District is compact enough that you can reach several of these walks in a single weekend, but rich enough that you could spend weeks here and still find new routes. A few things worth remembering:
- GET THE RIGHT MAPS: OS Explorer OL1 for Dark Peak, OL24 for White Peak.
- ARRIVE EARLY: Popular car parks at Edale, Castleton, and Longshaw fill fast on weekends — aim for before 9am.
- DRESS FOR ALL WEATHERS: Conditions on the high moors change quickly. Waterproofs and layers are essential.
- TAKE YOUR TIME: The Peak District rewards those who slow down and look around.
However you explore it, the Peak District will not disappoint.
