A Guide to the Bamford Edge Walk
The Bamford Edge walk is for the adventurous souls that crave epic views but only want a short hike. We have compiled a list of everything you need to know about the walk so that you can have a great, stress-free experience. Are you ready for incredible views over the stunning Ladybower Reservoir, Hope Valley and beyond?
It is one of the best easy walks in the Peaks and one of the shortest too.
Bamford Edge is in the Dark Peaks in the Peak District National Park, near the village of Bamford. It is an overhang of gritstone rock and has unmatched views over Bamford moor and the Peaks. It is also a popular spot for climbers, and if you’re lucky, you will see them take on the rocks whilst you are enjoying the outstanding scenery.
Bamford Edge has a 420m elevation and is 1381 feet above sea level. It is an excellent place to take some pictures, so we hope you have your camera ready. It has become busier due to its accessibility and more popularity thanks to Instagram. However, it still has fewer crowds than its neighbour Stanage Edge.
This article shares two possible routes for the Bamford Edge walk, leaving from either New Road (2-mile return) or Heatherdene Car Park (5-mile return). Therefore, you can choose the one that is right for you.
It is good to know that you can also reach Bamford Edge from Bamford Village, as well as from Stanage Edge, it depends on what type of walk you want to do and what facilities you need.
How do I get to Bamford Edge?
Bamford Edge is accessible by car, bus and train. Bamford’s nearest train station is only 2-miles away and is on the Manchester to Sheffield line.
You can take number 257 between Bakewell and Sheffield for the bus, as there is a stop at Heatherdene.
The most convenient way to get to Bamford Edge is by car. It is good to know that there is limited space to park. Therefore, if it is busy, move further away or consider coming back another time and go on to a less popular walk. Please park responsibly!
On weekends and days with good weather, do not be surprised if the car parks are full! In addition to those mentioned below, there is also car parking in Bamford Village.
Bamford Edge Car Park
There are different car parking areas depending on whether you would like to do route 1 or route 2!
Route 1 Bamford Edge Parking Address: New Road Bamford, Hope Valley
Bamford Edge Parking Postcode: S33 0AD
Please be aware there are no facilities if you park here. The postcode above will take you do a farm but you will have to park on the road, as the farm is private property. This is almost always the case with rural postcodes. The road is narrow and you will have to park well and be considerate to others. Do not park where you will be stopping vehicles from getting past.
Follow the Google Maps directions here.
Route 2: Bamford Edge Parking Address: Heatherdene Car Park off the A6013 Bamford road.
Ordnance Survey grid reference: SK 2023 8588
Bamford Edge Walk Postcode: S33 0BY for Heatherdene Car Park.
You can follow the Google Maps Directions here.
The parking here costs £3 all day, and you can pay by cash or card. It does not matter what time of the day you arrive – you will still have to pay the fee. There is no overnight parking.
However, there are toilets here, helpful maps suggesting alternative walks in the area and water refill stations. There are some shaded car park spaces too.
Alternatively, you can park on the lay-by next to the fishing pontoon for free (which is just outside Heatherdene Car Park), but there is limited space, so you will have to arrive early or be lucky.
When is the best time to do the Bamford Edge walk?
Arguably, the best time to complete the Bamford Edge walk is from March to October because the path is less boggy than in the winter months.
Our favourite time to go is the heather season from late August to early September because of the purple and pink colours that cover the Peak District. But each season brings something unique to Bamford Edge, whether it’s a blanket of snow or autumnal colours.
Useful Tips for the Bamford Edge Walk
- There are no toilets at the beginning of the trail. The nearest public toilets are in Bamford, which are 1km away.
- You will need the OL1- Peak District (Dark Peak) Ordnance Survey Map. You can buy a paper copy, or you can download the app on your phone to be safe!
- Take drinks or snacks with you, and you cannot buy them there!
- It is a popular sunset spot, but this does not mean that you won’t find a secluded area to take some pictures.
- For fewer crowds, visit on weekdays or as early as possible.
- Please take all rubbish away with you to protect wildlife and remember to leave no trace in the beautiful Peak District.
- Stay on the path to help prevent erosion.
- Bamford restricts dogs on open access land because it is a grouse moor. However, dogs are welcome on public rights of way, but not on the access land to the sides or on footpaths that are not designated as rights of way. If you take your dog nearby, remember to keep them on a lead and pick up after them.
Bamford Edge Weather
Check the weather here: BBC Weather Hope Valley
It can be windy up there – make sure you have layers and a waterproof coat because the ridge is exposed to the elements.
Bamford Edge Sunset
It is very popular to head to the edge for sunset. As you can get to the top quite quickly and the views seem endless. You can get some excellent photos of the light beaming off the rocks and over Ladybower. We have been and loved it.
You can check sunset and sunrise times for the day on Metcheck here.
Bamford Edge Walking Routes – 2 Ideas
There are several trails across Bamford Edge, which means there is no one way to get there. Therefore, we have suggested two routes, but there are many more if you would like to extend your hike.
Route 1- From New Road- The Most Straightforward Route
Bamford Edge Walk Time: 1- 1hr-30-minutes
Bamford Edge Walk Distance: 2 miles
Ascent: 217m
Bamford Edge Walk Difficulty: Easy
Type: Out and Back
From Bamford New Road, you will see Bamford Edge in front of you. Head over the stile, next to the gate, to reach the footpath. You will notice different trails, but you should follow the clear track and is going uphill.
It is steep but straightforward and takes you to the top of Bamford Edge, where you will see a track that will take you along the ridge. Remember to be careful on the ridge, as it can be pretty exposed and windy. The rock formations are spectacular, and you will be able to take amazing pictures, which is unheard of, for such a short walk — especially Ladybower Reservoir and Luce Hill in front of you.
From here, you can extend your walk along the ridge, or return to the car the way you came.
Route 2 – From Heatherdene Car Park to Bamford Edge
Bamford Edge Walk Time: 2- 2hr-30-minutes
Bamford Edge Walk Distance: 5 miles
Bamford Edge Walk Difficulty: Easy
Type: There and back
Leaving the car park, go past the toilets and follow the red and black arrows. You will be able to see Ladybower Reservoir on your right. It is a tarmac path, and there are some picnic benches next to the trail.
Keep following the red and black arrows and take a left turn at the end of the tarmac road heading up through the pine forest.
From here, take the first right turn where the path curves up around the woodland and brings you up to a defined trail. Turn right and follow the sun black arrow path to access land. You will go over a small wooden bridge, and you should keep following the black arrow upwards. There is a broken stone wall on your right.
Go right over the sty, and turn left, following the black arrow up the hill. The path is getting steeper, but the directions are apparent. Go through the stone wall and turn left. Make sure you look behind you for fabulous views!
Then, out of nowhere, the trail takes you to some twisted oak trees. It looks like something out of a horror film because it’s creepy and reminds us of a graveyard, with the large rocks as the tombs. Do you see it?
It is a great spot to take some pictures; it’s so different to anything else you will find in the Peak District. Because of this, you probably won’t realise your heading uphill!
Once you are out of the forest, you will have amazing views of Ladybower Reservoir in front of you. From here, take the right track going up towards the ridge of Bamford Edge. Walkthrough the stone wall and take the path left up the hill. When you arrive at the top of the ridge, turn right and continue along the straightforward path towards the rocks.
Are you ready for some of the best views in the Peaks? You can see Hope Valley, the viaduct and the plugholes. Of course, the rock formations are the main attraction, along with the outstanding views over the valley and Luce Hill in front of you. Can you spot any climbers? You are in the climbing territory now.
As this walk is short, you should make the most out of your time on the ridge. We love to take a flask and have some tea or a picnic to breathe and take in nature around us. You should take some pictures, but be aware that it can be windy, so don’t go too close to the edge, as there are sheer drops below.
After you are finished at the top, you will need to head back the way you came, back along the ridge, going downhill back through the twisted oak trees.
Turn right over the stile again and follow the white arrows back towards the car park through the forest. There are many trails to return to the car park. You can go through the woods or on the lower path you started on with a reservoir view. It is here you can go down to see the Ladybower plughole – which is a pretty impressive sight.
Bamford Edge Walk completed!
If you want to extend your Bamford Edge walk, you can walk around the Ladybower Reservoir – read our guide to help you plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any restaurants near Bamford Edge?
Yes, The Anglers Rest is a community owned pub, a short 15-minutes walk from the beginning of the Bamford Edge walk start. We love it here and often pop in for a coffee and cake before a walk.
There is the Yorkshire Bridge Inn in Bamford, a beer garden, great food, and accommodation.
How long does it take to walk up Bamford Edge?
The walk only takes between 10-15minutes from New Road. However, you can easily extend this walk if you want to make a day trip to the area, which is why we have suggested a longer route that includes beautiful woodland and twisted Oak trees.
Where is Bamford Edge?
Bamford Edge is in the Peak District National Park in the United Kingdom, close to the Derwent Valley, Bamford Village and Ladybower Reservoir. It is close to Bamford New Road, which is one of the main reasons it is so popular.
Where are the best walks in the Peak District?
You can find some of our favourite Peak District walks in our guides of the following routes:
- Mam Tor to tackle the Mother Hill.
- Ladybower Reservoir for a stroll by the water.
- Dovestones Reservoir to have many different options.
- Pots and Pans to feel part of history.
- Kinder Scout to take on the highest part of the Peak District National Park.
- Padley Gorge for a magical woodland walk.
- Thor’s Cave to spot the God of Thunder.
- Lud’s Church for a walk in a mystical chasm.
- Three Shires Head for wild swimming.
- The Roaches walk to bag a trig.
- Win Hill walk for alternative views over Ladybower
We only recommend things that we have personally tried and love using on our travels and hikes.
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Waterproof Jacket: Women’s/ Men’s
Photography gear: Drone – Camera – Smartphone
Photo Credit: averagelive.com
We want to stress that ‘Average Lives’ cannot be held liable for any injuries or accidents that may occur while walking our routes. We strongly advise that you wear proper footwear to reduce the risk of injuries, and carry a paper map and compass to ensure your safety while walking. You can read more on our About Page.
We have attempted the second route today 08/08/2021 and found it very difficult, if not impossible to find the return trails, the whole area is massively overgrown with ferns and there aren’t really clearly defined trails.
Hello, thanks for your comment about the overgrowth, we have updated the walk to be a there and back walk for now (to make sure that does not happen to anyone else). We plan to return this week to take a look at the situation, that is such a shame – we have visited many times and never had this problem but the last time we did this walk was over a month ago now and a lot can change due to weather conditions! Thanks for helping others 🙂
Hi great route. Would be good to see what the paths are like. Can you also walk up to the ridge from New Road (route 1) but then have the option to walk below the ridge to Heatherdene car park if the weather is bad further up or you don’t fancy walking the full ridge? Thanks
Hi Emma, normally we would say yes to walking below the ridge – however someone has commented recently that it is completely overgrown at the moment (probably because of all the rain). As it is also a popular spot with climbers, there are spots where you can go down from the ridge. Luckily the ridge is not very long but it can get windy up there! We are planning to go tomorrow to suss out the situation with the overgrown ferns!
That would be great if you could let us know please as we are also thinking of going this week. Would it also be OK to give directions of the path below the ridge to the car park as there’s no path ways marked on any of the maps and that would be brilliant to know where to head to and which path to join. Thanks. What a fantastic web resource!
Hi, thank you so much for this we have walked the full circular route today as a family and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The views were amazing!!