A Helpful Guide to the Best Peak District Walks
The beautiful Peak District National Park offers so much, and at any chance, we scream about how much we love exploring. The national park is vast and spans over 555 square miles, and is in five English counties. So it is easy to understand how it attracts over 10 million visitors every year.
However, we often get asked, what are the best Peak District walks? So, we have come up with a helpful list of some of the best hikes in the Peak District. There are so many, and we will regularly update this list based on your suggestions and our new experiences.
We have included easy Peak District walks, short walks in the Peak District and more challenging ones. We love a variety depending on the weather, the time we have and where we fancy exploring next. Walking in the Peak District is exceptional. Whether you are in the Dark Peaks or the White Peaks, the list is endless.
The 15 Best Peak District Walks
Unfortunately, most of these walks are accessible by car. However, suppose you do not have a vehicle. In that case, the best walks in the Peak District that you can easily reach by public transport are Stanage Edge (Hathersage Train Station), Kinder Scout (Edale Train Station), ( B29 bus from Manchester or Sheffield and Mam Tor (Castleton Train Station).
Feel free to leave us a comment for more suggestions if this applies to you – the Peaks are accessible, but you need to know where to go and how to get there. We can help!
1. Stanage Edge Walk
Distance: 9km (5.6 miles)
Time: 2.5-3.5 miles
Are you craving dramatic views? Then, head to Stanage Edge, a gritstone escarpment that is a whopping 3.5miles long! It is one of the best Peak District walks in the Dark Peaks in Derbyshire and is popular with climbers and hikers. There are many routes to get there, and you can either park in the car park just below or walk from Hathersage if you’re looking for a long way.
If you walk from Hathersage, you can go past North Lees Hall, which inspired Charlotte Bronte in Jane Eyre. You can also see Robin Hood’s Cave on Stanage Edge and Little John’s grave at St Michael’s Church. Epic!
Park at: Oddfellows Road Car Park – it is £6 for a full day or on the road near Hathersage Train Station.
Stanage Edge walk postcode: S32 1DR or you can click here for Google Maps directions.
For a complete guide and directions, please read Stanage Edge Walk.
2. Ladybower Reservoir Walks
Distance: 5 miles
Time: 1-2 hours
The Ladybower Reservoir walk is easily one of the best Peak District walks. It is easy to navigate, flat and has beautiful vistas of the Viaduct. You can also have the opportunity to see the impressive Derwent Dam, which appeared in the 1954 film ‘The Dambusters’.
Ladybower Reservoir is a year-round destination because it is short and flat, so you do not have to worry about daylight hours in winter and summer. You can extend your walk to Win Hill, Bamford Edge or Derwent Edge the moors.
Park: for free along the road towards the Fairholmes Visitor Centre or in the car park next. Parking costs £3 for 2 hours or £5 for all day.
Ladybower Reservoir Walk Postcode: S33 0AQ
For a complete guide and directions, please read Ladybower Reservoir Walk – A Helpful 12 Step Guide.
3. Mam Tor Walk
Distance: 4.8km/ 3-miles
Time: 1-2 hours
The Mam Tor Walk is one of the top 10 UK walks, offering views over Hope Valley from the sensational ‘Mother Hill’ or ‘Shivering Mountain’. For this reason, it can be bustling, so aim to get there as early as possible and avoid weekends if you can. It is a family-friendly walk and a popular sunrise spot because it is accessible from the car park.
Luckily, this walk can be extended quite easily to Castleton or Hope to make it a longer circular walk, and you can also walk along the Great Ridge to Lose Hill. Alternatively, whilst in the area, you could explore the charming village of Castleton, visit Peveril Castle or visit Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern.
Park at: Mam Nick car park.
Mam Tor Walk Postcode: S33 8WA
For a complete guide and directions, please read Mam Tor Walks – 3 Routes.
4. Dovedale Stepping Stones
Distance: 1.5km
Time: 1 hour
Dovedale and the River Dove is a popular sport in the Peak District National Park. In addition, the stepping-stones are popular with families because the trail is flat and easy to navigate.
The stepping stones were laid in the 19th-century, and today the National Trust looks after them. This area is bustling, and there are warnings on the National Trust’s website saying that you should be there before 9 am on weekends. Maybe this is a walk to do in the colder months when everyone else is hibernating!
Park at: Dovedale car park or Ilham Park Car Park
Dovedale Walk Postcode: DE6 2AY
For a complete guide and directions. Please read Dovedale Stepping Stones.
5. Kinder Scout
Distance: 8.5miles (14km)
Time: 4-5 hours
Are you ready for a challenge? Kinder Scout is the highest point in the Peak District and is, therefore, a popular route for hikers. The walk from Edale goes up Jacob’s Ladder towards some incredible rock formations and, of course, the Kinder Low trig point.
It is easy to see why it is one of the best Peak District walks because it is wild, unspoilt and a lot of fun to scramble and climb. However, the terrain is mixed and should be met with reasonable fitness. Interestingly, it is also where the Kinder Scout Trespass took place in 1932, where 500 people descended on Kinder Scout to protest.
Park at: the Edale Village Hall car park in the Hope Valley.
Kinder Scout Walk Postcode: S33 7ZQ
For a complete guide and directions, please read: Kinder Scout Walk from Edale (circular)
6. Three Shires Head
Distance: 6.4km/ 4 miles
Time: 2-3 hours
The Three Shires Head is one of the best short Peak District walks. The main attraction is the Grade II listed Packhorse Bridge, where three counties meet and one of the most photographed spots in the Peaks.
It is not too difficult and is therefore popular with families and those that love wild swimming, as it is common to see people swimming in the waterfalls. This walk is perfect for those who want to experience some of the Peaks’ best hikes without feeling too exhausted.
Park at: The Roaches Gradbach Car Park (free).
Three Shires Head Walk Postcode: SK17 0SU
For a full guide and directions, please read Three Shires Head Walk.
7. Bamford Edge
Distance: 2-miles
Time: 1-1hr 30-minutes
For a significant gain (the vista) and little effort, you can enjoy spectacular views from Bamford Edge, making it one of the best walks in the Peak District. It is a popular spot for climbers, walkers and sunset lovers.
Walking in the Peak District has never been more accessible with a walk up to Bamford Edge. It is the spot to come with your picnic, flask, or take your dog on a walk. You start the walk with a steep incline, but after you walk along the edge, the short 10-minutes climb is worth it. It has a 420m elevation and is easily accessible from the roadside, or you can extend the walk and park at Ladybower Reservoir or Heatherdene Car Park.
Free Roadside Parking: S33 0AD
You can find paid parking at Heatherdene Car Park for £3 (extended walk).
Please read Bamford Edge Walks – A Guide to 2 Short Routes for a complete guide and directions.
8. Lud’s Church
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 1.5-2 hours
A secret chasm in the Staffordshire area of the Peak District awaits you. Lud’s Church is another short walk in the Peaks but offers a unique experience walking through a mossy rift 100m long and 18m deep. The temperature drops as you enter, and it adds to the occasion.
This walk is a lovely, short woodland walk that is a great option all year round because of the shade for the summer and the beautiful trees changing colours in Autumn. Unfortunately, photos cannot capture its true beauty, so you will have to visit for yourself. It is one of the most unusual Peak District walks.
Park at: The Roaches Gradbach Car Park (free but small)
The Lud’s Church Car Park Postcode: SK17 0SU
For a full guide and directions, please read Lud’s Church Walking Route.
9. Padley Gorge
Distance: 6km
Time: 2-3 hours
Padley Gorge is easily one of the best walks in the Peak District. It is a mystical and magical woodland walk popular with many people, including couples, friends and families. On a summer’s day, it is not unusual to see children playing in the gorge!
Arguably, the best time to visit is Autumn to see the beautiful colours of the leaves or in May to see the bluebells. However, we think it is a year-round destination. It is good to know that the Longshaw Estate opened a new café in Spring 2021, and it is 3x as big as their old café. If you go, make sure you try their scones – they are divine!
Park at: Woodcroft Car Park – pay at machines or by phone.
Padley Gorge walk postcode: S11 7TZ.
For a full guide and directions, please read Padley Gorge Walk.
10. B29 Overexposed Crash Site and Higher Shelf Stones
Distance: 4-miles (6km)
Time:1hr 30-minutes- 2 hr-30-minutes
The B29 Overexposed Crash Site is an exciting and memorable Peak District walk, as it is a site where 13 people tragically lost their lives in 1948. We recommend exploring the area but also be respectful as it is a memorial. It is interesting how after 70 years, you can still see vast parts of the wreckage.
Furthermore, this walk offers fantastic views over Manchester (if the weather is on your side), and it is the third highest spot in the Peaks. It is a short and circular walk, but this walk can be challenging if the visibility is terrible.
Park: in laybys on Snake Pass near Doctors Gate.
The B29 Overexposed crash site walk postcode: SK13 7PQ.
You can reach it on Google Maps here.
For a full guide and directions, please read B29 and Higher Shelf Stones Walk.
11. The Roaches
Distance: 4.6 miles (7.5km)
Time: 2-3hr
How can walking in the Peak District get better? Head to the beautiful Roaches to find out. Climb up to Hen’s Cloud, go past the mysterious Doxey Pool and then across the Roaches to bag the Roaches trig!
The Roaches is a popular spot with climbers and rock enthusiasts. It is thought that wallabies (released from a zoo) roam the area, but we didn’t manage to spot any, so it may be a legend. The name comes from the French word meaning rocks, so surprise surprise – you will see plenty on this route.
Park at: The Roaches UKC Parking. It is on Roach Road, Upper Hulme, Leek.
The Roaches Postcode: ST13 8UA.
For a full guide and directions, please read The Roaches Walk.
12. Pots and Pans
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 2-3 hours
Pots and Pans is a great short walk to watch the sunset over Manchester’s skyline or to take your dog on a walk. There are different ways to reach the top to start from Uppermill or closer to Dovestone Reservoir.
Some people think that the name comes from the War Memorial, but it refers to the indentations in the rocks at the side that resembles pots and pans.
Park at: Binn Green Car Park, in Uppermill or Dovestones Car Park. The easiest route leaves from Binn Green Car Park (free).
Pots and Pans walk postcode: OL3 7NN.
For a full guide and directions, please read: Pots and Pans Walk.
13. Curbar Edge
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 3-4 hours
Walking to Curbar Edge is a short circular walk in the White Peak area. The route also takes you to Froggatt Edge and the White Edge trig point.
This walk is exceptional for those walkers who want the views but do not want to climb uphill to get them. As it is one of the top Peak District walks, it can get hectic, so try and go during the week and avoid weekends (if you can). It is also a popular spot for climbers, with many different routes. See if you can spot any on your walk!
Park at: Curbar Gap Car Park Clodhall Lane, Hope Valley
Curbar Edge Postcode: S32 2YR
14. Dovestone Reservoir
Distance: 2.5 miles/ 4km
Time: 1 hour
We love Dovestone Reservoir because there are numerous routes you can take depending on accessibility or how adventurous you feel. You can walk around the reservoir, which has a flat surface level, and you will regularly see people in a wheelchair or with a pram.
However, you can also have an uphill adventure if you are more daring. People head to Indian’s Head or the Trinnacle (which is our favourite) to get exceptional views and see an impressive rock formation. It is a trendy spot, so your best bet is to get there as early as possible. They shut the car parks when they get full (usually at the weekends).
Park at: Dovestone Reservoir Car Park
The Dovestone Reservoir Postcode: OL3 7NE.
For a full guide and directions, please read Dovestone Reservoir Walks.
15. Thor’s Cave
Distance: 9.2km (5.7miles)
Time: 2-3 hr
A unique experience in the Peak District is a visit to Thor’s Cave in the Manifold Valley. The cave’s entrance is a whopping 60ft, and a visit is memorable because it is unlike anything you’ve seen before. It is good to know that if it has been raining, this spot can get extremely boggy. Getting inside the cave can be challenging anyway, and when it’s wet, it makes it more slippery. Wear suitable shoes for this one – we have seen some white trainers get destroyed.
Thor’s Cave has formed over thousands of years and has been a popular tourist spot for a very long time. Some people argue that the cave is named after the Norse God of Thunder. We think you should go and make your mind up.
Park at: Wetton Car Park, Carr Lane, Wetton, Ashbourne
Wetton Car Park Postcode: DE6 2AF
For a full guide and directions, please read Thor’s Cave Walk.
What are the best walks in the Peak District in your opinion? There are so many that creating this list was a challenging task. Let us know in the comments because we love to explore new places and we cannot get enough of walking in the Peak District! Happy hiking!
We only recommend things that we have personally tried and love using on our travels and hikes.
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