Peak District Walks

Find Peak District walks from the list below which features the best walking routes in the area. Most of routes are circular walks although there are a few linear hikes. The walks are listed from the shortest and easiest to the longest more challenging routes. The walks are divided into sub areas so you can find specific walks.

200+ Great Peak District walks with detailed route descriptions, excellent mapping, photos and GPX files. Routes include the best walks in the White Peak, with its limestone dales, and the gritstone moors of the Dark Peak.

Area walks and walking guides

Useful guides to walks and walking from these popular centres. Includes places to stay, local amenities and the best walking routes.

White Peak - Manifold Valley & Dovedale Walks

Walking highlights - Dramatic Dovedale and its sister dales are typical of the White Peak with limestone outcrops a character of the landscape. The Manifold Valley, lying to the west of Dovedale, also has much to offer walkers including Thor's Cave perched high on the valley side. Between the Dove and Manifold valleys lies high ground, including Ecton Hill and the villages of Alstonefield and Wetton which provide a good base for Peak District walks in this area.

Where to stay - Hartington, Alstonefield, Wetton, Grindon and Ashbourne are all convenient for this area.

White Peak - Upper Dove Valley & Chrome Hill Walks

Walking highlights - Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill (the Dragon's Back) are the main attractions in this area. As you head up towards the source of the River Dove the scenery gets wilder and more dramatic.

Where to stay - Hartington and Longnor are convenient for this area.

White Peak - High Peak & Lathkill Dale Walks

Walking highlights - Lathkill Dale is popular with walkers. Its varied scenery adds to its appeal. Elsewhere in the High Peak you can explore the remains of the once flourishing lead mining industry, marvel at the dry-stone walls that stretch for miles or enjoy an easy walk along a disused railway.

Where to stay - Hartington, Monyash, Youlgreave and Bakewell are convenient for this area.

White Peak - Stanton Moor & Winster Walks

Walking highlights - Stanton Moor with its Nine Ladies stone circle offers great views and many interesting things to explore. The villages of Birchover and Winster are worth exploring too.

Where to stay - Bakewell, Winster, Stanton and Matlock are convenient for this area.

White Peak - Miller's Dale, Bakewell & Monsal Trail Walks

Walking highlights - The Monsal Trail follows an old railway and takes you from Bakewell through a number of scenic dales including Miller's Dale. Monsal Head is a great place to visit to savour the view into the dale far below.

Where to stay - Bakewell, Tideswell, Taddington and Ashford in the Water are convenient for this area.

Dark Peak South - Edale & Kinder Scout Walks

Walking highlights - the Kinder Scout Plateau, especially the edges which circle this moor, including Ringing Roger, Grindsbrook, Ashop Head, Fairbrook Naze and Kinder Downfall. In addition the western fringes of this area including South Head.

Where to stay - Edale, Castleton and Hayfield are convenient for this area.

Dark Peak South - Castleton Great Ridge & Mam Tor Walks

Walking highlights - the Great Ridge at Castleton linking Mam Tor with Lose Hill is one the great walks of the Peak District. Other attractions include Winnats Pass, Peveril Castle and Rushup Edge. An excellent for Peak District walks and very popular in good weather.

Where to stay - Castleton, Hope, and Edale are convenient for this area.

Dark Peak South - Longendale & Bleaklow Walks

Walking highlights - Bleaklow is wild and can be challenging but it does have its rewards. Grains-in-the-Water provides solitude and stunning moorland landscapes. Circular walks using sections of the Pennine Way are also a feature of this area.

Where to stay - Glossop and Crowden are convenient for this area.

Dark Peak North - Black Hill & Dovestone Reservoir Walks

Walking highlights - circular walks based on the Pennine Way, the wild moorland around Black Hill, Laddow Rocks, the gritstone edges of Saddleworth Moor above Dovestone Reservoir and the wide open spaces of Wessenden Moor.

Where to stay - Holmfirth, Hadfield, Mossley and Marsden are convenient for this area.

Eastern Moors - Sheffield area & Derwent Edge Walks

Walking highlights - Derwent Edge above the Derwent valley offers great walking with many interesting rock formations to discover, the many reservoirs on the western fringes of Sheffield and their surrounding countryside, and the wild moors that dominate this area.

Where to stay - Hathersage, Bamford, Grindleford and Sheffield are convenient for this area.

Eastern Moors - Gritstone Edges, Higger Tor & Longshaw Estate Walks

Walking highlights - the gritstone edges offer level walking and superb views and include Stanage Edge, Burbage Rocks, and Froggatt Edge. The area around the Longshaw Estate including Higger Tor and Padley Gorge also offers some excellent Peak District walks.

Where to stay - Hathersage, Bamford, and Grindleford are convenient for this area.

Eastern Moors - Abney Moor & Chatsworth Walks

Walking highlights - Abney Moor offers some great walks and is less busy than adjacent areas. The extensive Chatsworth Estate also offers great walking with Chatsworth House and the estate villages providing plenty of interest along the route.

Where to stay - Hope, Bradwell, Grindleford and Eyam are convenient for this area.

Western Moors - Three Shires Head & the Roaches Walks

Walking highlights - The Roaches offer great views with little effort, Three Shires Head where the counties of Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire meet at a picturesque packhorse bridge and lonely Axe Edge Moor, which is the highest point in Staffordshire.

Where to stay - Leek, Buxton, Gradbach and Danebridge are convenient for this area.

Western Moors - Lyme Park, Shining Tor & Goyt Valley Walks

Walking highlights - Lyme Park with its historic house and grounds, Shining Tor (the highest point in Cheshire) and the ridge to Cats Tor, Pym Chair and Windgather Rocks, and the Goyt Valley with Errwood and Fernilee Reservoirs lying amidst glorious scenery.

Where to stay - Disley, Whaley Bridge, Bollington and Buxton are convenient for this area.

Western Moors - Shutlingsloe & Macclesfield Forest Walks

Walking highlights - an ascent of Shutlingsloe locally know as the 'Cheshire Matterhorn', Macclesfield Forest and Trentabank Reservoir, which is home to a large heronry, and the scenic viewpoint of Tegg's Nose. This relatively quiet area includes many good Peak District walks.

Where to stay - Macclesfield, Buxton, and Danebridge are convenient for this area.

★ GPS file ☩ Route profile