GIDDY EDGE LOOP, MATLOCK
Could you brave Giddy Edge? Dubbed the ‘scariest footpath in England’, this circular walk in the Peak District has it all
Start: Matlock Town Centre, DE4
Distance: 4.5 miles
Duration: 2 hours
Elevation: 1,000 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Follow step-by-step on komoot, or download GPX file
Route Highlights:
Giddy Edge — ‘The scariest footpath in England’
This precipitous pathway, with its wrought iron handrail and dizzying heights, was created by the Victorians as a tourist attraction. Giddy Edge, perched in the High Tor Gardens above Matlock Bath, is recognised as one of the most dangerous footpaths in the world. With a 300-foot drop beside it, only the trickier sections are protected by the wrought iron handrails with nothing standing between you and the edge.
Do you need a head for heights to tackle this one?
In our opinion, this trail is not nearly as scary as it looks. Plus, the views across Matlock Dale are truly stunning, and well worth the effort for those brave enough to do it.
Matlock Bath
Matlock Bath is dubbed as seaside resort a hundred miles from the sea. The picturesque town is packed with chip shops, amusement arcades and candy floss. It’s located amongst a beautiful limestone gorge on the River Derwent, and is home to stunning riverside gardens and steep wooded hillsides.
History
Matlock Bath has been a popular tourist attraction since the late 17th century, when the healing properties of its warm spa waters were first discovered. Access to the area was improved in the 18th century, and by the 19th century, Matlock Bath was a place for society’s finest to visit. Lord Byron even dubbed the town ‘Little Switzerland’ on account of its magnificent views and steep, wooded hillsides.
Things to do
Today, the town remains a wonderful place to visit, with a long street of shops, cafes, amusement arcades and places of interest, including an aquarium, Gulliver’s Kingdom, and plenty of places to grab some fish and chips. The riverside walks are great for peaceful, shady strolls, — there’s also a great children’s playground area to keep the little ones entertained.
Heights of Abraham
This historic 60-acre hilltop estate features cavern tours, exhibitions, adventure playgrounds and much more, plus regular special events throughout the season. A ticket to the Heights includes:
Cable car journey — Enjoy a return journey on Matlock Bath’s famous cable cars, soaring high above the Derwent Valley.
Great Masson Cavern — This cavern is often dubbed one of the true wonders of Derbyshire. Take a guided tour through an illuminated cavern and discover the secrets of Masson Hill.
Great Rutland Cavern — Join the tour’s Victorian Cavern guides to learn about the history of the miners and showmen that once worked in this underground world.
Getting to Matlock
Reaching Matlock most convenient by car. We parked in the town centre (not Matlock Bath), where you’ll find multiple car parks. You can also get direct trains to Matlock from Nottingham and Derby via the Derwent Valley Line.
Giddy Edge - The ‘scariest footpath in England’
Have you braved the short, sharp shock of a walk along Giddy Edge, high above Matlock? This narrow stretch of uneven path is 300 feet above the ground … maybe not the greatest if you don’t like heights! High Tor, standing at 300 feet, is one of the highest inland cliffs in England.
Giddy Edge itself, situated atop High Tor, is a very narrow path just below the top of a limestone cliff, and three hundred feet above the town of Matlock Bath. Giddy Edge has become a notable feature of Matlock’s heritage, reflecting the Victorian fascination with nature and adventure.
Good to knows
Giddy Edge: The climb up to High Tor gardens is steep and quite physically demanding. Giddy Edge is unfenced and not recommended for small childen.
Toilets: You’ll find toilets dotted around Matlock and Matlock Bath. The toilets in Matlock Bath are 20p entry.
Food and drink: Along the route, you’ll place plenty of pubs, cafes, and fish and chip shops. We stopped off at The Midland on the return end of the walk.
Parking: We parked at the car park on Imperial Road (DE4 3NL), which cost £6 for the full day. You’ll find multiple car parks in both Matlock and Matlock bath, and you can start the route from either of these locations.
Wild swimming: Travelling by car? We headed to this popular wild swimming spot on the way home. This place gets very crowded during peak times, so check out our guide on the best time to visit.
Fancy giving this one ago? Check out our full guide on Instagram
More routes like this one:
