A magical Peak District walk with ancient stone circles, hidden caves, and cosy village pubs

Start: Birchover (DE4 2BN)

Distance: 8.91 miles

,Elevation: 1,100 feet

Duration: 3-4 hours

Difficulty: Moderate (non-technical paths, some elevation)

Navigation: Follow step-by-step on komoot, or download GPX file

About the route

Looking for one of the most magical walks in the Peak District? This circular route takes you through ancient woodland, prehistoric landscapes, dramatic gritstone tors, hidden caves, and one of England's most famous stone circles.

Starting in the pretty Derbyshire village of Birchover, you pass the legendary Nine Ladies Stone Circle, explore the fascinating Hermit's Cave, scramble around the impressive Rowtor Rocks, and stand beneath the rock formations of Robin Hood's Stride. Stone circles, dramatic gritstone edges, hidden caves and plenty of folklore – this Peak District walk has it all.

Throw in a couple of brilliant village pubs, sweeping views across the Derbyshire countryside, and over 4,000 years of history, and you've got one of the most magical walks in The Peaks.

Route difficulty

The distance and elevation make this more challenging than some of my easier Peak District walks, but there are no particularly difficult sections + non-technical terrain throughout.

Expect:

Some steady climbs
Woodland paths
Moorland tracks

Route highlights

Nine Ladies Stone Circle: One of Derbyshire's most famous prehistoric monuments, dating back around 4,000 years.
Robin Hood's Stride: One of the Peak District's most iconic rock formations.
Stanton Moor: Beautiful heather-covered moorland filled with ancient monuments.
Rowtor Rocks: A fascinating collection of rock formations, carvings and hidden passageways.
Hermit's Cave A tiny cave carved into the rock at the start of your walk.
The Flying Childers Inn: One of the quirkiest (and cosiest) pubs in the Peak District. Great for a midway refuel.
The Druid Inn: The perfect place for a post-walk pint.

The history of Nine Ladies Stone Circle

The Nine Ladies Stone Circle is one of the Peak District's most important prehistoric monuments and is believed to date back to the Bronze Age, making it around 4,000 years old.

The circle consists of nine small standing stones arranged in an oval shape, measuring around 10 metres across. Nearby stands a larger stone known as the King's Stone, which has become part of the site's folklore over the centuries.

Archaeologists believe the monument was likely used for ceremonial or ritual purposes, although its exact purpose remains unknown. Like many prehistoric stone circles across Britain, it may also have had connections to seasonal events, astronomy or local gatherings.

The circle forms part of the wider Stanton Moor landscape, an area rich in archaeology. The moor contains numerous prehistoric monuments, burial mounds and standing stones, making it one of the most historically significant areas in Derbyshire.

The myths and legends of Nine Ladies Stone Circle

Like many ancient monuments, Nine Ladies Stone Circle comes with its fair share of folklore.

The most famous legend tells the story of nine women who were dancing on a Sunday. As punishment for breaking the Sabbath, they were turned to stone where they stood. The nearby King's Stone is said to represent the fiddler who provided the music and suffered the same fate.

Another local tale claims that the stones cannot be counted accurately. No matter how many times you count them, you'll supposedly arrive at a different answer each time.

Over the years, the circle has also become associated with spiritual practices and modern pagan traditions. Visit on solstice, and you’ll find more visitors than usual celebrating the longest/shortest days of the year. Its secluded woodland setting and ancient origins certainly give it an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the Peak District.

Is this route for me?

Unlike some of the Peak District's steep hill walks, this route focuses more on history, scenery and exploration than big summit climbs.

This walk is ideal if you:

Love ancient history and archaeology
Enjoy discovering hidden landmarks
Want a varied route with plenty to see
Appreciate a good pub stop
Like walks with a bit of local folklore

The route is suitable for most walkers with a reasonable level of fitness, although the nearly 9-mile distance means it's best suited to those comfortable spending several hours on the trail.

Expect public footpaths, woodland tracks, gates, stiles and some rocky sections.

Where to eat and drink nearby

Things to do nearby

If you're making a full day or weekend of it, there are plenty of places nearby worth exploring:

Getting to the starting point

Parking

This walk starts at the small free public car park on Birchover Road (DE4 2BN), opposite Birchover Stone Ltd.

Capacity: Approximately 20 spaces
Cost: Free
Alternative parking: Additional on-street parking is available through the village.
Location: Ideal for accessing Rowtor Rocks, Stanton Moor, Nine Ladies Stone Circle, and the start of the route.

Public transport

Public transport options are limited for this one, arriving by car is your best bet for an easy day out..

✔️ Good to knows

Difficulty: Moderate with gentle elevation gain

Footwear: Can get muddy after rain, especially through fields - I’d boot up for this one.

Dog-friendly: Some sections cross farmland and cattle fields, keep dogs on leads 🐕

Food and drink: You’ll find food, drink and toilet facilities along this route

🧭 Following the route

I use komoot and OS Maps for offline navigation. To follow this walk step-by-step on komoot, simply click this link here or download the GPX file and upload it to your chosen app, such as OS Maps.

Nine Ladies Stone Circle Walk: Robin Hood's Stride, Stanton Moor, Rowtor Rocks