THIS WEEK’S FEATURED WALKS:
ALL TRAILS
DRAGON’S BACK WALK (5 MILES)
Want to feel like you’ve spent the day in Middle Earth? This route’s for you.
Start: Hollinsclough, SK17 0RH
Distance: 5 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Duration: allow approx. 2 hours
Navigation: follow step-by-step
Starting and finishing in the pretty hamlet of Hollinsclough, this walk has it all: magnificent views across the Staffordshire and Peak District wilds, paths criss-crossed with ancient stone walls, and summits galore… taking you through the breath-taking landscapes of the famous Dragon’s Back over the tops of Chrome Hill (424m), before meandering back up Parkhouse Hill (360m).
From here, you descend through untouched farmland and idyllic country lanes to make the return back to Hollinsclough.
With challenging terrain in places, our route to the summit of Parkhouse Hill should only be taken on if you’re confident at scrambling. There’s free street parking in the village but spaces are limited to so plan ahead if you’re arriving by car.
The views of the landscapes surrounding are sure to take your breath away at every part of this route. But the real highlight for us came in the form of a wonderfully idyllic pitstop, The Honesty Shop.
This perfectly stocked café-come-hut-come-shop has all your refuel needs covered, with hot drinks, sweet treats and fresh local produce aplenty. The Honesty Shop has no staff and relies solely on the good nature of passers-by to do the right thing - a comforting reminder that we were far away from the hustle of the city.
The walk can be shorted by cutting out the final ascent over Parkhouse Hill or extended by following your nose to the summit of High Wheeldon.
Another option is to start at The Quiet Woman pub in Earl Sterndale, not far from Buxton. Unsurprisingly, the many routes surrounding the limestone reef knolls of Chrome and Parkhouse Hills make for magnificent views throughout.
BAMFORD AND STANAGE EDGE CIRCULAR
Breathtaking scenery? Check. Two iconic Peak District landmarks in one walk? This route has you covered…
Start: Heatherdene Car Park, S33 0BY
Distance: 7 miles
Duration: 3 hours
Elevation: 1,150 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Download the GPX file here
This scenic Bamford Edge walk also visits Stanage Edge, taking in some of the best views in the Peak District.
Walk Highlights
Bamford Moor
As you ascend from Heatherdene, Bamford Moor presents itself with rugged landscapes and untamed beauty. This expanse of open moorland offers panoramic views, babbling brooks, and a stone circle dating back to The Bronze Age. Keep your camera ready!
Stanage Edge
Situated north of Hathersage, Stanage Edge is a popular place for walkers and for rock climbing with stunning views of the Dark Peak moorlands and the Hope Valley. The gritstone edge stretches for approximately 4 miles and featured in the classic film ‘Pride & Prejudice’ starring Keira Knightley.
Bamford Edge
Bamford Edge is an overhang of gritstone that sticks out over the beautiful Bamford Moor. The ridge is renowned for its distinctive rock formations, including the photogenic 'Great Tor'. It lies elevated on the moor, close to the quintessential Derbyshire village of Bamford in the Peak District National Park.
Bamford Edge is approximately 1381 ft above sea level or 420 metres high. From the top, you get some of the best views of Ladybower Reservoir, Win Hill, Lose Hill, The Great Ridge, Crook Hill, and Hope Valley — all from just a relatively short walk to the top.
It’s extremely popular with rock climbers, walkers, and those wanting to get some fabulous photos on an iconic overhanging ledge.
Tips
Facilities are limited on this one. You’ll find public toilets available at the start of the walk (Heatherdene Car Park) and a cafe at nearby Derwent Reservoir if you’re looking to extend the route.
Check the weather: The weather atop the moor can be unpredictable. Dress in layers and be prepared for changes.
Respect the environment: The Peak District is a protected area. Stick to paths, and don't disturb wildlife.
Arrive early: Heatherdeane Car Park gets incredibly crowded during the weekend, visit off-peak where you can.
Catch a sunset: Looking for a shorter walk? Check out our Bamford Edge sunset variation below, clocking up just 3 miles.
Plan ahead: Ensure you have enough water, snacks, and a map. Mobile signal can be patchy, so physical maps are handy.
Leave the white trainers at home! The area around the moors can get incredibly boggy — so definitely bring your boots for this one.
Best time to visit: Early morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds and catch the golden light.
Safety first: The edges can be slippery, especially after rain. Wear sturdy boots and watch your step.
Leave no trace: Preserve the beauty of the Peaks. Take your rubbish with you and stick to the paths.
SUNSET WALK VARIATION
Short on time, or simply want to head up for sunset? This short loop up to Bamford Edge is a great alternative. The walk up to the edge only takes approx. 20 minutes with just a short ascent up to the ridge — the perfect route to watch the sun set over Ladybower.
Tip: The walk up can get incredibly boggy after rainfall, so definitely bring your boots for this one.
Bamford Circular Walk
Distance: 3.53 miles
Elevation: 650 feet
Duration: 1.5 hours
Start: Heatherdene Car Park, S33 0BY
Navigation: follow the route here
Despite clocking up just a few miles overall, this Bamford loop offers some of the best views in the Peak District. With just a short climb at the start, you walk towards Bamford Edge and are instantly rewarded with incredible views of Ladybower and Derwent Reservoirs.
Just opposite, you’ll also find another great vantage point in the form of Win Hill. The easygoing nature of this route makes it a popular location for sunrise and sunset.
Up top, you’ll be spoilt choice if you’re looking to extend the walk—with the option to include both Ladybower and Derwent Reservoirs if you prefer to skip the climb and soak up the views at the bottom.
Looking for more walks like this one? Check out our latest adventures on Instagram
HARDCASTLE CRAGS, HEBDEN BRIDGE
With over 15 miles of woodland trails and meadow-lined paths to explore, Hardcastle Crags is a walker’s utopia.
Start: Bowling Green Car Park, HX7 7LT
Distance: 3.7 miles
Duration: 1.5 hours
Elevation: 650 feet
Navigation: follow our route here
We started this walk just over a mile north of Hebden Bridge, in the quaint village of Heptonstall. It’s the sort of sleepy village you’d never except to find backpackers and tourists, but it’s home to the remains of American literary legend, Sylvia Plath, and thus attracts visitors all across the globe wishing to pay their respects.
Just outside of the village square, you’ll also find the ruins of the St Thomas a’ Becket (built between 1256 and 1260) adjacent to the existing church, St Thomas the Apostle. Uniquely, the ruins are carefully maintained and open to the public, making for a great little start and end point for big kids and little ones to explore.
After a short stroll through the village, we circled around its many quaint side streets before making our way to the stepping stones at Hardcastle Crags, making for an idyllic riverside stroll.
With its 400 acres of untouched scenery, there exists many routes to explore in the areas surrounding, with the possibility to extend your day to popular beauty spots and attractions like Lumb Falls, Gibson Mill, and the Weaving Shed Cafe.
The area’s looked after by National Trust, which provides visitors many routes to choose from here. Of course, you can always extend the route by heading down into Hebden Bridge and exploring its many independent shops and cafes!
Fancy exploring Harcastle Crags yourself? Get inspired by our route and follow along here
THOR’S CAVE
Thor’s Cave is known as one of the Peak District’s most famous caves… and with good reason.
Start: Wetton Mill, DE6 2AG
Distance: 7.74 miles
Duration: allow 3-4 hours
Elevation: 1,350 feet
Navigation: follow our route here
This is a brilliant route that takes in some of the best landmarks the Peak District has to offer: the beauty of Manifold Valley and the magnificence of Thor’s Cave. Just look at those views!
From Wetton village, this route first takes you along the Manifold Valley and past Wetton Mill with more caves to explore, before allowing you to finish at the perfect beauty spot: Thor’s Cave.
Thor’s Cave is an iconic natural cavern on the side of the Manifold Valley, making it a perfect spot to reward your efforts after a long day’s walk. Some scrambling to the chamber is required, making it perfect for big kids and little ones alike.
Thor’s Cave is a popular attraction so we recommend visiting out of season or towards the end of day to avoid a wait up to the cave. You can also shorten the walk—and fast-track your arrival on busy days— by simply heading to Thor’s Cave and back from Wetton, cutting out the meander along the Manifold Valley.
There are some steep uphill segments but the views are worth it. The views out into the valley are immense, but do make sure to take care while exploring there are steep drops shortly after the entrance and the surface can be slippery.
The origin of Thor’s Cave name is unknown but has obvious links to the Norse god Thor. Historically, evidence of human occupation of Thor’s Cave has been found dating back to the latter part of the Stone Age, around 11,000 years ago—with continued use into the Iron Age and Roman period. Excavations of the area have found living utensils such as stone tools, pottery and bronze items, as well as burial sites for seven people.
Fancy giving it a go? Follow our route here
BAMFORD RIDGE
Derwent Edge hogs the limelight around Ladybower—this short loop offers the immense views… without as much legwork
Distance: 3.53 miles
Elevation: 650 feet
Duration: 1.5 hours
Start: Heatherdene Car Park, S33 0BY
Navigation: follow the route here
This is a real treat of a walk, offering some of the best views in the Peak District. With just a short climb at the start, you walk towards Bamford Edge and are rewarded with incredible views of Ladybower and Derwent Reservoirs.
Just opposite, you’ll also find another great vantage point in the form of Win Hill. The easygoing nature of this route makes it a popular location for sunrise and sunset.
Up top, you’ll be spoilt for walking-trail choice if you’re looking to extend the walk—with the option to include both Ladybower and Derwent Reservoirs if you’re feeling particularly energetic.
Bamford Edge itself is a beautiful photo spot with many amazing rock formations. Facilities are limited on this trail, but there are public toilets available at the start of the walk (Heatherdene Car Park) and a cafe at Derwent Reservoir for those extending the route.
Fancy giving this one a go? Follow the route here
DRAGON’S BACK LOOP
Want to feel like you’ve spent the day in Middle Earth? This route’s for you.
Start: Hollinsclough, SK17 0RH
Distance: 5 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Duration: allow approx. 2 hours
Navigation: follow step-by-step
Starting and finishing in the pretty hamlet of Hollinsclough, this walk has it all: magnificent views across the Staffordshire and Peak District wilds, paths criss-crossed with ancient stone walls, and summits galore… taking you through the breath-taking landscapes of the famous Dragon’s Back over the tops of Chrome Hill (424m), before meandering back up Parkhouse Hill (360m).
From here, you descend through untouched farmland and idyllic country lanes to make the return back to Hollinsclough.
With challenging terrain in places, our route to the summit of Parkhouse Hill should only be taken on if you’re confident at scrambling. There’s free street parking in the village but spaces are limited to so plan ahead if you’re arriving by car.
The views of the landscapes surrounding are sure to take your breath away at every part of this route. But the real highlight for us came in the form of a wonderfully idyllic pitstop, The Honesty Shop.
This perfectly stocked café-come-hut-come-shop has all your refuel needs covered, with hot drinks, sweet treats and fresh local produce aplenty. The Honesty Shop has no staff and relies solely on the good nature of passers-by to do the right thing - a comforting reminder that we were far away from the hustle of the city.
The walk can be shorted by cutting out the final ascent over Parkhouse Hill or extended by following your nose to the summit of High Wheeldon.
Another option is to start at The Quiet Woman pub in Earl Sterndale, not far from Buxton. Unsurprisingly, the many routes surrounding the limestone reef knolls of Chrome and Parkhouse Hills make for magnificent views throughout.
You can follow our route step-by-step here.
Fancy having a go? Tag us using #getlostmcr, we love seeing your wild adventures!
UPHILL CHALLENGES:
WALKS WITH WATERFALLS:
