A guidebook to 35 day walks exploring the valleys and landmarks of the Dark Park area of the Peak District National Park, and 5 longer routes exploring the region’s more wild and remote gritstone edges and open moorland. With a variety of distances, terrain and strenuousness there are routes for all levels of ability.

The day walks are circular and range from 7 to 22km (4–14 miles), and can be enjoyed in between 3 and 7 hours. The longer routes – 3 linear and 2 circular – are between 25 and 45km (15–28 miles) in length, and take from 8 to 13 hours to complete.

• 1:50,000 OS maps included for each day walk, and 1:100,000 maps for longer routes
• GPX files available to download
• Refreshment and public transport options are given where relevant
• Information given on local geology and wildlife
• Easy access from Hathersage, Castleton, Glossop, Sheffield

Map keys

Overview map

Introduction

Geology

Plants and wildlife

History

The future

Local services and transport

The walks

Responsible walking

Maps and navigation

Using this guide

Eastern Dark Peak

Walk 1 Chatsworth to Birchen Edge

Walk 2 Longshaw Estate and the gritstone edges

Walk 3 Fox House to Big Moor

Walk 4 Fox House to Stanedge Pole

Walk 5 Grindleford to Higger Tor

Central Dark Peak

Walk 6 Hathersage to Stanage Edge

Walk 7 Wyming Brook to Stanage Edge

Walk 8 Bamford Moor

Walk 9 Win Hill to Hope Cross

Walk 10 Kings Tree to Shepherds Meeting Stones

Walk 11 Westend and Bleaklow Stones

Walk 12 Derwent Edge

Walk 13 Alport Castles and the Woodlands Valley

Walk 14 Margery Hill to Back Tor

Walk 15 Low Bradfield and Dale Dyke

Walk 16 Langsett to Howden Edge

Walk 17 Langsett to Pike Lowe

Walk 18 Torside to Bleaklow Head

Walk 19 Wildboar Clough to Lawrence Edge

Walk 20 Old Glossop to Bleaklow Head

Walk 21 Kinder Scout Northern Edge

Walk 22 Kinder Scout Western Edge

Walk 23 Kinder Scout

Walk 24 Kinder Scout Southern Edge

Walk 25 The Great Ridge

Northern Dark Peak

Walk 26 Dunford Bridge to Ramsden Clough

Walk 27 Crowden Horseshoe

Walk 28 Crowden to Chew Valley

Walk 29 Marsden to Black Hill

Walk 30 Alphin Pike to Birchen Clough

Walk 31 Binn Green to Great Dove Stone Rock

Walk 32 Cotton Famine Road

Western Dark Peak

Walk 33 Goyt Valley to Shining Tor

Walk 34 Derbyshire Bridge to Shutlingsloe

Walk 35 The Roaches

Long day walks

Walk 36 Marsden to Edale

Walk 37 Langsett to Edale

Walk 38 Gritstone edges

Walk 39 Edale Horseshoe

Walk 40 Kinder Scout skyline

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Useful information

Appendix C Aircraft crash site locations

Seasons

The area can be enjoyed in all seasons, although extra care (and kit) may be required in winter conditions.

Centres

Hathersage, Grindleford, Langsett, Marsden, Dove Stones, Edale, Upper Derwent Valley, Castleton, Greenfield, Chatsworth, Sheffield, Hayfield, Crowden, Hope, Dunford Bridge

Difficulty

Walking in the Dark Peak requires good navigational skills, especially in winter, and a good level of hillcraft. Having the correct equipment and clothing and knowing how to use it is paramount when venturing out onto the high moors.

Must See

Kinder Scout, the highest point in the Peak District; Bleaklow, the second highest; Howden and Derwent Edges; Black Hill and the Wessenden Moors; the gritstone edges of Derwent, Bamford, Stanage, Burbage, Froggatt, Curbar, Birchen, Gardoms and the Roaches; the Eastern Moors; the Goyt Valley, Shutlingsloe and Wildboarclough

December 2021

2021 reprint route updates

September 2019

Route update

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