CONTENTS
Map key
Overview map
Introduction
Geology
Plants and wildlife
History
Local communities
Customs
Peak District National Park
Local services and transport
The walks
Responsible walking
Maps and navigation
Using this guide
Northern section
Walk 1 Bradwell to Offerton
Walk 2 Hope to Shatton
Walk 3 Longshaw to Curbar Gap
Walk 4 Grindleford to White Edge
Walk 5 Foolow to Wardlow
Walk 6 Eyam to Abney
Walk 7 Eyam to Grindleford
Walk 8 Eyam Village
Walk 9 Tideswell to Cressbrook
Walk 10 Curbar to Gardom’s Edge
Walk 11 Calver to Hassop
Walk 12 Calver to Great Longstone
Walk 13 Taddington to Monsal Dale
Walk 14 Chatsworth to Beeley
Walk 15 Ashford in the Water to Monsal Head
Walk 16 Bakewell to Chatsworth
Walk 17 Bakewell to Monsal Head
Walk 18 Bakewell to Over Haddon
Walk 19 Monyash to Sheldon
Walk 20 Rowsley to Birchover
Southern section
Walk 21 Youlgreave to Elton
Walk 22 Middleton to Elton
Walk 23 Middleton to Kenslow Knoll
Walk 24 Winster to Bonsall
Walk 25 Matlock to Dethick
Walk 26 Biggin to Minninglow
Walk 27 Cromford to Black Rock
Walk 28 Cromford to Crich
Walk 29 Middleton to Harboro Rocks
Walk 30 Brassington to Kniveton
Walk 31 Parwich to Alsop en le Dale
Walk 32 Parwich to Tissington
Walk 33 Wirksworth to Alport Height
Walk 34 Tissington to Thorpe Cloud
Walk 35 Ashbourne to Thorpe
Long Walks and Trails
Walk 36 Derwent Valley Heritage Way
Walk 37 Eastern Gritstone Trail
Walk 38 Limestone Way
Walk 39 White Peak Circular
White Peak Trails
Walk 40 High Peak Trail
Walk 41 Tissington Trail
Walk 42 Monsal Trail
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Useful websites
Appendix C Bibliography and further reading
Everything I want out of a walking guide. I heartily recommend it
First published in 2004, this is the third edition of Paul Besley's guide of over forty walks covered by the eastern sheet of Ordnance Survey White Peak map OL24. This means no folding, unfolding, flapping or tearing of the map to locate the routes.
The book starts with an eloquent introduction of the area's geology, flora, history and customs, supported by a bibliography. The walks are grouped into northern and southern sections, four long walks and trails, and the three White Peak trails. Lastly there is a route summary table for quick reference.
I get a frisson of excitement whenever I spot one of the Society's signposts in a walking book. Paul Besley is clearly appreciative of PNFS's efforts in keeping a "watchful eye on the footpaths" and its signposts, and one of his routes takes the walker past S456.
About the walks, they are 5-12 miles long with most being 7-8 miles. Each route is headed by essential details such as start/finish location, distance, terrain, and parking, and a brief description of the area to be covered. The route directions are very clearly written with each location or feature to be passed highlighted in bold text. Excellent colour photographs enhance them and items of interest are described but do not impede the flow of the directions. A very useful feature is that each walk is accompanied by an extract of an OS 1:50000 map with the route clearly outlined. I would have preferred this to be 1:25000 but the book's pocket size precludes this. The four long walks range between 22 and 42 miles consequently they are accompanied by two or three 1:100000 map extracts. The three White Peak trails which are on disused railway tracks are given similar treatment as they are 10-15 miles long. GPX tracks for the routes are available to download from Cicerone's website.
For many years my husband and I have had holidays in the Peak District, accompanied by a 1993 edition Pathfinder Guide which use 1:25000 map extracts. As many of its pages are now becoming loose and its routes getting predictable with much custom, it was with great interest that I opened Walking in the Peak District - White Peak East. I was delighted with it, especially with the very well-presented route descriptions being accompanied by an OS map. It has everything I want out of a walking guide. I know that it will serve us very well for many more trips and I heartily recommend it to all walkers who love the Peak District. It will be followed by another by the same author covering the western sheet of the White Peak map next year and I look forward to getting a copy of it.
Shirley Addy, Editor and Footpath Inspector