Peak District Walks: All Our Favourite Routes, Where to Park and Where to Stay

Are you looking for the best walks in the Peak District, but not sure where to start? Gritstone edges, mossy gorges, windy ridges and reservoirs. There is so much choice! The Peak District became the UK's first national park in 1951, and it is still one of our favourite places for a hiking weekend.

We have been coming here since 2016. Our first trip was a train and tent weekend in Hope and Edale. Since then we have been back for a car camping birthday trip, a sunrise hike on the Trinnacle and a campervan babymoon when I was 23 weeks pregnant. So in this guide I put all our favourite Peak District walks in one place, with the 2026 parking charges, trains, buses and campsites.

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Quick answer

• Easiest walks: Padley Gorge (waterfalls, right next to Grindleford station) and the short climb to Stanage Edge from Hooks Carr or Hollin Bank.
• Most magical: the Roaches and Lud's Church, a mossy chasm that feels like a fairy tale.
• Best photo spot: the Trinnacle above Dove Stone Reservoir, an 8 km loop.
• Best car-free base: the Hope Valley line. Edale, Hope, Bamford, Hathersage and Grindleford all have stations with walks from the platform.
• Parking: most popular car parks now charge (as of 2026). Arrive before 9–10 am at weekends and never park on verges.
• Wild camping: there is no right to wild camp here, so book a campsite like North Lees, Fieldhead or Swallowholme instead.

Our favourite Peak District walks at a glance

Dark Peak and the Hope Valley walks

Padley Gorge

Padley Gorge quickly became one of our favourite spots in the Peak District. We even went back twice on our campervan trip! Burbage Brook tumbles through an old oak wood full of mossy boulders and gnarled trees. It really feels like an enchanted forest. We did a 7 km circular walk with 180 m of elevation gain from Grindleford station. The waterfalls are small, but after rain they are lovely. The grassy area at the top of the gorge is perfect for a picnic and a paddle with kids.

Allow 2–2.5 hours. Toilets: at Longshaw. Read the full Padley Gorge walk guide.

Stanage Edge

Stanage Edge has some of the best views in the national park. We walked it when I was pregnant, so we took the short route from Hooks Carr. It only took about 10 minutes to reach the top, and then we just followed the edge past High Neb (458 m) until we could see Ladybower Reservoir. Look out for the abandoned millstones and Robin Hood's Cave. It was really windy on top, even on a sunny March day, so pack an extra layer!

If you come by train, the classic circular walk from Hathersage via North Lees Hall is about 9.5 km and takes 3–4 hours. When we visited, Hooks Carr car park was free, but it is now pay and display. Dogs: on a short lead across the estate. More in our Stanage Edge walk guide.

On the same trip we also enjoyed the short walk to Mother Cap from Surprise View car park, and Curbar and Froggatt Edge on our last day. You can read about the whole trip in our campervan road trip post.

Win Hill, Lose Hill and Bamford Edge

On our very first Peak District weekend we camped in Hope and walked everything from the tent. Lose Hill (about 7 km) was foggy. The next day we climbed Win Hill, came down through the forest to Ladybower Reservoir and had a picnic by the water. It turned into a 17 km day! The path along the reservoir is flat, so it works with a buggy too.

Bamford Edge was the one I was most excited about, because of the epic photos I had seen. The view over Ladybower and Win Hill was definitely worth it. We walked all the way from Hope (18 km), but if you drive, park at Heatherdene and walk from there. Read the full story in camping and hiking in the Peak District.

Mam Tor and Jacob's Ladder from Edale

From Fieldhead Campsite in Edale we walked up Mam Tor, about 7 km. For a longer day, follow our guide to the Mam Tor and Great Ridge walk from Castleton. The top was busy, as you can drive much closer. The next day we followed the Pennine Way to Jacob's Ladder, about 9 km. It is a steep climb, so good boots are a must. We came back past Noe Stool and the Wool Packs instead of carrying on to Kinder Scout.

Saddleworth and the Staffordshire Moorlands

The Trinnacle

The Trinnacle is a three-pillar rock on the edge of Saddleworth Moor above Dove Stone Reservoir. We set off really early to catch the sunrise and had it all to ourselves. I climbed onto the left pillar. Please only do this if it is dry and calm, as there is a sheer drop on both sides. The loop is 8 km with 380 m of elevation gain and takes 3–4 hours. The descent along Greenfield Brook is steep and slippery, so hiking poles help.

Parking: the RSPB Dove Stone car parks (free for RSPB members). Train: Greenfield station, then the 350 bus to the Clarence Hotel. Full details in the Trinnacle circular walk.

The Roaches and Lud's Church

When we arrived at Lud's Church, it felt like we stepped into a fairy tale. This 100 m long chasm is covered in moss and ferns, with walls up to 18 m high. We walked there along the Roaches ridge on my car camping birthday trip, starting at 8:30 am on a Saturday. Our return walk was 13 km with about 460 m of elevation gain. If you only want to see the chasm, the circular walk from Gradbach is about 5.25 km and takes around 2 hours.

Parking (2026): Roach Road is a restricted parking area. Only use the marked bays, as attendants issue £70 penalty notices. Gradbach car park is small (about 20 spaces). Please note: Doxey Pool, where we had our picnic, is now fenced off to let it recover. Dogs must be on a lead on the reserve. Read the full Roaches and Lud's Church walk.

Getting there by train and bus

On our first trip we took the train from London St Pancras to Sheffield, then changed onto the Northern train towards Manchester Piccadilly. The fastest journeys to Edale take about 2 hours 45 minutes.

• Hope Valley line (Northern): Grindleford for Padley Gorge, Hathersage for Stanage Edge, Bamford and Hope for Win Hill and Bamford Edge, and Edale for Mam Tor and Jacob's Ladder.
• Bus 271/272: Sheffield to Castleton via Fox House, Hathersage, Bamford and Hope, roughly hourly, seven days a week (2026 timetable).
• Peak Sightseer: a seasonal bus linking Chatsworth, Grindleford, Hathersage, Hope, Castleton and Mam Tor. In 2026 it ran daily from 23 May to 19 September, then on Saturdays until 10 October.
• Greenfield station: for the Trinnacle, with the 350 bus to the Clarence Hotel to shorten the walk in.
• The Roaches: only a couple of 108 buses a day stop at Upper Hulme (Monday to Saturday), plus a Sunday community bus.

Parking in the Peak District (2026)

Several car parks that used to be free are now pay and display. Prices as of November 2026:

Please be considerate when you park! Verges and passing places are for farmers and emergency vehicles. If a car park is full, go to another walk or come back by train.

Where to stay: campsites we used

We love camping here. Book ahead for summer weekends.

• Swallowholme Camping & Caravan Park, Bamford: we stayed here in 2016 and again on our campervan trip. It is about 10 minutes' drive from Padley Gorge and Stanage Edge, and close to Bamford station. The trains are a bit loud, but the ducks walking around the site are so cute!
• Laneside Caravan Park, Hope: our tent pitch was right next to a stream, and Hope station is a 5-minute walk away. Great for Win Hill and Lose Hill.
• Fieldhead Campsite, Edale: small, basic and close to Edale station. It is under new management and booked online. In the 2026 high season it cost £11–£13.50 per adult per night.
• North Lees Campsite, Hathersage: run by the national park, right below Stanage Edge. It is open all year except over Christmas and New Year, and in 2026 it added five campervan bays.

Please don't wild camp. There is no right to wild camp anywhere in England except Dartmoor. Camping, barbecues and fires are not allowed on the Stanage estate, there are no-camping signs on the Roaches, and wild campers at Padley Gorge get moved on. If you want to try wild camping, read our Lake District wild camping guide instead.

Peak District walks with kids, pushchairs and bumps

I did several of these walks while pregnant, so I wrote a separate post about camping while pregnant. Padley Gorge, the Roaches and Stanage Edge were all fine for me in my second trimester.

• Pushchair-friendly: the flat path along Ladybower Reservoir, and the wider tracks around the Longshaw meadows.
• Carrier only: Padley Gorge, Lud's Church and the climb up to Stanage Edge. They are rocky and muddy in places.
• Keep little ones close: on the Roaches ridge and along Stanage Edge, as the drops are sheer.

We have used our Out n About Nipper on rough paths in the Peak District and the Lake District, and it handles mud and grass really well. You can read my honest Out n About Nipper review.

What to pack

The weather on the edges changes quickly. Pack waterproofs, an extra warm layer, snacks and plenty of water. We also take an emergency GPS device on all our hikes, as signal can be patchy. The Garmin inReach Mini is one I recommend in my guide to personal locator beacons.

Looking for more waterfalls? Padley Gorge is also in our list of the best waterfall hikes in the UK.

FAQ

What is the best walk in the Peak District for beginners?

Padley Gorge is a great first walk. It starts at Grindleford station, the loop is about 7 km, and the waterfalls and woods keep it interesting. The short climb to Stanage Edge from Hollin Bank or Hooks Carr is another easy option with big views.

Can you do Peak District walks without a car?

Yes. The Hope Valley line between Sheffield and Manchester stops at Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope and Edale. The 271/272 bus also runs from Sheffield to Castleton via Hathersage, roughly hourly.

Is parking free in the Peak District?

Not at most popular walks. As of 2026, Stanage Edge costs £1.50–£4.75 and Longshaw £6–£8. A few small lay-bys are free, like the one above Padley Gorge, but they fill early.

Can you wild camp in the Peak District?

No, not without the landowner's permission. There is no right to wild camp in England outside Dartmoor, and camping is banned on the Stanage estate and the Roaches. Use a campsite instead.

Which is your favourite Peak District walk? Let me know in the comments!