The best walks in Derbyshire and the Peak District [2026]

I absolutely love the Peak District National Park and I am lucky enough to have lived in Derbyshire for most of my life with some spectacular scenery and countryside right on my doorstep. My favourite things to do on a weekend or in an evening is explore a trail, hike a peak or watch the sunset from somewhere beautiful.

After a pleasant hike, why not choose a unique souvenir to commemorate the experience? Enamel Pin Badges are an excellent choice. Badges can be customised to feature Derbyshire and Peak District elements as a personalised memento of your hike.

Here are some of the best walks in Derbyshire and the Peak District.

The best Derbyshire reservoir walks

I love being by the water but unfortunately Derbyshire is probably the furthest you can get from the sea in the UK. Luckily, we still have plenty of water around, and there are some really nice reservoir walks in the county.

Carsington Water

The walk at Carsington Water is 8.5 miles of easy walking on paths through fields and woodland around the reservoir.

This circular walk begins and ends at the visitor centre and is also a great for cycling. Bike hire is available on site.

On site at Carsington Water is also a visitor centre (perfect if you’re visiting with kids), a cafe and a wildlife hide where you can spot birds.

After your walk around Carsington Reservoir, pop over to the nearby market town of Ashbourne which is full of historical buildings, independent shops and good pubs – perfect for an afternoon of pottering.

Linacre Reservoirs

There are three reservoirs at Linacre and they’re surrounded by fields and bluebell woods. There’s a five mile walk around Linacre Reservoir following paths and lanes through woodland and farmland.

If you’re not quite up to a five miler then you can loop around the reservoirs to make your walk much shorter. This is one of my favourite Derbyshire walks, it’s perfect for an afternoon amble.

There are some great pubs to visit once you’ve finished this walk too. Pop into The Peacock at Cutthorpe for a delicious fish finger sandwich, or The Peacock at Barlow for a glass of fizz on the terrace while you take in some spectacular countryside views.

A Christmas Eve tradition of ours is to do the Linacre Reservoir walk followed by lunch at The Tickled Trout at Barlow, a cosy gastro pub which serves amazing sourdough pizzas. All of these pubs are dog friendly.

Ladybower Reservoir

Stunning is the word for the almost-alpine scenery surrounding Ladybower Reservoir. During autumn, the oranges and golds of the trees is just gorgeous and it looks more like the Lake District than the Peak District.

There’s a simple 5.5 mile walk which circles the reservoir and is really easy to navigate. There’s a path all the way round, you just need to cross the reservoir via the Ashopton Viaduct.

We followed this route, although we soon realised we wouldn’t really need the map.

We parked at Fairholmes Visitor Centre and it was £3 for a couple of hours (which is probably enough to do the walk, if you’re quick) and £5 for the whole day. You can also pay inside the visitor centre which is really helpful as we only had cards.

There is also parking on the side of the road leading up to here which I think is free.

There are toilets at the visitor centre (an absolutely must for me, both before and after the walk!) and a cafe serving snacks like pasties, hot dogs and jacket potatoes as well as cakes and ice creams.

The best Derbyshire trails

Cromford Canal

I love visiting Cromford Canal on a summer’s evening. Pick up some fish and chips from one of the chip shops in nearby Cromford and enjoy them on a picnic bench by the canal.

There is a pay and display car park at Cromford Wharf or you can sometimes park on the road before you turn into the car park which is free.

You can do a straight-line walk from Cromford to Ambergate and back again, all the way along the canal.

There is also a circular walk you can do here which goes to Black Rocks and then back through Cromford village. Black Rocks is a great spot to watch the sunset too if you time your walk right.

Farley Moor

If you like woodland walks, then this one is for you. There are plenty of woodland trails to explore and it’s perfect for dogs as well.

Head to Farley Hill, just outside of Matlock and then there is a small parking area where you can leave you car and get exploring. You can walk through the woods and down into the town of Matlock where there are plenty of cafes to stop for an afternoon tea or pubs for a mid-walk pint, plus lots of vintage shops to explore.

As Matlock is located in a valley, there are steep hills to descend and ascend again to get back to your starting point.

If you want to make a night of it, you can stay at the nearby Darwin Forest in a luxury lodge with a hot tub.

Monsal Trail

This is a lovely flat trail which runs along the old Midland Railway line. Park in Bakewell and start the trail at the Hassop Station Cafe with a hot drink.

You’ll walk through former railway tunnels and you can take a slight detour when you reach Monsal Head to take in some spectacular views of the Monsal Dale valley and have a well earned pint or glass of wine at The Stable Bar. There’s also sometimes an ice cream van here in summer so we’ve even just driven up for an ice cream with a view when we haven’t quite felt up to a walk.

After your walk you can have a lovely wander through Bakewell. It’s full of independent shops, cosy pubs and the River Wye runs through the town so you can walk over one of the lovely bridges which crosses this.

Five Pits Trail

The Five Pits Trail is the nearest trail to Clay Cross in North Derbyshire and so I often walk Alfie here when the weather is good. There are some circular walks which vary from 2.5 to 5.5 miles in length and take in Holmewood Woodlands and Williamthorpe Local Nature Reserve.

Tissington Trail

The Tissington Trail is a 13 mile footpath near Ashbourne in Derbyshire. You can walk the trail or there is a circular walk which leaves the trail and crosses open fields, descending to Fenny Bentley.

The walk starts and ends in the beautiful village of Tissington where there’s a cafe and you can finish off your walk with a prosecco.

The best Peak District peaks

Well, where do you think the Peak District got its name from?! There are a couple of great peaks in Derbyshire which are perfect for those days when you just feel like challenging yourself.

Kinder Scout

Kinder Scout is the only actual mountain in the Peak District, standing at 2087ft. When the skies are clear, you can see Manchester and even Snowdonia from the top.

It’s also home to Kinder Downfall, a 30 metre waterfall which is pretty spectacular.

For an eight mile loop, park at Bowden Bridge Car Park. If the car park is full, there is also plenty of parking on the road.

There are a couple of routes you can do from here. One goes up to the plateau via Mermaid’s Pool.

A route that I did recently goes up via Hayfield and then back round Kinder Reservoir. It was so windy that Kinder Downfall was actually inverted – the waterfall was blowing upwards instead of down – which was really an amazing sight.

Mam Tor

For a slightly gentler peak, I would recommend the Mam Tor circular walk which starts with the peak and some spectacular views and then takes you to Castleton and back through the Limestone Way.

Castleton is also a brilliant village for a pub stop!

One of my favourite walks in the Peak District starts at Castleton visitor centre where you can park all day for £6. From here, you climb up to the top of Mam Tor (a bit more challenging from here as there is a longer, uphill start to get the legs burning!), across to Back Tor and Losehill as you look over the Great Ridge and then back to Hope village and then on to Castleton.

Don’t forget to take a picture at the top of Mam Tor with the trig point.

Thorpe Cloud

This is a great starter hill if you’re new to hiking. There is a short route with a steep climb to the top and a bit of scrambling along the rocky outcrop ridge.

There are great views from the top and you can reward yourself with an ice cream when you get down!

Full Thorpe Cloud route here.

Win Hill

Win Hill is a gorgeous spot in the Peak District with some spectacular views over Ladybower Reservoir and the Great Ridge. It’s even more beautiful during heather season around the end of August.

For a short, sharp walk, park at Hope train station (or in the village) and head to the top of the hill. It’s usually pretty windy at the top so be sure to pack an extra layer.

The best Peak District edges

Stanage Edge

Stanage Edge is a gritstone escarpment in the Peak District and you’ll often find climbers taking advantage of the stone cliffs. There is an eight mile circular walk which starts in the village of Hathersage, walking through fields and woodlands up to the edge where you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the Derwent and Hope Valleys, Kinder Scout and Mam Tor.

We were lucky in that during our most recent walk there. It was very foggy and the fog started to lift as we got up onto the edge which made it pretty spectacular.

The best circular Peak District walks

Baslow to Chatsworth circular

One of the best walks in the White Peak, the limestone plateau that forms the central and southern part of the Peak District. This is a beautiful 10 mile walk taking in some incredible sights of the Peak District.

There are stunning views – like this one from this rock and the view of the Chatsworth Estate from Hunting Tower – plus you get to walk back through Chatsworth along the river which is lovely on a warm day. There is even a waterfall at one point!

Park in the Nether End car park in Baslow for this one and then head up the hill towards the Hunting Tower. The initial terrain is a little boggy, especially after rain, as it’s more woodland and then it opens up to beautiful views at the top.

The Hunting Tower makes a great stop for a picnic. Once you’ve refuelled head down to Chatsworth (passing the waterfall on your way!) and then walk back to Baslow along the river.

If you’ve already tried this route, have a look at another Baslow to Chatsworth circular walk here. This one goes through the estate villages of Pilsley and Edensor and there’s even a coffee stop along the way.

The Edale Skyline

Not one for the faint-hearted, the Edale Skyline route is one of the most challenging walks in the Peak District. If you’re looking for a long-distance walk then this one ticks all the boxes.

It takes around nine hours to complete and is around 20 miles long. The route takes in some of the most popular peaks including Kinder plateau, Mam Tor, Win Hill and Lose Hill.

The walk starts and finishes in Hope, where you can park at the train station for the day at a cost of just £1. There is also parking in the village.

If you get a clear day, you will be rewarded for your efforts with spectacular 360 degree views of the beautiful Peak District and you can even see all the way to Manchester. The best time of year to do this walk is in late August when the heather season is in full swing.

Chatsworth and Edensor walk

If you fancy Chatsworth but a 10 miler is a bit far for you, there’s a much shorter circular walk that you can do here. This four mile walk follows paths on the Chatsworth estate taking you through the villages of Edensor and Calton Lees.

We followed this walk, just modifying slightly as we parked in Edensor rather than the Calton Lees car park.

You can park for free in front of the church, however it can get busy on weekends. From the church, head uphill through the village and take the Calton Lees footpath to the right.

You emerge onto open parkland where, if you’re lucky enough, you’ll be able to spot herds of deer and maybe even a stag! This walk also has spectacular views of Chatsworth House and, if the weather permits, you can even go wild swimming in the river.

Padley Gorge circular walk

Another beautiful Peak District walk, Padley Gorge is an Instagram favourite. It’s especially nice to visit during late summer when the heather is out and the hills are transformed to a beautiful purple colour, or in autumn so you can see some spectacular colours.

Park at the Longshaw Estate pay and display car park (free for National Trust members) where there are toilets and a cafe. From the Longshaw Estate, the walk crosses the road to Padley Gorge where you’ll see beautiful woodland to the left and a babbling brook to the right – the perfect place to stop for some pictures!

Further along the way you’ll find great views of Mam Tor and Lose Hill before some steep up-hill walking to get to Surprise View which is above Hathersage. It’s one of the best views in the Peak District and provides a great place to watch the sunset from.

If you don’t have time for the walk, there’s a car park just below here so you can walk up with a couple of glasses of fizz to enjoy the sunset!

From here you’ll descend back to Longshaw where you can refuel with a bacon butty and a cuppa.

Ashover Rock

This is a really nice circular route which takes in some great views from Ashover Rock before ambling through nearby villages and woodland. Parking is free on the road in Ashover village and there’s also a free car park at Ashover Parish Hall which is just opposite to where the walk starts.

Start this five mile route on a footpath just next to the Black Swan Inn. From here, it’s a bit of a hike up to Ashover Rock where you’ll be rewarded with views over the surrounding towns and villages.

There’s a circular pointer map to help you to distinguish the sights.

Take the path to the rear of Ashover Rock and then through the village of Littlemoor before going towards Fallgate. You’ll pass a flooded quarry which I never knew was there!

After this, there’s a woodland walk before you arrive back in Ashover.

The walk finishes at one of my favourite pubs, The Old Poet’s Corner in Ashover. This is a classic old man pub that’s super cosy with roaring fires and they serve amazing food. I love their pie and chips!

Eyam and Stoney Middleton

This is a nice three and a half miler with a bit of an incline which allows you to take in two beautiful Peak District villages – Eyam and Stoney Middleton. Park at the car park opposite Eyam Museum and grab a coffee from the Eyam Tea Room to start off with.

From here you walk through the historic plague village and then through a field to the boundary stone where food was left for the villagers. Then you’ll walk through Stoney Middleton and back to Eyam through a steep path to the woods.

When we went it was snowing which really made the walk feel magical and festive.

Elton and Robin Hood’s Stride

This short walk is just over three miles in length but takes in lots of historical features including a Bronze Age stone circle and some 12th century religious carvings. There’s a bit of a hill at the end too so you can really get the blood pumping!

Explore the full Elton and Robin Hood’s Stride route here.

Matlock to Matlock Bath

There are a couple of different options for this walk. If you want a non-muddy, easy-going option then just follow the A6 from Matlock to Matlock Bath.

Although this is by the roadside, it’s still pleasant going and you can pop into shops and pubs along the way.

Head to Hall Leys Park in Matlock first and grab a coffee from the Cafe in the Park to walk with.

However, if you’re looking for something a little more challenging then there is a six mile route which will take you over the cliffs for some spectacular views. Start in Hall Leys Park in Matlock and cross the river before heading up onto High Tor.

Up here there is an option to take the route along Giddy Edge, a cliff-edge route which is not for the faint hearted!

If you don’t fancy that, you can take another path and eventually make your way down into Matlock Bath. Once here, head up towards the Temple Hotel and follow the waymarkers back to Matlock.

Check out the full Matlock to Matlock Bath route here.

Linear walks in Derbyshire

Matlock to Darley Dale riverside walk

This linear walk can be made longer by walking to Darley Dale from Matlock and heading back again. If it’s more of a stroll you’re after then you can catch the bus back from Darley Dale after around three miles.

Start by the river in Matlock where you may be lucky enough to see an otter! After this you cross a couple of fields before arriving in Darley Dale.

Once here you can grab a pint at the Square and Compass or head to the Whitworth park for a cuppa and a slice of cake.

Explore the full Matlock to Darley Dale route here.

That’s my pick of the best walks in Derbyshire and the Peak District. If you’ve managed to tick all of these off then check out my favourite walks in Chesterfield. Have I missed any out? Let me know in the comments!

Places to stay in Derbyshire and the Peak District