theworldbyemstagramThe UK Peak District National Park is home to some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes. Given the current situation you may feel inclined to travel closer to home and find ‘Peak District walks near me’. The Peak District is made up of mostly Derbyshire, but also encompasses parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire
When setting my 2020 Travel Goals, I made a pledge to become better travelled in my own country, which is perfect considering the way travelling has gone this year! I’ve certainly made the effort to check out some of England’s Peak District walking routes. I have always loved this national park, and out of all the places I have travelled to will stick by it as one of my favourite places in the world!
So without further ado here are my pick of top Peak District Walks.
1. Mam Tor Walk
Mam Tor (meaning ‘mother hill’) is a 517m hill in the High Peak of Derbyshire.. The hiking route up Mam Tor can take 1-2 hours. It’s considered one of the most famous walks in the Peak District and the panorama at the summit has been rated as one of the top 10 in England. I totally agree as for me, Mam Tor is one of the best Peak District hikes.
The best starting point for the Mam Tor walk is the beautiful village of Castleton. Check out more Castleton Peak District walks.
2. Thor’s Cave, Wetton
Another unmissable Peak District walk is to Thor’s Cave found in the village of Wetton in Staffordshire. I have no idea who Thor is but he has a phenomenal cave, located in the Manifold Valley. Excavation suggest the cave was occupied as long as 10,000 years ago! And with an entrance that is 7.5m wide and 10m high this really is a must-see sight when walking in the Peak District.
Thor’s Cave is reached by an easy stepped path from the Manifold Way, which takes the site of a former railway line. After exploring inside the cave you can walk up to marvel at the view from on top. Grab a drink and an ice cream at Wetton Mill Tea Rooms before embarking on this amazing Peak District walk.
3. The Roaches
Another of my favourite Peak District walks is at The Roaches. This rocky ridge is found just outside Leek in Staffordshire, overlooking the Leek and Tittesworth reservoir. The jagged and rocky face of The Roaches makes it a popular spot for rock climbers and hikers alike.
Check out this 5.5 mile walk starting at The Roaches tea room
4. Dovedale Stepping Stones Walk
Another great Stafforshire spot in the peaks is the valley of Dovedale. This National Trust owned nature reserve is best known for it’s impressive limestone ravines and rock formations. Dovedale is one of my favourite Peak District walks as it’s home to the scenic Dovedale stepping stones. The carpark at Dovedale will cost you £3 but you can park in the nearby village of Ilam for free, and then make the Ilam to Dovedale walk.
On arrival at Dovedale there is a small café where you can get yourself an ice cream or a drink for the walk. After hopping across the stepping stones you can take the climb up to the summit of Thorpe Cloud, an isolated limestone peak. Follow the blue way markers to ensure you take the safest route up and down, this makes for an excellent circular Peak District walk.
5. Winnats Pass Walk
The last in my list of Peak District walks is the Winnats Pass walk. Winnats Pass is a hill pass and limestone gorge found in the Derbyshire region of the Peak District. With a maximum gradient of over 28%, the pass is definitely worth driving through. You can park your car at the top of the pass, at the side of the road and then walk across a public footpath to view the pass from above. At the foot of the pass you will find the entrance to Speedwell Cavern, a popular tourist attraction.
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed reading about these 5 best Peak District walks. You may have already done some of them or are now inspired to complete them yourself. Let me know about your experiences exploring the Peak District!
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Great post, Emma. I’ve done several of them in the past and love Mam Tor and Winnats Pass.
By the way, Thor is the Norse god of thunder, but I’ve no idea how he came to have a cave near Wetton Mill named after him!
Glad you enjoyed reading the post! Thor’s Cave is one of my favourite spots in the Peak District I think
The peak district is so beautiful! Now staycations seem to be on the cards for the foreseeable future, I’m very keen to check it out.
It really is, definitely one of my favourite places, I’m lucky to have it close by to me
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