The Best Hikes in the Peak District

Ridge walks, valley rambles and moorland treks – you can find it all in this national park. This article will help you discover more about the Peak District’s very best hikes, whether you just have time for a half-day adventure or are looking for a multi-day long-distance route. 

All of the hikes listed here are on the more challenging end of the spectrum – if you’re new to the outdoors, by all means read on, but you might want to check out our favourite Peak District walks page as a way of getting started.

Half-day hikes in the Peak District

Curbar Edge circular 

Start/end: Curbar Gap car park 

Distance: 6 miles (9.5 km)

Ascent: 380 metres

This moderately challenging and very enjoyable route is located near the small village of Calver in the Derbyshire hills. The trail, which most people will be able to complete in three or four hours, has a great deal of variety, passing through woodlands as well as more open areas. Dog walkers and families with children should take care around the cliff edges and sheer drops on the more elevated sections.

The highlights for most people will be craggy Froggatt and Curbar Edges, but the moorland section is also scenic, particularly when the heather is in bloom. You may also appreciate the possibility of taking a break at The Grouse Inn pub en route. 

The National Trust website has a map and further information.

Lathkill Dale

Start/end: Moor Lane car park 

Distance: 6.8 miles (11 km)

Ascent: 300 metres

This peaceful valley and riverside walk is located in Derbyshire and will take most people three to four hours to complete.

The route heads through the fields down to Lathkill Dale, a nature reserve where you'll pass through hay meadows and woodlands before reaching limestone crags and the river itself, where you'll be rewarded with views of a waterfall. After climbing back out of the dale and passing a café at Over Haddon, the path returns into the valley for a final visit before heading back to the start point of the trail. 

A route map and other guidance is available on the Walk in Derbyshire website.

Higher Shelf Stones Circular

Start/end: Layby by the Pennine Way on Snake Pass/A57 

Distance: 5.8 miles (9.3 km)

Ascent: 490 metres

This route in the north-western Peak District is within easy reach of Manchester and its surrounding towns. It takes you up to the third-highest point in the Peak District and passes the Bleaklow B29 Superfortress plane crash site, where there’s also a memorial that commemorates the 1948 crash. 

After the crash site, the route continues via Lower Shelf Stones, an interesting craggy area, before joining a stream that it runs alongside before you start a new uphill section, which then heads back down to the car park. Although this is a moderate route, there is quite a lot of up and down, which combined with often boggy conditions at the top can mean you need a good few hours to complete the loop. 

Peak District Walks has more information and tips for hiking this trail.

Full-day hikes in the Peak District

Kinder Scout

Start/end: Bowden Bridge car park 

Distance: 8.5 miles (13.7 km)

Ascent: 570 metres

This iconic full-day walking route is one of the most popular in the Peak District. The location of the 1932 Kinder Scout mass trespass, this vast area of upland scenery is now yours to explore. While there are a variety of different trails you can follow here, this route takes approximately 6 or 7 hours, allowing some time for breaks. 

The Kinder Plateau is the highest point in the entire Peak District, and the views from the top are truly spectacular. On your way down, you'll have to cross a stream at the Kinder Downfall, a craggy area popular with climbers and boulderers. While most of the paths are well drained, this section can get boggy, so wear appropriate footwear. 

AllTrails has a full route map.

The Roaches and Lud’s Church 

Start/end: Any of the small car parks along Roach Road 

Distance: 7.7 miles (12.4 km)

Ascent: 425 metres

Located on the western edge of the national park in Staffordshire, this scenic route brings together two local landmarks. The Roaches is a prominent rocky ridge with views over Leek and Tittesworth Reservoir, while Lud's Church is a deep, moss-covered chasm and one of the most atmospheric places in the Peaks.

After a strenuous first couple of kilometres, the route keeps climbing but at a more gentle rate as you approach The Roaches. It then evens out, allowing you to catch your breath and enjoy the far-reaching views, before slowly descending through woodlands where there are various species of trees and birds to spot. After exploring Lud’s Church (take care on wet days, as this rocky area can get slippery when wet), return to the start point along quiet Roach Road. 

Check out photos and user reviews on the AllTrails website/app.

Edale Skyline

Start/end: Mam Nick car park or Hope village centre if you’re coming by train 

Distance: 20 miles (32 km)

Ascent: 1,200 metres

This massive one-day walk is a real challenge and can also be approached as a two-day hike instead. That said, on a summer’s day and in good weather conditions, this high-level route is a joy to walk. Linking together iconic peaks like Mam Tor and Kinder Scout where you’ll see many fellow hikers, it also passes through quieter areas where you’ll likely have the far-reaching views all to yourself. 

This walk is a popular training hike for the Three Peaks Challenge and other tough mountain routes. Several local companies offer guided hiking if you want to take things to the next level but lack the navigation skills to complete the Edale Skyline solo. 

Check out a GPX file of the route on the Plot A Route website.

Multi-day hikes in the Peak District

The Limestone Way

46 miles/74 kilometres

Heading from Castleton in the north to Rocester in the south, this waymarked long-distance route can be enjoyed over four or five days of pleasant walking through the spectacular scenery of the White Peak area of the Peak District National Park. The route of the Limestone Way skirts around most of the biggest hills it passes, with the highest point on the walk being Bradwell Moor at 471 metres, so this is a great route if you prefer flatter trails. 

The route is peaceful without being particularly remote, and there are lots of youth hostels and campsites along the way to help you break your journey. 

The Pennine Way (from Edale to Standedge)

30.5 miles/49 kilometres

This section of the Pennine Way (the whole route is several hundred miles long) links Yorkshire to Derbyshire and summits some of the highest points of the Peak District. The Pennine Way begins in Edale, where it climbs Mam Tor before continuing over Kinder Scout and moorland towards the north.

Best walked in two or three days, this hike requires a good level of fitness (expect about 600 or 700 metres of ascent per day) and good prior planning. Check out the National Trail website for more information about this stunning first section of the Pennine Way.

Looking for more long-distance hikes in the Peak District? There are many multi-day footpaths in the area to choose from – visit The Ramblers website to find out more about the most popular seven options, or the Long Distance Walkers Association for a full list.

Places to stay in the Peak District

Wherever you end up roaming, the Peak District has a wealth of places to stay to help you plan your best hiking holiday yet. Whether you’re looking for simple backpacking pitches, luxury glamping breaks or family-friendly holiday parks, our wide range of Peak District outdoor accommodation options is sure to have something that ticks all your boxes.