Beacon Hill Country Park encompasses a nature area with trails, rustic play equipment for kids, sculptures, an arboretum, and even a rhododendron labyrinth. For me, the rhododendron labyrinth was the top attraction! For some unknown reason, exploring rhododendron dells as a child is a key memory for me, so I'm always happy to come across one, and this one has easily walkable paths cut through it…
Lying just behind The Druid Inn in the village of Birchover is a fascinating cave complex known as Rowtor Rocks. It consists of numerous interlinked tunnels and caverns, some natural and some man-made. A series of steps, thrones and altars have also been carved out of the stone around the place. There are plenty of opportunities for climbing, hiding, and adventures... but do watch the children as this is a…
Stanton Moor is an area of gritstone that stands between the villages of Stanton in Peak to the north and Birchover to the south. It contains the remains of 2 definite stone circles (Nine Ladies and Doll Tor) and 3 other possible circles or ring cairns (Stanton Moor North, Central and South), as well as Earl Grey Tower, and the cork stone (climb it if you can). All of these are held in an environment that…
Resting on windswept moors and in shady woodlands throughout the Peak District are more than a thousand abandoned millstones, covered with lichen and moss, weather-worn and often hidden to all that pass by. Lawrencefield is one of the places where you can find hundreds of them! These huge stone ‘wheels’ are so synonymous with the Peak District that ornamental versions grace every sign on key routes into…
I wouldn't go out of my way to see Owler Tor, but as it's between two beautiful spots - Padley Gorge and Lawrencefield - we stopped on the way back from Lawrencefield. The fog rolled in making views impossible, but adding an atmospheric feel to what was an otherwise unremarkable place. To visit, we parked in a layby on the B6521 (53°18'40.0"N 1°37'05.5"W). There are steps…
Padley Gorge is only a stone's throw from civilization, but it certainly doesn't feel like it. Walking from the moorlands into the ravine tumbles you through wizened woodlands, little changed in centuries; ferns and mushrooms flourish in the damp ground; Burbage Brook's cascades and falls providing the sound of an ancient song flowing through the depths; with the occasional millstone, abandoned long ago, reminding you of forgotten…
Stanage Edge is a gritstone escarpment, famous as a location for climbing If you wander beneath many of the Peak District's edges, you will see reminders of the area's history - large millstones abandoned on the ground. Stanage Edge is one of those places. Continue past the millstones and up to the top of Stanage Edge and you can wander along the ridge, soaking in the far-reaching…
This is one walk that I can't provide an accurate map for - we did so much crossing the river and scrambling up and down gorge walls, all at points I can't locate or recommend, that it would be impossible for me even to attempt to retrace my path. It was, however, a lovely day for us! It is a beautiful walk even if you don't…
After visiting Errwood Hall ruins, we headed down to the reservoir to enjoy the afternoon relaxing in the sun. Once the sun started to dip, we took a walk down the River Goyt that joins the reservoir. To visit, we parked at Errwood Hall car park (53°16’13.2″N 1°58’59.0″W) and walked.
If you're in the area visiting Lud's Church and fancy a longer walk back, why not continue along Back Forest Ridge to Hanging Stone? Not a feature I would travel to visit on its own, (there were plenty of 'oh look, another rock' jokes on this trip) but the views alone are worth the extra walk if you're in the area. The Rock is thought to…
Lud's Church is a magical little gorge, the closest I've found to a UK equivalent of California's Fern Canyon, although on a much smaller scale. The surrounding environment is very different too - instead of a sandy beach approach, a walk through moorlands leads you into Back Forest, and from here you descend into the deep green shadows that replace the bright and expansive surrounding landscape.…
Thor’s Cave is a natural cavern set in a steep limestone crag, with its huge arched entrance easily visible (and accessible) from the footpath below. To visit park in () and walk along the path, keeping the river to your left, to the bridge (53°05'35.0"N 1°51'14.8"W). Cross and take the path upwards.