5 Easy Peak District Walks For Beginners

Walking has become one of the UK’s most popular and treasured pastimes – and in recent years has even become synonymous with both physical and mental wellbeing. While many people might enjoy walking around their local park or loopline for daily exercise, they may not be confident to embark on more challenging walks. 

When I first started walking, I remember being overwhelmed and worried about how challenging a walk might be or whether or not I might get lost. At first, I would only be comfortable going out on walks in a group and relied heavily on other people to plan and guide us.  

The more I did, the more notice I took of route descriptions, signs posts, and I began looking at maps in more depth. I became a lot more confident with adventuring outdoors – especially completing on my own. The most important factor in improving my confidence came from experimenting with smaller, easier walks. So I decided to come up with 5 easy Peak District walks for beginners (in no particular order) — I have completed and mapped all of these routes myself and each one has something a little different which has put it on this list.   

Baslow Edge | 3 Mile Circular

Baslow Edge is located in the White Peak area of the Peak District National Park and is approximately a mile from Chatsworth House and less than five miles from the picturesque market town of Bakewell. 

The walk takes around two-hours to complete and is mostly flat with some incredible scenery. Just a few minutes walking from the car and you are standing on Baslow Edge looking out over the valley. It is the textbook definition of maximum return for minimum effort. If you are lucky you may also get to see the herd of Highland cows that are often found grazing in the area just past Wellington’s Monument.
   

This three-mile circular makes the list because it combines easy walking with beautiful scenery and wildlife. I often have friends messaging me saying they fancy coming on a walk but are worried they aren’t fit enough for a longer walk – Baslow Edge is always my first recommendation. You also have the option to extend this walk into an eight-mile circular route, taking in White Edge, Froggatt Edge and Curbar Edge as well. Given its proximity to Bakewell, there are also plenty of other routes to discover if you wanted to explore the area more thoroughly.  

Mam Tor | 6 Mile Circular

Mam Tor is effectively the ‘Snowdon’ of the Peak District – one of the busiest and popular walks in the Hope Valley area. It divides the Hope Valley to the south and Edale Valley to the North. 

The route starts out in the busy village of Castleton – a popular tourist attraction with plenty of shops, pubs, cafes and other attractions such as the Devil’s Arse Cavern. Heading up through the start of the Limestone Way the incline is enough to get the blood pumping but not enough to feel like a slog. It is worth noting that in or following bad weather this first section can be wet and slippery due to the rocky nature of the terrain. Once you reach the summit of Mam Tor the Great Ridge is a lovely paved route before dropping back down into Castleton. 

Although for me personally the crowded element of this route is a negative, this route still makes the list because it combines a little bit of technical walking with easy walking and beautiful scenery.  As well as this six-mile circular from Castleton you could also try the 9-mile circular from Edale

Tintwistle Waterfalls | 3.5 Mile Circular

Tintwistle is a small village situated in the Longendale Valley (home of the popular Longendale Trail) in the Dark Peak area of the Peak District National Park. The waterfall walk is somewhat of a legendary walk with locals – it is probably the first thing you are asked if you say you’ve been walking from Tintwistle.

The route takes approximately two-hours to complete and has a couple of slight inclines and potentially a little scramble up a rocky path (literally just pulling yourself up). The seven cascading waterfalls are in pretty quick succession and once you cross over the stream the route back is pleasant and gentle. 

We absolutely loved this walk – for me it is the perfect way to spend a couple of hours without too much exertion. It makes this list because it remains a simple walk, but adds a couple of elements such as a small scramble and crossing a stream – which all help to improve confidence.  

Errwood Reservoir In Goyt Valley | 5 Mile Circular Route

Goyt Valley is another beautiful area of the Peak District National Park and is full of brilliant walks – this one around Errwood Reservoir is a great one for beginners. Goyt Valley is located approximately three-miles from Buxton and is also only a 15-minute drive from The Cat and Fiddle in Macclesfield (the second-highest public house in England). 

This five-mile route takes approximately three hours to complete. Taking you away from the reservoir itself, through some woodland, across some bridges and back around the reservoir. There are some boggy parts when you cross over to the other side of the reservoir but nothing too difficult to deal with. 

Making this list as it isn’t just a simple walk around the outskirts of a reservoir, it gives some different terrain for the walker to deal with and of course has some great views. There is also the option to detour off the route slightly and explore the ruins of Errwood Hall (a great option if you have kids). Errwood Hall was a grand country house built around 1840 and demolished in the 1930s when the reservoirs were constructed. 

Stanton Woodhouse From Rowsley | 3.5 Mile Circular

Starting out from the quaint village of Rowsley this is the perfect route for any beginner walkers. Situated where the River Wye meets the River Derwent and between Bakewell and Matlock there is plenty to see and do in the surrounding area including attractions such as Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall.   

This is a straightforward walk and takes approximately one and a half hours to complete the 3.5-mile route. There is not much in the way of difficulty, it is mostly gentle inclines and country road walking. At the highest point of the walk you have amazing views over toward Matlock and Haddon Hall. 

A perfect route for this list for its simplicity and stunning scenery. The Grouse and Claret located along the A6 right near the car park at the start of this walk also serves breakfast from 7am until 10:30am which is a big plus in my book.