Last Updated on March 1, 2024 by Natalia
Easy walks in the Peak District are more common than you might think. The area is home to impressive hills and valleys, which you might imagine means you’ll need to be prepared for some tough hikes and long climbs. Thankfully though, there are several easy walks in the area, including at popular spots like Dovedale, Mam Tor and Thor’s Cave. A number of these walks even take you to some wonderful viewpoints – some of which feature on our list of the best views in the Peak District. Check out our guide to 7 easy Peak District walks below!
To do these easy Peak District walks having your own transport is essential, if you don’t have one click here to check out rental car prices in the area!
Easy Peak District Walks
Dovedale
Dovedale is a great option if you’re looking for an easy walk in the Peak District. For the most part, it’s one of the flattest walks in the Peak District, aside from a small section in the middle.
Owned by the National Trust, Dovedale is a valley that is home to some beautiful scenery. There are a number of different walks to enjoy in the valley, with the easiest one being the walk from the car park to Milldale.
The walk to Milldale is one of the most popular and easy South Peak District walks. It leads through the valley alongside the River Dove, crossing the famous Dovedale stepping stones and passing by some lovely nature on the way. Once you’ve reached Milldale we recommend visiting Polly’s Cottage for a drink or bite to eat.
The Dovedale Car Park offers free parking for National Trust members, but non-members will need to pay £5 for 4 hours or £7 for the whole day. Payment for parking is currently cash only. For more information on the facilities at Dovedale visit the National Trust website.
Cave Dale
If you only pick one of the easy Peak District walks on this list, we’d suggest making it the walk at Cave Dale. It’s home to some fantastic scenery, and it’s the least busy spot on this list so there’s a good chance you’ll have the place to yourself – so add it to your list if you’re looking for quiet walks in the Peak District!
A footpath cuts through the middle of the dale, with steep valley cliffs towering either side. As you walk through Cave Dale you have some amazing views, both in front and behind you – so make sure to take a good look around as you go!
The path is at an incline, but the uphill section only lasts for around 15 minutes and isn’t too steep. After a while you’ll turn off to the right so you can walk to the viewpoint overlooking Cave Dale.
From there you can enjoy some stunning views of one of the Peak District’s hidden gems. You’ll also be able to enjoy views of the nearby Peveril Castle during your walk.
The walk starts in the village of Castleton, and in total takes around 30 minutes to reach the viewpoint above the dale. We put together a guide to the Cave Dale walk to cover everything you need to know before you visit!
Stanage Edge
The walk up and along the cliffs of Stanage Edge is another of the Peak District’s easy walks. With the clifftop stretching for around 3.5 miles it’s one of the longer walks on the list, but for the most part it’s relatively flat and without any overly steep sections.
There are a couple of car parks conveniently located nearby – the Hollin Bank Car Park and the Hook’s Carr Car Park.
From the cliffs of Stanage Edge you get impressive views of the seemingly endless countryside of the Peak District. There are also some interesting rock formations, millstones on the trail below the cliff and the somewhat hidden Robin Hood’s Cave near the clifftop.
With the cliffs stretching for some distance you can easily have a walk of an hour or more if you want to, enjoying various different viewpoints as you go. It’s also possible to do one of the circular walks of the Peak District encompassing both Stanage Edge and Higger Tor if you want to extend your walk further.
Our guide to the Stanage Edge walk covers everything you need to know before you visit!
Higger Tor
The short walk to Higger Tor is another good option for an easy walk in the Peak District. Free parking is available nearby at the Upper Burbage Bridge Car Park, and from there it’s only a 10-15 minute walk.
It’s a short circular easy walk, but it’s worth it for the lovely views of the Peak District’s countryside and the impressive rock formations at Higger Tor. You can climb some of the larger rocks if you want to enjoy views of the scenery from a different perspective.
If you fancy making the walk slightly longer, you can also visit the nearby Carl Wark – an Iron Age hill fort. It’s around another 10-minute walk from Higger Tor, so it can easily be added on to your walk.
Alternatively, if you fancy a longer walk you can do a circular walk of Higger Tor and Stanage Edge, or even Bamford Edge if you want to.
Find out more before you visit with our guide to the Higger Tor walk!
Winnats Pass
Winnats Pass is a stunning limestone gorge that is home to one of the most scenic roads in the Peak District. It’s just a short distance from both Mam Tor and Cave Dale, which is ideal if you want to visit several spots in one day.
There are two possible walks at Winnats Pass – one is more of a hike up and over the pass, and the other is a much easier walk directly through the pass itself. Make sure to stick to the walk directly through the pass unless you want a challenge!
The route is easier if you’re walking downhill through the pass, towards the village of Castleton. If you walk away from Castleton it is uphill, so can be a bit of a workout over the course of the whole pass.
Walking through the pass itself you get some wonderful views of the towering hills both sides of the road. We actually did the hike over Winnats Pass and found that the views from above weren’t as impressive as those when walking through the pass.
Mam Tor
Mam Tor is one of the most famous hills in the Peak District, yet perhaps surprisingly, the walk up is pretty easy. It’s a relatively steady ascent and never gets particularly steep, but you still get some wonderful views from the top.
The walk to the summit only takes around 15 minutes from the Mam Tor car park, so it’s a relatively short walk. At the top you get some lovely views of nearby hills and the Peak District’s countryside, and as the walk is relatively easy there’s no excuse for not doing it!
If you want a longer walk you may want to consider the Great Ridge Walk, which can be done as a circular walk from Mam Tor to Lose Hill and then back to where you started. It’s a much longer walk, so you may want to consider only doing part of it and then turning back if you don’t want anything too strenuous.
Parking at the Mam Tor Car Park is free for National Trust members, or costs £3.50 for non-members. It’s conveniently located right next to the walk up the hill, which helps to make it one of the easiest walks in the Peak District.
Thor’s Cave
One of the best short walks in the Peak District is to Thor’s Cave in the Manifold Valley. It’s around a 15-20 minute walk to the cave from the public footpath off Leek Road.
The walk is slightly downhill for most of the way, and then as you get nearer there is a steeper downhill section and then an uphill section which leads to the cave. Although it is a little steep, it’s still relatively easy going as it’s only for a short distance.
As you approach Thor’s Cave you get some lovely views of the cave towering above the valley below. It’s a bit of a scramble to get into the cave itself, and it can be slippery if it’s been raining, but it’s worth it to enjoy the view from inside.
After spending some time inside, make sure to walk up the path to the viewpoint above the cave. From the top of Thor’s Cave you get some beautiful views of the Manifold Valley. It’s not only an easy walk to do in the Peak District but one of our favourites!
Make sure to read our guide to visiting Thor’s Cave if you’re planning to enjoy this easy Peak District walk!
Where to stay in the Peak District
The H Boutique Hotel
The H Boutique Hotel is a great base for exploring the Peak District, due to its convenient location in the centre of Bakewell. Rooms are comfortable and spacious, which is perfect for unwinding after a day on your feet.
There are a number of shops, restaurants and pubs nearby, and the hotel even has its own restaurant and bar on site. If you’re visiting during summer you’ll be pleased to know that rooms have air conditioning, so you can stay cool no matter how hot it gets outside!
Unfortunately there is no parking available at the hotel, but thankfully there are several car parks in Bakewell you can use instead.
Click here to arrange a stay at the wonderful H Boutique Hotel on Booking.com!
The Brosterfield Suite
The Brosterfield Suite at Brosterfield Farm is a great accommodation option thanks to its central Peak District location. With free parking on site, it’s an ideal place to stay if you’re travelling by car.
Enjoy a comfortable stay as the suite provides a lovely king-size bed, as well as satellite TV. There is even a kitchenette which means you have a fridge freezer available to use during your stay.
Click here to book the impressive Brosterfield Suite on Booking.com!
Alternatively, VRBO have some fantastic accommodation options if you want to rent a property instead of staying at a hotel! Click here to see the amazing options on the VRBO website!
The Peak District is easily visited from nearby Manchester as a day trip or can be included as part of a bigger trip involving both, check out our Manchester itinerary here!
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