Last Updated on February 8, 2024 by Natalia
Stanage Edge is an impressive gritstone cliff with some incredible views of the English countryside, perfect for a walk in the Peak District. It’s home to some of the best views in the Peak District, and is conveniently within walking distance of both Higger Tor and Bamford Edge. At its highest point, known as High Neb, Stanage Edge stands at 25 metres tall. The cliff stretches for around 3.5 miles and is home to stunning views, Robin Hood’s Cave, millstones, rock formations and more. You may even recognise Stanage Edge from the iconic cliff scene in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. It’s a surprisingly easy walk too, which is why it’s on our list of easy Peak District walks! Find out everything you need to know before you visit with this guide to the Stanage Edge walk in the Peak District!
Stanage Edge Parking
There are several options for parking near Stanage Edge, with the closest being the Hollin Bank Car Park, at postcode S32 1BR. Parking at the Hollin Bank Car Park costs £5 for the day, but make sure to bring coins as it isn’t possible to pay by card.
Stanage Edge Parking Postcode – S32 1BR
The closest free parking near to Stanage Edge is the Hook’s Carr Car Park. It’s only a short walk up to the cliff from here, making it the most convenient option if you’re looking for a free car park.
Alternatively, there is also free parking available at the Upper Burbage Car Park, but it’s not as close as the two options above. It’s around a 20-30 minute from the Upper Burbage Car Park to Stanage Edge, but it’s a good option if you want to take a longer walk to visit other nearby spots like Higger Tor or Bamford Edge.
Walking Routes
Stanage Edge walk from Hollin Bank Car Park
Walk to the rear of the Hollin Bank Car Park where you will find a path leading up to Stanage Edge. The path can be quite steep at times, particularly towards the end, and it will lead you through a woodland area towards the cliffs.
As you follow the path you will get some views of the cliffs from below, and after a 10-15 minute hike you should reach the Stanage Edge clifftop. It’s up to you whether you turn left or right at the top, with both ways offering the chance to enjoy some brilliant views from the cliffs.
The gritstone cliffs of Stanage Edge extend for a length of approximately 3.5 miles. As the path up leads you to the middle of the cliffs you will need to decide if you want to explore one direction or both.
We personally recommend turning to the right and walking for around 2 kilometres, which will take you to the end of the cliffs. The stretch of Stanage Edge to the right is home to the more impressive cliffs, with some large rock formations at the cliff edge.
There is also the chance to visit Robin Hood’s Cave, a small cave on the edge of the cliff. The cave is well marked on Google Maps and maps.me – a helpful offline map app. It’s a bit of a squeeze to get in, and there is water in the cave so make sure to have suitable footwear.
As you walk along Stanage Edge you get some wonderful views of the Peak District’s countryside, as well as the cliffs themselves. There are a few large rocks near the cliff edge, which you can climb on top of if you want to get some photos or a different vantage point.
When you reach the trig point (triangulation pillar) you have pretty much reached one end of Stanage Edge where you can loop back round. At this point you can turn back and head the way you came towards the car park.
If you want to extend your walk then you can continue on and follow the path to the left, instead of the right. This section still offers some lovely views, but the cliffs aren’t quite as impressive in our opinion.
Stanage Edge Walk from Hook’s Carr Car Park
After parking at the Hook’s Carr Car Park you need to find the opening in the wall to a path which leads up to Stanage Edge. The path isn’t particularly steep, and will lead you up to the clifftop after around a 10 minute walk.
From this point it’s actually worth walking both to the left and to the right to enjoy the best Stanage Edge has to offer. It’s up to you which way to turn first, just make sure that you walk both ways as otherwise you’ll definitely be missing out. The rock formations to the right are particularly impressive, whilst the views and Robin Hood’s Cave to the left are also highlights of Stanage Edge.
Wander along the cliff edge enjoying the views and taking plenty of photos of the stunning scenery. Keep an eye out for climbers as you walk, as Stanage Edge is one of the most popular rock climbing spots in the Peak District!
When you’re ready, make your way back down to the car park using the path you took earlier. It’s a relatively short walk if you just visit Stanage Edge itself, but if you fancy something longer than try the circular loop below.
Stanage Edge circular walk from Upper Burbage Car Park
If you park in the Upper Burbage Bridge Car Park then we recommend doing a circular walk to Stanage Edge via Higger Tor. It’s also possible to do a similar circular walk from the other car parks, but you’ll just have to amend the route depending on where you start from.
As you enter the Upper Burbage Bridge Car Park there is a gate on the left hand side. This gate marks the start of the public footpath to Higger Tor, and once you go through it take the path to the right.
It’s a relatively easy 15 minute walk from there to Higger Tor, and once you’re at the top you get some lovely views of the Peak District. If you want to then you can continue on for another 10-15 minutes to the nearby Carl Wark – an Iron Age hill fort.
After that, head back towards the Upper Burbage Bridge Car Park from Higger Tor. Before long you will see a path to your left leading to the road. Take this path and then climb over the stile into the field on the other side of the road.
Cross through the field and after a while you will come to another stile by The Dale road. Climb over this stile and cross the road to the footpath opposite which leads up to Stanage Edge.
The path will lead you near to the trig point at Stanage Edge, and from there you can walk along the clifftop to enjoy the brilliant views and rock formations. Once you’ve walked as far along the cliffs as you want you’ll need to turn back and walk towards the trig point.
Instead of going back the way you came, there is a path that leads slightly to the left as you reach the end of Stanage Edge. This path involves a bit of scrambling and leads you down to join Ringinglow road, at which point you’re around 100 metres from where you parked at the Upper Burbage Bridge Car Park.
To view other Stanage Edge walks click here to see them on AllTrails!
Tips for visiting Stanage Edge Walk
Rock climbing – There are a number of climbing routes up Stanage Edge, as it’s one of the most popular spots for rock climbing in the Peak District. If you want to give rock climbing a go then visit the Lost Earth Adventures website to book an experience day or climbing course.
Stanage Edge walk difficulty – The hardest part of the walk is the path up to the clifftop, but even then it’s not particularly tough. It’s an easy walk along the clifftop at Stanage Edge itself, but just be wary that the path can be uneven at times.
Hathersage village – Hathersage is the closest village to Stanage Edge, so it’s a convenient place to stop off before or after your walk. There are a number of shops, restaurants, pubs and a bakery, so it’s an ideal stop if you need a bite to eat.
How to get to Stanage Edge using public transport – It’s possible to get to Stanage Edge on public transport, with the easiest option being the train from Sheffield or Manchester to the nearby village of Hathersage. The alternative is to take the 272 bus from either Sheffield or Castleton to Hathersage, and to walk to Stanage Edge from there.
To visit other beautiful places in the Peak District make sure to visit Thor’s Cave, Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill!
Please note that some links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This money is used to support this website and cover the costs of keeping it online and free to access!
Like this guide to the Stanage Edge walk in the Peak District? Pin it!
