This Cressbrook Dale walk is a walk to keep in your back pocket for a rainy day. One of those days when you’ve tried to stay indoors, but everyone is bouncing off the walls and you just need to get outside. The trees here provide shelter, it’s in a quiet location, and it’s a short easy walk. Bring the wellies!
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If you are planning a visit to the National Park, please arrive early or late in the day to avoid crowds if visiting over sunny weekends or school holidays. Please also take all litter home with you, don’t bring BBQs and park your car in designated parking areas. Also, please use these walks as a guide; access and stiles may change.
During the winter months, it’s important to be extra prepared and safe when out walking and adventuring in the Peak District. The weather can change so quickly, especially on the exposed escarpments, and we don’t want you to get caught out.
Read our top tips for safe winter walking with the kids.
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PARKING INFORMATION: Please do not rely solely on the postcode for parking directions. In the National Park, a postcode can cover a large area. Postcodes are only provided as guidance. Please either use the Google Maps point provided for every walk, or what3words.
Do check out our top tips for hiking with young kids, as well as our essential items to take on a family hike in the Peak District.
Download and print out our walking guides ready for your family walk. There are over 80 downloadable walk guides available, and these include all the main Peak District family walks, pram-friendly walks, and toddler walks.
Each printable download is just £1.50, whether it’s a short 1km stroll or an epic walk up Kinder Scout.
Cressbrook Dale walk map
On all Peak District family walks it’s a good idea to have an Ordnance Survey paper map with you, even if you have your phone on you. For this walk you need the OS Explorer Active Map OL 24 (White Peak). It’s also a good opportunity to show young kids the map features and get them started with map reading.
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The Peak District: White Peak Area Map | Weatherproof | Peak… |
£14.75 |
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This route follow a clockwise direction.
Get a printable download of this walk
Want to print off this walk guide rather than rely on your mobile? Then click here to download the PDF to print out at home. Perhaps print out a copy for the kids to follow the step-by-step directions and/or photos? It’s a great way to get them engaged with the walk and gives them a sense of responsibility.
All printable downloads are £1.50 each. Click here for the full list of Peak District Kids printable downloads.
Please note that your download link expires 72 hours from order, so make sure you save your PDF somewhere where you’ll remember it. If you are unsure where your download folder is on your mobile device, we recommend you download the PDF on your laptop or desktop.
Need to know
DISTANCE OF WALK: 1.8km / 1.1 miles
TYPE OF WALK: circular woodland walk
PARKING: Free parking at a roadside layby, right on the corner of a steep bend. Please do not park directly in front of footpath. Click here for Google Map point, postcode SK17 8SX.
WALK HIGHLIGHTS: A quiet woodland walk away from the tourist hot spots.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Without kids this is a 45 minute walk. Allow at least an hour with young kids.
TOTAL ASCENT: 66 metres
FACILITIES: There are no toilets or eateries on this walk.
The route
START: Layby outside Cressbrook
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: SK 1708 7345
Post code: SK17 8SX
what3words: ///prep.enlighten.removal
Route follows a clockwise direction.
1. Follow the clear footpath from the parking area, to the right of the chevron sign. Continue straight ahead through the trees.
2. At the footpath junction seen in the photo below, take the footpath that leads straight ahead to the gate.
3. Walk through the wooden gate on the left and straight ahead. Here the woodland opens to a clearing.
4. Follow the footpath through the meadow and downwards to the brook. It can get a little slippy on the latter section in the rain.
5. Take a right at this footpath junction below.
6. Follow this footpath for 300 metres until you reach a gate.
7. Walk alongside the fence for 100 metres until you reach a tarmac lane and Ravensdale Cottages.
8. Continue following the lane for 460 metres up to the road. Then take a right, and walk up the road for 240 metres back to you car.
Peak District Kids is a free online resource. If you have found this website useful for planning your family adventures, you can show your support by buying me a coffee. Thanks so much!
Also, feel free to share your walk photos in our Peak District Kids Facebook Group or on Instagram using the #peakdistrictkids hashtag so we can share with our wider community.
Or perhaps purchase a Peak District Kids iron-on patch. £1 from every sale of the iron-on patches goes towards the Peak District National Park Foundation, a registered charity established to raise funds to care for the Peak District National Park.
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My Walks Log Book£9.85 -
Peak District Kids snoods£11.95 -
Peak District Kids iron-on patches£5.50
Want more ideas for family walks?
Best Family Walks in the Peak District
Pram Friendly Peak District walks
Toddler walks in the Peak District
Also, come and join our friendly Peak District Kids Facebook Group for any questions or to share photos of your walks.
You may also like to read:
Cycle the Monsal Trail with kids
Baslow Edge walk (2.7km): Highland Coos and Epic Views
Monsal Head circular walk (2.4km)