Longshaw Estate toddler walk (1km, circular)

In a quiet corner of woodland, this Longshaw Estate walk offers accessible paths, fallen trees to balance along, dens to hide in, and bridges to toddle across and paddle under. It’s one of our favourite Peak District toddler walks, and will keep your little nature-explorers busy for hours.

Indeed, this walk has been specifically researched with toddlers in mind to get them walking and exploring. Whilst this walk is possible in an all terrain buggy, we do have a alternative pram friendly walk for Longshaw Estate with smoother footpaths, if you are looking for a pram friendly walk. Alternatively if you’re looking for a longer walk with young kids, try our our Padley Gorge walk, which loops into Longshaw Estate.

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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.

Safe winter walking tips

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.

PDF WALK GUIDES

Map of the Longshaw walk for toddlers

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.

Preview	Product	Price
	The Peak District: White Peak Area Map \| Weatherproof \| Peak…	£14.75	Buy on Amazon

This Longshaw Estate walk for toddlers follows the below map in a clockwise direction.

View OS online map

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.

Longshaw Estate toddler walk (printable download) – 1km

£1.50

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Need to know

DISTANCE OF WALK: 1km/ 0.6 mile

TYPE OF WALK: circular, woodland walk

PARKING: Parking is at the main Longshaw National Trust Car Park (Woodcroft). Click here for Google Map location. Postcode S11 7TZ. This car park is free for National Trust members, otherwise it is £3.50 for three hours. You can pay using an app on your phone.

WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Fun bridges, a paddling spot, ancient woodland and great views. Wide range of wildlife to spot, including deer, kestrel, sheep, tree creepers, woodpeckers and owls.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Allow 1-2 hours for this walk with toddlers and pre-schoolers.

STILES: No

TOTAL ASCENT: 20 metres

FACILITIES: The visitor centre and café for Longshaw Estate is ¾ of the way along the walk. There are also toilets here.

main Longshaw Estate car park — *Woodcroft car park at Longshaw Estate*

The route

START: Longshaw National Trust Car Park (Woodcroft)
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: SK 2658 8002
Post code: S11 7TZ
what3words: ///puzzle.stack.copy

Route follows a clockwise direction.

1. Facing downhill at the welcome cabin in the Woodcroft car park there is a small path leading to the left, signposted ‘woodland walk to café’. Just along this path you will notice a beautiful wooden bridge, perfect for playing ‘Three Billy Goats Gruff’ and a great spot for a little paddle. You can get underneath the bridge easily from the far side.

2. Ahead are some rocky steps and another bridge, often covered in tiny turkey tail fungi. Keep following the path along. There are some dens, fallen trees and lovely spots to play and explore. Blackberries and wild raspberries are plentiful in the late summer and it is fungi galore in the autumn.

3. When you reach the end of the path head left up the hill. This area of woodland is abundant with birds and you may see deer! They are well camouflaged so keep a careful look out.

4. At the top you’ll reach a gate and old drystone wall. Head through the gate and follow the raised grassy path to the right. It can get boggy along here and there are occasionally sheep and cows. It’s perfect for acting out scenes from ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt‘, or try an find animal prints in the mud!

5. As you reach the end of this section, the drystone wall finishes and there is a gate back into the woodland on the righthand side. Just before you take this path take a moment to pause and take in the views that open up in front of you, there’s a perfect rock for a snack stop too! You may spot a kestrel hovering overhead and sheep grazing.

6. Head into the woods through this gate following the track downhill. There is a huge beech tree that was recently dismantled, and is now great for climbing on. As you reach the bottom of the path the café, toilets and visitor centre are on your left if you wish to use them.

7. Take the path on your right leading back uphill towards the car park. There is a lovely secondhand book cabin just before the car park, run by the National Trust.

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.