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Minninglow walk: pram-friendly (3.8km, circular)

Minninglow walk: pram-friendly (3.8km, circular)

The High Peak Trail in the Derbyshire Peak District follows the old railway trackbed from Dowlow, near Buxton, to Cromford. This circular Minninglow walk starts by following the trail at Minninglow, high up on the embankment, before cutting through the hillside.

Kids will love playing in the old quarry and finding leftover sections of the railway track and machinery.

The second half of the walk leads you back to where you started, along another gentle track with drystone walls and open fields either side. 

This route is flat with well-surfaced paths, so perfect for a Peak District pram friendly walk. It’s very easy going and often very quiet in this area of the National Park.

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When planning your 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.

FOLLOW US:

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 or what3words, which are provided on every walk guide.

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.

Minninglow 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.

This Minninglow walk follows the below map in a clockwise direction.

Minninglow walk map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

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: 3.8 km (2.4 miles)

TYPE OF WALK: easy going, well-surfaced paths and lanes.

PARKING: There is parking at Minninglow Car Park on Mouldridge Lane. Click here for Google Maps location, postcode: DE4 2PN. This is a pay and display Peak District National Park Authority car park. It’s £2.50 for 2 hours, and £4.00 for up to 4 hours. Card payments only.

WALK HIGHLIGHTS: beautiful countryside views, exploring the quarry and its old railway track

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE:  This walk can be done in an hour, but allow for 1.5 hours with kids in tow.

ACCESSIBILTY: Pram friendly, flat, well-surfaced paths.

TOTAL ASCENT: 58 metres

FACILITIES: There are no public toilets or eateries on this walk.

The route

START: Minninglow Car Park
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: SK 1946 5814
Post code: DE4 2PN
what3words: ///falls.juicy.toffee
Route follows a clockwise direction

1. With the road behind you, turn right and walk across the car park towards the wooden gate signposted to Middleton Top.

Minninglow walk

2. Cross over the narrow lane and follow the High Peak Trail for 1.4km. The first part of the trail passes across a high embankment so make sure the kids stick to the path, keeping away from the edge.

3. You’ll notice the trail passes through a cutting in the hillside and immediately after this there are rusty remains of machinery (which are fenced off) on your left. This is a great place to let the kids explore the quarry to the left and spot the old railway track dotted around.

4. A little further on are some picnic benches next to a manmade cave (perhaps an old coal bunker?). This is a good stop for a hot chocolate.

Minninglow walk

5. 120 metres on from the picnic benches is a turning on your right. Walk through the gate (or over the stile), and continue along this footpath. After 40 metres, there is a sharp bend to the left. Keep following this footpath all the way to the road, ignoring junctions to farms along the way. The last 600 metres is along a tarmac lane.

Minninglow walk

6. Once you reach the road, turn right and follow for 400 metres. Just before the bridge is a turning on your right, leading back to the car park to complete this Minninglow walk.


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.

Want more ideas for family walks?
Best Family Walks in the Peak District
Pram Friendly Peak District walks
Toddler walks in the Peak District


Or, use the search walks page to find your perfect family walk.

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:
Top pram friendly walks in the Peak District
Cycling the High Peak Trail with kids
Tissington walk to Parwich for a pub lunch (6.3km)