17 buggy and pram-friendly walks in and around the Peak District

Whilst a sling allows you to get off the beaten track into the hills, sometimes you just want the easy life and need a pram friendly Peak District walk. This means your little one(s) can nap in the buggy whilst you and your partner or friend have a chat, or perhaps you need to keep them protected on a wet and windy day.

Many of the family walks on this website are unsuitable for prams, so we’ve compiled the best buggy and pram friendly walks in the Peak District separately, right here. So if you’re wondering if the Peak District is baby friendly? Well with these pram friendly walks, it most definitely is.

However, if you do want to get your little one out of their pram/buggy and walking, check out our best walks in the Peak District for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

If you’re looking for some moral support on your walks with a baby or toddler, you may be interested to learn that there are two groups that organise Peak District guided walks for babies and toddlers (Blaze Trails and Hikes with Tikes). Please note that Peak District Kids is in no way affiliated to these groups.

The old railway tracks are the most obvious places for a pram friendly walk in the Peak District. These disused railway tracks have been converted into long gravel pathways, which are traffic free and relatively flat. These include the Monsal Trail, High Peak Trail, Tissington Trail, and Manifold Way.

However, sticking to these trails means that it’s a linear walk (there and back) and these trails do get very busy with cyclists on weekend and summer holidays, so if you have other young kids with you on the walk, you need to make sure they keep to the side at all times. You can check out some of these routes on our Peak District cycle routes page.

The pushchair friendly walks in this article may include these trails, however, we’ve looked for circular routes, or ones that are away from the trails, and a bit more interesting for all the family. You will especially find a few Peak District reservoir walks here, so you may want to bring the wellies for paddling.

1. Chatsworth Estate – 5.8km

Chatsworth Estate walk guide
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Our absolute favourite buggy friendly walk in the Peak District has to be the walk from Baslow to Edensor through the Chatsworth Estate. Start at this pay and display car park in Baslow, and take the footpath on the right right over the bridge on Church Lane. Follow the pathway towards Chatsworth House and turn right over Paine’s Bridge. Follow on up the hill to Edensor. It’s just a 1 km walk to Edensor, and worth popping in for cake and a cuppa at Edensor Tea Cottage.

2. Dovestone Reservoir – 4.2km

Dovestone Reservoir walk guide
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Dovestone Reservoir is located in the north of the Peak District near the town of Oldham in Greater Manchester. This short pram friendly walk in the Peak District offers a well-surfaced route around the reservoir with spectacular views across the water and steep-sided moors and crags.

The route is easy going so perfect for the whole family all year round. There’s plenty to keep the kids happy with detours into the woods and giant rocks to climb by the water’s edge. There’s also a memorial forest to explore where families have planted trees in memory of their loved ones.

Please note that Dovestone is also the most popular Peak District reservoir walk for those visiting the National Park from Manchester, and can get exceptionally busy on sunny weekends and bank holidays.

3. Stand Wood walk at Chatsworth – 5.7km

Stand Wood walk at Chatsworth walk guide
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This is another Chatsworth pram friendly walk, but around the lesser known Stand Wood (the perfect place to avoid the crowds). The pram friendly Stand Wood walk at Chatsworth follows a circular route all the way around the woods and The Stand at the top where the lakes are located that feed the water features on the estate. 

There’s plenty to see on your way round including the impressive Aqueduct and waterfall which cascades off the end and the Hunting Tower which stands proud, overlooking the estate. There’s plenty of opportunities for the kids to venture off, explore and climb whilst remaining in sight from the pram friendly path. If you visit in the summer months the rhododendrons put on a spectacular show too. 

For a longer pram friendly Chatsworth walk, you could park in Baslow and combine our Stand Wood walk and Baslow to Edensor walk together. Just take a detour up to the House when you get to Paine’s Bridge and walk up through the car park, following signs for the Farmyard & Adventure Playground.

4. Ilam Park – 1.6km

Ilam Park walk guide
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A lovely leisurely pram friendly walk in the beautiful setting of Ilam Park and picturesque Dovedale. The walk starts by crossing the parkland and dropping down towards the River Manifold. It then follows the ‘Paradise Walk’ path along the river to St. Bertram’s Bridge, which used to be the main route into Ilam. This attractive section of the walk was known for its carriage rides for visitors during Victorian times. Finish off by heading back to the hall and formal Italian Gardens, enjoying the stunning and iconic views of Thorpe Cloud and Bunster Hill.

Kids will love this walk as there’s plenty of fun places to run around and explore including the wavy ‘ridge and furrow’ fields created by medieval ploughing. There’s also a small natural play trail and on the way, they can spot the boil holes where the river has travelled through caves and bubbles up out of the rocks. 

As this is very short walk with lots of variety, you may want to ditch the pram for this one as it’s also one of our top Peak District walks for toddlers.

5. Longshaw Estate – 3.7km

Longshaw Estate walk guide
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Longshaw Estate is a beautiful expanse of parkland, moors and ancient woodland, close to Padley Gorge. You’ll find yourself wanting to return again and again with so many different routes to try out. It’s great for kids with dens to play in, tree stumps to jump on, logs to balance on, and plenty of open space for them to burn some energy.

The flat, well-surfaced paths make for a perfect Peak District pram friendly walk. This is also a good walk option for the wetter months if you want to avoid the muddier walks.

Starting and finishing at the National Trust Wooden Pole car park, the walk follows the woodland path onto the open parkland. Allow some time for the kids to explore near the pond and play in Boggart Burrow. 

Stop for a drink from the Croft Cabin or Longshaw Café before heading across the grassland back to the car park.

6. Damflask Reservoir – 6km

Damflask Reservoir walk guide
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Near the quaint little village of Low Bradfield is Damflask Reservoir, lying in the Loxley valley not far from Sheffield, and offering another lovely Peak District reservoir walk. 

Starting from Low Bradfield village, it’s just a short walk to get to the reservoir path. The whole route is completely pram friendly with well-surfaced paths, although it can get muddy in the wetter months so make sure you wear appropriate footwear.

This pram friendly circular walk follows the water’s edge closely on one side with woodland on the other side. Wellies are a good choice for kids so that they can paddle in the water. On the second half of the walk, there’s also some great little woodland paths and dens for the kids to play in.

Enjoy the beautiful open views across the water all the way around and look out for the small waterfalls feeding into the reservoir. There’s plenty of benches to stop and watch the sailing boats too.

If you’ve worked up an appetite by the time you get back to the village, The Schoolrooms offer a fabulous breakfast and lunch menu, as well as a good selection of cakes. There’s also a playground if the kids still have energy left to burn.

7. Wetton Mill – 4.4km

Wetton Mill walk guide
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Our circular walk from Wetton Mill in the Manifold Valley is easy going and flat with a cave to explore at the end. The route has well-surfaced tracks and roads making it perfect for a Peak District pram friendly walk.

The walk starts by crossing the bridge to Wetton Mill and following the track alongside the River Manifold. The second half follows the road on the opposite side of the river along the Manifold Way, back to where you started, passing through a tunnel along the way.

Finish off your walk with a short climb up to Nan Tor cave located up on the hill behind Wetton Mill Tea Rooms. If you visit in the wetter months, the kids will love playing in the shallow river. In the drier months the river disappears underground and re-emerges from a boil hole at Ilam (the boil holes can be seen on our pram friendly Ilam Park walk).

8. Minninglow – 3.8km

Minninglow walk guide
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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.

9. Tittesworth Reservoir – 2.8km

Tittesworth Reservoir walk guide
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On the Staffordshire edge of the Peak District not far from Leek is Tittesworth Reservoir, the perfect place for families with a range of walking trails to suit all ages and abilities.

There’s a couple of short accessible routes including this 2.8 km pram friendly loop. The walk offers beautiful views across Tittesworth Reservoir, sheltered woodland and a shallow river for paddling so don’t forget to bring the kids wellies or waterproof boots. The paths are a mixture of flat gravel terrain and wooden boardwalks, so perfect for a toddler walk, prams and buggies.

A highlight for the kids is the fantastic playground which has two separate play areas for different ages, a zip line and sand pit. It’s one of the best playgrounds in the Peak District. There’s also plenty of picnic benches, a take-away café and the Waterview Restaurant.

If you’re looking for a longer walk, there’s also a 4.5 km trail and 7.5 km complete reservoir loop. Although please note that these options are not pram friendly. Or for something a little different, you might want to try out paddle boarding or kayaking at the Tittesworth Water Sport and Activity Centre.

10. Slippery Stones – 2.8km

Slippery Stones walk guide
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Slippery Stones is a beautiful stone bridge over the River Derwent, north of Howden Reservoir. It’s a lovely spot for a picnic and paddle on a warm day, and the footpath to get here from the road is pram friendly.

This Slippery Stones walk is one of our shorter pram friendly walks in the Peak District, and affords incredible scenery. But not only is the walk stunning, the drive to get to the start is equally stunning; the narrow road winds along the western shore of Derwent and Howden Reservoirs through the pine forest. This is especially striking in the autumnal months.

Please note that the road to get to the start of this walk is closed on Sundays (and sometimes in icy weather conditions). If the road is closed you have to park at the Upper Derwent Visitor Centre (10km away).

11. Ladybower Reservoir – 9.1km

Ladybower Reservoir walk guide
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From the Upper Derwent Visitor Centre is a lovely short stroll (300 metres) to Derwent Dam. When the water is overflowing, it’s a very impressive site.

Just before you reach Derwent Dam, there’s a little (buggy friendly) nature trail on the right through the woodland. Follow the nature trail around spotting the carved woodland creatures along the way, there are also picnic benches here. The full loop around the nature trail is only 400 metres. This is a perfect spot for a Peak District toddler walk.

If you want a longer walk, you can follow our pram friendly Ladybower Reservoir walk. This is a 9.1km loop around one half of the Y-shaped Ladybower Reservoir, with well-surfaced paths all the way round. Our clockwise route continues along the eastern side of the reservoir where the lost villages once stood before the area was flooded to create the reservoir. There are beautiful views all the way around but some of the best are from this part of the walk, looking across the water to the woods on the western side. Then after crossing over Ashopton Viaduct at the south end, the route follows the road back up the western side and then drops down onto the woodland path, returning back to the start.

The Ladybower Reservoir walk is probably the most popular reservoir walk in the Peak District.

There’s also a buggy friendly route all around Derwent Reservoir and Howden Reservoir (although note that cars are allowed on the road on the western side Monday to Friday). The full loop around is 16.8km.

12. Milldale to to Ilam Rock (linear, 4.5km)

Milldale to to Ilam Rock walk guide
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Dovedale is a very popular destination for walkers and most make a beeline for Dovedale Stepping Stones. But further up the valley lies the sleepy hamlet of Milldale where this classic Peak District river walk begins.

Following the the River Dove closely along the Dovedale Valley this linear routes leads you past the impressive caves at Dove Dale and onto Ilam Rock, a 25-metre tall limestone pinnacle. Kids will especially love exploring the huge caves at Dove Dale and it’s worth bringing a torch along for their adventures.

This has to be one of the prettiest pram-friendly Peak District walks. However, there are a few cobbly/rocky sections to navigate and some muscle is required. Most of the footpath is relatively even, but an all-terrain buggy is advised.

This is also a great walk in the wetter months when you want to avoid muddy footpaths.

13. Bakewell pram-friendly walk – 3.8km

Bakewell pram-friendly walk guide
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Printable walk guide

This easy-going, pram-friendly walk starts in Bakewell town centre by Weir Bridge and leads you up to the very start of the Monsal Trail and along to Bakewell station (disused), before returning back into town.

You can extend the walk at Bakewell Station and continue along the Monsal Trail to Hassop Station (also disused), where there is a lovely café and small play area. This adds 3.4km, there and back, to the total distance of this walk.

The route is a mix of tarmac and gravel paths, suitable for pushchairs. Although, please be mindful of cars along Coombs Road (the quiet lane that leads you up from Bakewell to the Monsal Trail) and then of bikes when you’re on the Monsal Trail (keep to the left, especially on busy weekend and school holiday days).

Once back in Bakewell, you can perhaps finish with a Bakewell Pudding or a pint of local ale in one of Bakewell’s (no less than) nine pubs.

14. Bamford to Ladybower Dam – 6.7km

Bamford to Ladybower Dam walk guide
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This pram-friendly Peak District walk leads you along the even footpath of Thornhill Trail to Ladybower Reservoir, where you can see the two large Ladybower Plug holes (technically known as shaft spillways). With a diameter of 24 metres, these plugholes are very impressive in full flow when they allow the overflow of water in the reservoir to be drained through tunnels into the River Derwent.

Little ones will enjoy spotting the carved animals along the Thornhill Trail, and a beautifully carved bench beckons you to sit for a snack with views across to Bamford Edge. Then after walking across Ladybower Dam, you may want to take a slight detour to the Yorkshire Bridge Inn for a pub lunch or local tipple (there are good veggie options as well as a kids menu). The walk then loops back through woodland, along quiet lanes, and back along the Thornhill Trail.

This walk starts and ends at Bamford with Thornhill Recreational Ground CIO (free parking), which has a lovely playground. However, if you would like to shorten the walk (3.7km), you can start from Carr Lane car park (also free parking), and start this walk at step 3. This will miss out a large section of the Thornhill Trail.

Pram friendly walks just outside of the Peak District

There are a couple of pram friendly walks that aren’t technically in the Peak District National park, but we felt the need to include them. These are only just outside the Peak District and a worthwhile trip if you’re in the area and looking for longer pram friendly walks.

16. Cromford Canal and High Peak Trail – 7.3km

Cromford Canal and High Peak Trail walk guide
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Just outside the National Park boundary, near Matlock Bath is the beautiful Cromford Canal (which is also a good spot for canoeing).

Our High Peak Trail and Cromford Canal walk is great for kids as they will love climbing on the old train carriage and wandering around Cromford Mills. Plus there are lots of lots of giant rocks for kids who love climbing and the views across the quarry, Cromford and Riber Hill are stunning.

Starting from Black Rocks Car Park, follow the High Peak Trail down the former railway line to the Sheep Pasture Incline. You can see what’s left of the old railway operation with the engine house still standing at the top, and the Catch Pit for runaway wagons at the bottom. There’s an old train carriage for the kids to climb on at the High Peak Junction before walking along the beautiful Cromford Canal to Cromford Mills. You might want to wander around the Cromford Mills which is free to enter and now houses shops and cafes.

Looping back round to rejoin the High Peak Trail, this part of the walk is a steep incline so little legs might need the pram or buggy at this point (which means a good workout out for mums and dads). If you want to skip the incline and make this a shorter 4.5km walk, you can instead start at Cromford Wharf Car Park.

17. Carsington Water – 12.3km

Carsington Water walk guide
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Located just outside of the south Peak District border near the town of Ashbourne, Carsington Reservoir is a great family day out with plenty of activities on offer for all ages. There are shorter 1.5 km and 5 km walking routes but the pram-friendly 12km Carsington Water walk is a varied route with lots to see along the way.

This is one of our longer pram-friendly walks so if you’ve got little legs in tow, make sure they’re up for the whole loop. The route is well-surfaced limestone paths with some short uphill sections. Please note that the route is slightly different to the Carsington Water cycle route as there has been some effort too keep cyclists separate from walkers for some sections for safety purposes.

There’s plenty to keep both the adults and kids entertained along the walk around Carsington water with beautiful views across the reservoir, bird hides and carved wooded sculptures to spot. There’s even a little shelter with carved furniture inside for the kids to explore. 

There are three available car parks but we recommend starting at the Sheepwash car park, which means the play area is near the end of the walk and can be used as an incentive to keep the kids going. After a play, why not treat yourselves to an ice cream from the Visitor Centre to enjoy along the final section of the walk. 

If you want to spend more time at Carsington Reservoir, then the Visitor Centre provides a fun interactive exhibition of the journey of rainwater to our taps. There’s also a wildlife centre and watersports available for the more adventurous.