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19 Peak District pub walks (1-8 km, circular)

19 Peak District pub walks (1-8 km, circular)

Detailing the best Peak District pub walks for muddy boots and paws, and also families.

The Peak District is known for it’s characterful pubs, oozing with local charm. Almost every village has a pub (or three!) and a visit to the Peak District isn’t complete without a homecooked pub meal, washed down with a pint of Thornbridge or Peak Ale. And did you know that these always taste better after Peak Disrtict walk? Fact.

So we’ve compiled our favourite Peak District pub walks here for you (ordered shortest to longest). All of these pubs welcome families, as well as muddy boots and paws, and some of these have a playground too!

Parents may also want to check out our guide to Peak District pubs and cafes with a play area.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Should you click to purchase, it is at no additional cost to you, but I receive a small commission.

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.

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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 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.

Map of our Peak District pub walks

Use the map below to see where our Peak District pubs walks are located.

Don’t leave home without your Peak District OS Map!

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1. Birchen Edge – 2.6 km

Pub: Robin Hood Baslow
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

Birchen Edge walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

This is a great little Peak District pub walk for views and rocks to climb, and it starts at The Robin Hood pub, where kids eat free Monday to Friday! Plus there’s also the Birchen Edge trig point to bag en route.

From the pub, walk up the road just for 20 metres, where you will see a footpath sign and gate that leads you to Birchen Edge. Take the lower footpath first and after about 1km, before you see Nelson’s Monument on the hill top, you can climb up the rocks to the top. Or, there is a path if you don’t fancy the climb; just follow straight ahead. Once at the top, the views are fantastic and kids will love climbing up and over the big boulders.

Follow the footpath along the top of Birchen Edge to get back to the car park. There’s a steep descent right at the end, which can be quite slippy when wet. Take care.

OS Map for Birchen Edge walk
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

2. Monsal Head – 2.4km

Pub: Monsal Head Hotel
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

Monsal Head circular walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

Our Monsal Head walk starts from the Monsal Head Hotel. A beautifully situated Peak District pub affording spectacular views across the valley.

Monsal Head is one of the most iconic beauty spots of the Peak District. This is where the impressive Headstone Viaduct, which forms part of the Monsal Trail, straddles the verdant Monsal Dale and the River Wye meanders aimlessly through.

From the pub, this walk takes you down into the dale to the weir, then across the other side of the River Wye to emerge under the viaduct, with a climb back up to the view point. Footwear with good grip is essential as this walk can get very muddy in wet weather, and arrive early to secure parking during weekends and school holidays as this is a Peak District hot spot.

© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

3. Alport to Youlgreave – 3km

Pub: 3 choices of pubs in Youlgreave
The Bulls Head Hotel: playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ❌
George Hotel: playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ❌
Farmyard Inn: playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ❌

Alport to Youlgreave walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

Our Alport to Youlgreave walk is an easy circular stroll along either side of the River Bradford. The walk itself doesn’t quite go through the village of Youlgreave, but it’s a short detour up the road with a choice of three pubs (you really are spoilt for choice!)

The views on the last section of the walk (after the pub) are particularly beautiful as you take a short climb up to a hill top. We recommend that kids wear wellies on this walk so they can paddle in the river, and if you’re doing this walk in the warmer summer months, bring the kids’ wetsuits and towels as there is a small designated swimming area.

Alport to Youlgreave walk OS Map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

4. Longnor – 3.3 km

Pub: Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

Longnor circular walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

Another Peak District pub walk that starts almost right from the pub. This relatively flat, circular Longnor walk is away from the tourist hotspots, across classic White Peak farmland, and takes you right through working farms. It’s one of our quieter Peak District pub walks and we rarely see others on this walk (although you’re guaranteed to see lots of sheep and cows!)

As you walk through the farmyards, please stick to the footpaths and pass through quietly; these are working farms, with machinery, farming products, and livestock around. There are obvious safety hazards, but it goes without saying, stick to the path and don’t let your kids play on the machinery. Also, the footpaths can get muddy around the farms when it’s been raining.

Longnor walk OS Map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

5. River Derwent walk from Curbar to Froggatt – 4km

Pub: The Bridge Inn, Curbar
playground ✔️ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

River Derwent walk guide from Curbar to Froggatt
Click here for start point

Printable download

This easy-going and flat River Derwent walk begins by the The Bridge Inn (which has a kids play area in the garden) and leads along one side of the river to Frogatt Bridge, returning on the other side of the river, following a clockwise loop. It’s a very pretty walk; on a clear day the imposing boulders along Curbar and Frogatt Edges are in view, and in spring the river banks are covered in daffodils and wild garlic. Half way is Calver Weir, a Grade 2 listed structure, built in the 19th century to provide water to power cotton spinning at Calver Mill.

You can shorten this walk by just doing the loop from Curbar to the A625 road crossing, just after the weir. This is a 2.4km loop.

Unfortunately, despite the even, flat footpaths, this River Derwent walk is not pram friendly. There are very narrow gates to pass through, and a steep stone steps at one of the bridges. Instead, take little ones in a carrier. Click here to check out our pram friendly walks.

River Derwent walk from Curbar to Frogatt map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

6. Hartington to Beresford Dale – 4.3km

Pub: 2 choices of pubs in Hartington
Charles Cotton Hotel: playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ❌
Devonshire Arms: playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ❌

Hartington walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

This walk starts from the Hartington Farm Shop and Café (one of the best cafes for a hot chocolate in the Peak District). But this is very central to Hartington, and a little further in you will find two pubs (Charles Cotton Hotel and Devonshire Arms) if you want to make this into a Peak District pub walk.

This short and picturesque Hartington walk leads you down to Beresford Dale where the River Dove meanders through. Make sure you pack a torch, as half way along this walk there is a cave to explore, which includes a short walk through tunnel! You may even find some ‘Ice Age cave paintings’ (which is what our 6 year old called them). Although do note that the tunnel through is very narrow and really only for small children.

Hartington walk map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

7. Ramsden Reservoir – 4.2km

Pub: The Fleece Inn, Holme
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

Ramsden walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

In the far north-eastern tip of Yorkshire’s Peak District, this circular Ramsden Reservoir walk offers lots of variety to keep all family members happy; there’s the beautiful views over the reservoir itself, woodland and streams to play in, open pastures, and even a pub-stop enroute (The Fleece Inn).

This is quite a hilly route with lots of ups and downs as you pass between streams, but it never feels a slog due to all the natural play distractions and gorgeous views. Indeed, allow a good 3-4 hours for this walk, even though it’s only 4km.

© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

8. Hathersage Stepping Stones – 5.3km

Please note that the footpath across Hathersage Stepping Stone is currently CLOSED and impassable due to storm damage dislodging boulders and all stepping stones being submerged.

Pub: The Plough Inn (there are also more pubs to choose from in the centre of Hathersage)
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ❌

Hathersage Stepping Stones walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

This Hathersage walk includes the Hathersage Stepping Stones, a much quieter alternative to Dovedale Stepping Stones. And three-quarters round this walk (before walking back into Hathersage) you pass very close to The Plough Inn, with it lovely beer garden; when you meet the road after walking along the river, detour right along the road for 150m. Alternatively, you could visit one of the pubs in the centre of Hathersage at the end the walk.

The walk itself is easy and relatively flat. It mostly follows the footpaths along the River Derwent, through shady trees backed by open fields. The stepping stones themselves are a little trickier than the Dovedale ones, so take care if you’re unsteady on your feet; kids under 5 will need a helping hand as their legs aren’t quite long enough to reach across to each stone.

After your walk, you may also want to visit Hathersage Outdoor Swimming Pool (pre-book tickets online).

Hathersage Stepping Stones walk map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

9. Foolow via Great Hucklow – 4.9km

Pub: The Bulls Head, Foolow
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

Foolow walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

Tucked away from the tourist honeypots of the National Park, our circular Foolow walk starts and ends at the Bulls Head in Foolow, one of our favourite Peak District pubs; serving excellent meals (fantastic veggie burgers!), are very kid friendly, plus it’s oozing with character.

Whilst this short Peak Disrtict walk is relatively flat, be warned that there are A LOT of stiles to cross; from steep stone stiles, to squeeze stiles (which you made need the help of someone pushing you through). For young kids, these stiles break up the walk with climbing fun. But if you have a child in a carrier, this walk may feel like quite a workout, and many dogs will struggle.

If you need to refuel two thirds around the walk, there’s the Queen Anne in Great Hucklow; equally as characterful, and just a short detour from the walk.

Foolow walk to Great Hucklow OS Map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

10. Over Haddon to Lathkill Dale – 5km

Pub: The Lathkill Hotel
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

Over Haddon walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

Towards the start of this Peak Disrtict pub walk, just before you leave the picturesque village of Over Haddon, you will pass The Lathkill Hotel. This fantastic pub is all about the views, so try and visit on a clear day and book an outside table.

The walk then continues across open meadows and down into Lathkill Dale, arguably one of the prettiest dales in the Peak District. Considering the heavily industrialised lead mining history of this dale in the nineteenth century, it’s remarkable to see how Mother Nature has healed the scars and restored it to such beauty.

You will also cross a packhorse bridge (Coalpit Bridge) and a medieval sheepwash bridge (Conksbury Bridge), before following the River Lathkill further upstream along weirs that the Victorians built for trout fishing, leading back up into the village of Over Haddon.

Please note that Lathkill Dale is a SSSI and there are Natural England signs along the river asking you not to go in to the water for a paddle.

Over Haddon walk OS Map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

11. Thor’s Cave walk from Wetton – 5.4km

Pub: The Royal Oak, Wetton
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ❌

Thor’s Cave walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

The Royal Oak Wetton is a very short detour from the start of this iconic short Peak District walk to Thor’s cave; a natural cavern perched on the side of the Manifold Valley. As Thor’s Cave does get rather busy, you may want to time your pub visit accordingly, so that you arrive to the cave either early or late in the day.

Don’t forget to pack your torch as the kids will love climbing and exploring deep into the dark chamber at the back of the cave. Although please note that the walk up to Thor’s Cave gets extremely muddy and slippy in wet weather, and may be impassable. We suggest attempting this walk in dry weather. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear.

Starting in Wetton, you can either follow the flatter route across the track and field to Thor’s Cave, or follow the stepped path up through the woods. After you’ve explored the cave, the route takes you back down through the woodland and then along the flat Manifold Way before climbing up and across the fields back to Wetton village. 

There are some steep uphill sections but they’re only short and the views across the Manifold Valley are a good excuse to stop and catch your breath. You can also shorten it to a 2.6 km walk just walking to Thor’s Cave and back.

Thor's Cave walk OS Map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

12. Langsett Reservoir walk – 5.8km

Pub: Waggon & Horses pub
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

Langsett Reservoir walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

Langsett Reservoir walk

Langsett Reservoir is a really special place bursting full of rare wildlife and offers one of the best Peak District reservoir walks. Indeed, this circular Langsett Reservoir walk takes you right around the entire reservoir.

Boasting stunning views across the moorlands and down to the glistening water of the reservoir, there is something really soul-filling about this place. Interesting history of the area weaves it’s way through the land as it was once used to practice the Normandy invasion, with old tracks and bullet scars to show for it, offering interesting imaginary conversation with kids along the route.

The changing terrain and environments on this Langsett Reservoir walk keeps everyone interested; from pretty ancient woodland with twisting tree roots and muddy paths, to open moorland between the heather and bilberry, to tall towering pine forest with cones to fill your pockets.

The Waggon & Horses pub is just towards the very end of the walk and boasts lovely views across the reservoir from the beer garden. It’s a local, understated pub. Nothing too flash here.

OS map of Langsett Reservoir walk
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

13. Cave Dale walk from Castleton – 6km

Pub: There are no less than SIX pubs to choose from in Castleton.
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

Cave Dale walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

The Cave Dale walk starts and ends from the picturesque tourist village of Castleton. Within this relatively small village, there are no less than six pubs to choose from for pre- or post-walk refreshments. None of them have a playground, but they are all very welcoming to families and muddy paws, and most have a kids menu.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn is one of the most characterful in the village, but a little way out of the centre. On the walk itself you pass The George pub, which labels itself as ‘The Only Back Street Pub In Castleton’ and has a nice outdoor seating area. However Castleton does get exceptionally busy over weekends and school holidays, so it may be a case of just seeing where you can get a table. We recommend grabbing a table early if you plan on having lunch.

The Cave Dale walk itself takes you past the remaining tower and ruins of Peveril Castle and up through the rocky, steep path of Cave Dale to meet the Limestone Way at the top. The views on a clear day here are beautiful. The walk then circles round back into the village, past Peak Cavern (aka “Devil’s Arse”).

It’s a steady climb to the top of Cave Dale and the footpath is rocky and uneven underfoot. Plus after wet weather, a small waterfall flows down the footpath, so waterproof hiking boots are recommended. The last section of this walk is very steep downhill and you may need to do some ‘bum sliding’ (this is obviously a technical hiking term), so it’s also a good idea to have waterproof trousers with you.

Cave Dale walk OS map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

14. Ashford-in-the-Water walk to Monsal Head – 6.2km

Pub: The Bulls Head
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

Ashford-in-the-Water walk guide to Monsal Head
Click here for start point

Printable download

Ashford-in-the-Water is a picture-postcard village in the heart of the Peak District and this circular walk to Monsal Head starts just behind The Bulls Head (walk through the village green, and into the pub beer garden). This is a slightly longer walk that the short Monsal Head walk detailed above. But this walk also passes The Stables Bar, if you are need of a half way refresher.

Kids will love walking through the 400 metre long Headstone Tunnel, and the views from Monsal Head are fantastic. There’s also a playground at the end of the walk, if your little ones still have energy to burn.

© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

15. Tissington to Parwich – 6.3km

Pub: Sycamore Inn, Parwich
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

Tissington to Parwich walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

The village of Tissington, where this beautiful Peak District pub walk begins and ends, is one of the prettiest in the National Park. Centred around the grand Tissington Hall are a collection of limestone cottages, no less than six ancient wells, a Church that dates back to Saxon times, a tea shop selling vegan treats, and a duck pond. This is also where the Tissington Trail passes through; a popular Peak District cycle route for families.

This circular Tissington walk to Parwich follows along the Tissington Trail for a short while, but then leads out to open farmland as you head to Parwich, another pretty Peak District village. The views along the way are beautiful. It’s worth timing your walk to arrive in Parwich in time for lunch at the Sycamore Inn, before continuing your walk back to Tissington. There’s also a good playground in Parwich.

© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

16. Bakewell to Ashford in the Water – 7km

Pub: You will pass two pubs in Ashford-in-the-Water:
The Bulls Head: playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️
Ashford Arms: playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️
And in Bakewell you have a choice of 6 pubs!

Bakewell to Ashford-in-the-Water walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

This pretty Peak District family walk, starts from All Saints Church in the historical market town of Bakewell, and follows the River Wye to the picture-perfect village of Ashford-in-the-Water. It then leads you up into the hills along a quiet track for superb views down into the village, to then cross open meadows back to Bakewell.

Walking though Ashford-in-the-Water you will pass The Bulls Head and Ashford Arms. The village playground is just behind The Bulls Head.

Back in Bakewell you have a choice of six pubs! So this one makes for quite a pub crawl (although perhaps save that for when you have babysitters).

Bakewell to Ashford in the Water walk OS Map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

17. Bamford Edge – 7.9km

Pub: The Anglers Rest, Bamford
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

Bamford Edge walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

Bamford Edge is one of the most iconic spots in the Peak District. You may have see a fair few posts on Instagram of someone stood on that rock overlooking Ladybower Reservoir, more often than not at sunset?

Many people head up to this spot, grab a photo, and then head back down again (check out our guide: How to get to Bamford Edge). But here we offer a lovely Bamford Edge circular walk, which includes epic views, Ladybower Reservoir (and plug holes), wood carvings for kids to find, Bamford stepping stones, and The Anglers Rest (which is the village pub, café, and post office).

There’s a steep climb at the end of this walk, but doing this walk anticlockwise will be easier for little legs. We’ve also provided an alternative gentler route back from the pub at the end, which adds 1.1km to the walk.

Bamford Edge circular walk OS Map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

18. Magpie Mine walk – 8km

Pub: Bulls Head Monyash
playground ✔️ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️

Magpie Mine walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

This pretty Magpie Mine walk takes you from the sleepy village of Sheldon (where there is the Cock & Pullet pub), across gently rolling meadows, to the Bulls Head pub in Monyash (where there’s a fantastic playground), and back through Magpie Mine (the best preserved 19th century lead mine in the whole of Britain and free to explore). Plus there are lots of fossils to be found in the stiles close to Monyash! But the main reason we love this pub walk in the Peak District walk is that it’s always so quiet as it’s away from the main hotspots of the National Park.

Do be warned that there are A LOT of stiles on this walk, so this may not be suitable for those with dogs, or parents with a little one in a carrier. Plus, it’s very likely that you will have to walk through at least one field of cows; walk carefully and quietly, and give them lots of space.

If you’re looking for a Magpie Mine walk, this is a great loop walk. But if you don’t fancy a long walk and just want to visit the mine, you can visit directly from Sheldon, following the footpaths at the end of this walk and then pop to the Cock & Pullet.

Sheldon to Monyash OS Map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

19. Curbar Edge, including White Edge and Froggatt Edge – 9.4km

Pub: The Grouse Inn
playground ❌ kids menu ✔️ directly on walk ✔️
(please note that children are not allowed in the main bar, but are allowed in the bar to the back of the pub)

Curbar Edge walk guide
Click here for start point

Printable download

Curbar Edge walk

The circular Curbar Edge walk, which also takes in Froggatt Edge and White Edge, is a classic Peak District walk offering epic views, a trig point to bag, and a half-way pub stop. It’s one of our longer Peak District family walks, but kids will love the clambering on the boulders, which we save for the end of the walk (just watch out for those drops).

Please note that you are very exposed on this walk, and the weather can be wilder along these edges than down in the valley, so bring an extra layer of clothing with you.

The Grouse Inn is half way along this Peak District pub walk. In all honesty, they’re not overly welcoming to families (in fact children aren’t allowed in the main bar), although they do offer an affordable kids menu and the dining area at the back of the pub (where kids are allowed) is very lovely.

Curbar Edge walk OS map
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

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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:
Peak District river walks
Stepping stone walks in the Peak District
Peak District glamping