This easy-going Peak District family walk is a real hidden gem away from the tourist hotspots, offering picnic and paddle spots aplenty. Walk through the tall pine trees of Shillito Woods, take in the open views from Ramsley Moor, and play in the bubbling Blackleach Brook.
Be warned that even in the summer months sections of footpaths are muddy along here. So wear appropriate footwear. There are also no facilities at all on or near this walk, so bring everything you need.
But if you’re looking for a quiet Peak District walk away from the crowds during the peak season, this Shillito Woods and Ramsley Moor walk is for you. It’s also one of our favourite Peak District woodland walks.
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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.
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.
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PRINTABLE WALK GUIDES
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Shillito Woods and Ramsley Moor walk
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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This walk follows the below map in an anticlockwise 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 £2.50 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: 4.4km / 2.7 miles
TYPE OF WALK: circular woodland walk
PARKING: National Trust Shillito Woods Car Park, Fox Ln, Dronfield. Click here for Google Maps point, postcode is S18 7WG. This is a FREE car park with approximately 20 spaces. There are picnic benches on the surrounding grass and some bird feeders in the trees making it a pleasant place to refuel before or after your walk.
WALK HIGHLIGHTS: peaceful woodland, open views, and away from the crowds.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Without kids, this is a 1.5 hour walk. However, we recommend allowing a good 3 hours with young kids.
STILES: None
TOTAL ASCENT: 107 metres
FACILITIES: There are no facilities on or near this walk.
The route
START: Shillito Woods Car Park
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: SK 2950 7496
Post code: S18 7WG
what3words: ///workers.existence.pipes
Route follows an anticlockwise direction
1. At the back of the car park, opposite the entrance, is a path leading into Shillito Woods. Follow the footpath along until the drystone wall bears left. Continue along the footpath to the left with the wall on your left and follow it round to the right to towards the edge of the woodland.
2. Just before the edge of woodland, take the obvious footpath to the right. Continue straight-ahead along this footpath to the road.
3. Turn left along the road for 40 metres and then head through the gate on the right that takes you along a bridleway. Take a moment to read the engraved millstone just on the left after walking through the gate.
4. Follow the main track as it heads across Ramsley Moor. After 260 metres, take a left at the fork in the footpath.
5. The path heads into a plantation of silver birch trees, with various small tributaries of stream running their course to join the main brook in the wetter months. This is the section that can get rather muddy.
6. When you reach a gate, walk through and then right down the path. The gate is 1.7km from the fork in the footpath.
7. Follow this old cobble-like lane for 280 metres, where you will you reach a gate leading back into the woodland on your right.
8. 160 metres along, you will come to the Blackleach Brook stepping stones. Cross over.
9. Continue to follow the footpath uphill. You’ll reach another gate, head straight through.
10. When you reach back to the point where there was a fork in the footpath (step 4), there is a footpath on the left leading uphill. This path isn’t on OS maps but it’s very much there in real life. 80 metres uphill leads you to a gate that opens out onto a road. The carpark, and the end of this Shillito Woods walk, is immediately opposite.
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Also, feel free to share your walk photos in our Peak District Kids Facebook Group or on Instagram using by tagging @peakdistrictkids in your caption so we can share with our wider community.
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My Walks Log Book£10.95
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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:
The BEST Peak District woodland walks
Beeley and Hill Bank Plantation walk (2.7km, circular)
River Derwent walk from Curbar to Froggatt (4km, circular)