Short Whaley Bridge walk (circular, 1.8km)

Whaley Bridge is a small town in the High Peak on the edge of the Peak District National Park, not far from Buxton. This short Whaley Bridge walk takes in its high street and beautiful memorial park. Bridges to cross as you follow the River Goyt, railways to go under, and works on the Toddbrook Dam keep this walk interesting for everyone. 

Also, make sure you bring your kids’ scooters and/or skateboards, as there is a pump track and skate park half way around this short walk. If you have a kayak, canoe, or paddle board, you may want to head over to Whaley Bridge wharf to experience paddle boarding in Derbyshire.

The town is rich in industrial history with a canal wharf built to link Cromford Canal and Peak Forest Canal to transport the coal that was mined here and serve the cotton mill industry. More recently in 2019, Whaley Bridge was all over the media as a crack appeared in the dam wall of Toddbrook Reservoir. The town and some neighbouring villages had to be evacuated whilst the royal air force and fire brigade worked tirelessly to make it safe. 

Map of Whaley Bridge 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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	The Peak District: White Peak Area Map | Weatherproof | Peak…	£13.99	Buy on Amazon

This very short Whaley Bridge walk follows the below OS Map in an anticlockwise direction.

Need to know

DISTANCE OF WALK:  1.8km

TYPE OF WALK: circular town walk

PARKING: Parking is in Canal Wharf Car Park, Tom Brads Croft, SK23 7SR. Click here for Google Maps location. Parking is free all day. The council website it says it is charged, although there are updated signs in the car park and no parking meters present.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Access by rail to Whaley Bridge Station in the centre of town makes this destination easily accessible by public transport too.

WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Halfway around the walk you will come to a pump track and skate park – don’t forget your kids bikes/scooters as it is brilliant! 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Allow 1hr for this walk, plus extra time for a longer play in the skatepark.

ACCESSIBILITY: The walk is pushchair friendly with no gates or stiles. It is mostly on surfaced paths with a short section that is slightly narrower through woodland but a pushchair would manage fine.

TOTAL ASCENT: 47m

FACILITIES: There are public toilets opposite the train station in the centre of Whaley Bridge (click here for location). We thoroughly recommend you pop into Little Fika cafe for some lunch and a play.

The route

START: Canal Wharf Car Park, Tom Brads Croft, SK23 7SR. Click here for Google Maps location.

1. Heading out of the car park at the far end there is a footpath that leads to a bridge. Cross the first bridge and head right across another bridge onto Bridge Street. At the end of the road turn left onto Buxton road, this is the main shopping street through Whaley bridge.  

2. When you reach the pedestrian crossing cross over the road, continue to the left until you reach Wharf Road. Turn right down Wharf Road following the track under the railway bridge, past the old buildings on your right. As you reach the end you are in a small housing estate, turn right at the T-junction and almost immediately there is a narrow footpath that leads between the houses. 

3. Following this woodland path, the river Goyt is on your left. The white and red safety fencing for the Toddbrook Reservoir will come into view as you head slightly uphill. Follow the path to the left, here you will find viewing windows into the site where you can see construction vehicles and the dam wall. There are also information boards about the works being carried out. The children’s playpark used to be situated here and is sign posted as being here but was removed due to the ongoing restoration works.   

4. Continue along the footpath crossing a bridge alongside the river, there is some lovely metal work on the bridge and ducks to see. 

5. As you cross the bridge there are paths going in multiple directions and a rainbow coloured signpost, the signs don’t all seem to quite be pointing the right way. Take the path on the right and then right again, heading steeply uphill with a railing alongside.  

6. Follow this woodland path up and over the hill where the construction fencing will be on your right again. On your left you will reach the skatepark and pump track. There are picnic benches here. Usually this is where you would find a path across the Dam Wall which is currently closed. On the other side of the football pitch, there is a temporary playground.

7. Once the kids have had their adrenaline fix, head back down the path you came up and across the bridge. When you reach the bottom of the hill keep on the tarmac path to the left.  

8. Heading up the other side of the valley, there is an information sign on your right about Whaley Bridge Memorial Park. Turn right out of the park and follow the pavement along Reservoir Road.  

(At this point if you wanted to extend the walk you could turn left instead and head to see the reservoir, the path alongside the reservoir only goes for about 200m before becoming a dead end.)

9. Cross the road on the corner, heading straight under the railway bridge. When you reach the end of the road turn right to use the pedestrian crossing across the main road. Follow the road to the left and up ahead on your right you will reach the wonderfully welcoming Little Fika Café, which sadly is now permanently closed. Just past the café is an alleyway that takes you right back to Canal Wharf Car park.