The BEST quiet walks in the Peak District

Map of our quiet walks in the Peak District

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

1. Longnor – 3.3 km

Longnor circular walk guide
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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 definitely one of our quieter Peak District walks with kids 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.

This Longnor walk is very easy-going and takes around 1.5 hours with kids (longer if they want to play at the River Manifold). Reward your efforts with a stop at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese afterwards (there is a small beer garden, kids and dogs are welcome), or a hot chocolate and one of the cafes around the market square.

2. Beeley and Hill Bank Plantation – 2.7km

Beeley and Hill Bank Plantation guide
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Commonly referred to as Beeley Woods, Beeley and Hill Bank Plantation is a lovely place for a Peak District family walk. Forming part of the Chatsworth Estate, footpaths criss-cross through the woodland and a brook rushes down little waterfalls. We particularly enjoy it on a rainy day as the trees provide some shelter, and the sound of the rain on the tree tops is beautiful.

This is a short 2.7km walk around the Beeley and Hill Bank Plantation, but allow for a good few hours as the kids will love paddling in the stream and playing in the woods. Wellies during the winter months are a good idea, rather than hiking boots, so they can paddle.

3. Shillito Woods and Ramsley Moor – 4.4km

Shillito Woods and Ramsley Moor walk guide
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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.

4. Foolow via Great Hucklow – 4.9km

Foolow walk guide
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Tucked away from the tourist honeypots of the National Park, our circular Foolow walk via Great Hucklow starts and ends at the Bulls Head in Foolow, one of our favourite Peak District pubs, and leads you across open meadows. Whilst this leisurely Peak District kids 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.

There are two pubs along this walk. The Bulls Head in Foolow serves excellent meals (fantastic veggie burgers!) and are very kid friendly, plus it’s oozing with character. Then two thirds around the walk, when everyone may need a little refuel, there’s the Queen Anne in Great Hucklow, equally as characterful.

5. Tissington to Parwich – 6.3km

Tissington walk to Parwich guide
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The village of Tissington, where this beautiful Peak District family 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.

It does get busy around Tissington, but once you are away from the village and off the Tissington Trail, this is a perfectly quiet Peak District walk.

6. Eyam Moor walk – 6.3km

Eyam Moor walk guide
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This Eyam Moor walk is one of our more challenging family walks as hardly any of the walk is flat. It descends down over Eyam Moor into woodland to Bretton Brook, and then climbs up again alongside open pastures.

Your efforts are rewarded with vast open views across to Hathersage, Stanage Edge and Win Hill. Although the true treat of this walk is that you will see few other hikers. Indeed, this is one of our quieter Peak District walks.

Half way around the walk is the perfect picnic and paddle spot next to a stream, and there’s also remains of old barns to play ‘hide and seek’ in.

Plus, there’s a trig point to bag at the end of this walk. Sir William Hill Trig lies just off Sir William Hill Road. Although this ‘road’ is a byway open to all traffic, it’s a very bumpy and uneven track that’s only suitable for 4WDs.

7. Magpie Mine from Sheldon to Monyash – 8km

Magpie Mine walk guide
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This pretty Magpie Mine walk takes you from the sleepy village of Sheldon, 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 Peak District Kids 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 just want to visit Magpie Mine, you can just visit directly from Sheldon, following the footpaths at the end of this walk.