12 beautiful Peak District walks with a baby carrier

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February half term is just around the corner. Check out our guide for a full round-up of events and activities.

Walking with a baby carrier opens up a whole new world of Peak District adventures; but not every trail is suitable when you are carrying extra weight and precious cargo. Steep scrambles, awkward stiles, and rocky footpaths can quickly turn a relaxing walk into something far more stressful than it needs to be.

This guide brings together the 12 best Peak District walks with baby carriers from this website, all carefully chosen for their gentle gradients, straightforward terrain, and avoidance of awkward stiles. These are routes where you can walk confidently without worrying about losing your balance, and where there are plenty of safe, grassy spots to stop and let your baby stretch, roll, or play if they are awake. Plus, as these are all tried-and-tested family walks from this website, you know that these walks are good options if you have bigger kids in tow.

Map of the best Peak District walks with a carrier

Use the map below to see where our recommended Peak District walks with a carrier are located.

1. Baslow Edge – 2.7km

Baslow Edge walk guide
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Baslow Edge is a great place to see Highland Coos and the views are fantastic; standing on Baslow Edge on a clear day you can see Chatsworth House to the left and then Kinder Plateau in the far distance to the right.

Our short Baslow Edge walk offers an easy loop from Curbar Gap car park, perfect for little legs. There are lots of fun boulders to climb over, under and through, and our boys always love seeing the Highland cattle here (you’re almost guaranteed to spot them!) And did we mention the views?

2. Stanton Moor (aka ‘The Cork Walk’ or ‘Nine Ladies Circle’) – 3.1 km

Stanton Moor walk guide
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This short circular Stanton Moor walk has it all – unusual stones to explore, rocks to climb, woodland, open moorland views, muddy puddles, and Stanton Moor trig point! It’s easily one of our favourite family walks, and it’s a flat Peak District walk, which makes it easier on little legs and a good option for those with mobility issues (there are no stiles too).

At the start of the walk is a large rock that looks like a corkscrew; it’s begging to be climbed by the grownups if you’re up for the challenge. And half way around is a Bronze Age circle (the ‘Nine Ladies’) that was used by the Druids.

3. Ramshaw Rocks – 3.4km

Ramshaw Rocks walk guide
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Ramshaw Rocks is a distinct rocky outcrop that towers over the main road (A53) between Buxton and Leek on the Staffordshire side of the Peak District. It offers superb views of Hen Cloud, The Roaches, and beyond to Tittesworth Reservoir and Leek, and kids will love scrambling over the boulders here.

This is a short, circular walk that leads you up to the outcrop for those epic views and then loops back through farmland. The footpath is uneven throughout the walk, so hiking boots are advised. And even though this is a ‘short’ walk, do allow a good couple of hours for the rough terrain, playing on boulders, and taking in those views.

Also, please be warned that parking is extremely limited at the start of this walk and you need to arrive before 9am to secure a parking space on weekends and school holidays. Trust us, the early start will be worth it. Alternatively, head up to Ramshaw Rocks closer to sunset, when the views are spectacular on a clear day.

4. Broomhead Reservoir – 3.6km

Broomhead Reservoir walk guide
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The Broomhead Reservoir walk sits within the South Yorkshire and Sheffield area of the Peak District National Park. With waves gently lapping at the shore and sandy secluded beaches to enjoy a picnic, this is a peaceful walk where you are gently reminded of the sea. It is one of the quieter Peak District reservoir walks, and the area commonly referred to as the ‘Mangrove’ (a tangle of knotted trees growing from within and beside the water) is an interesting places to climb and find fungi.

With it’s changing terrain, this is a fun walk for kids, but it’s also one of the best flat walks in the Peak District.

5. Middleton to Youlgreave – 3.6km

Middleton to Youlgreave walk guide
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This incredibly pretty Middleton to Youlgreave walk takes you across farmland and along the River Bradford. There are paddling spots along the way, and some interesting rock carvings and notations to find along the walk (including the stone books at Middleton), plus a small playground at the start/end of this walk.

You can extend this walk by combining it with our Alport to Youlgreave walk (number 5 above) to make a 6.6km loop.

6. 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.

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

River Derwent walk guide from Curbar to Froggatt
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This easy-going and flat River Derwent walk begins by the The Bridge Inn, Curbar, 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.

8. Milldale to to Ilam Rock – 4.5km (linear)

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.

9. Langsett Reservoir walk – 5.8km

Langsett Reservoir walk guide
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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.

10. Bakewell to Haddon Hall – 8.4km

Bakewell to Haddon Hall walk guide
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A picturesque circular walk from the historic market town of Bakewell along the River Wye to the grand Haddon Hall estate, returning via open farmland and through Bakewell cemetery. Despite the town being a tourist hotspot, this circular Bakewell to Haddon Hall walk leads you away from the hustle and bustle, along quiet footpaths.

Kids will enjoy paddling and playing around the streams and river, and the views towards Haddon Hall as you climb up towards Over Haddon are very pretty.

Haddon Hall is a fortified medieval manor house dating from the 12th century, and is the home of Lord and Lady Edward Manners whose family have owned it since 1567. If you would like to go into Haddon Hall and have a look around, you need to purchase a ticket (visit the Haddon Hall website). Children under 16 are free, but adult tickets are £23.90. There’s a 30% discount for Derbyshire residents.

There’s also a trig to bag on this walk – Noton Barn Farm trigpoint. However, it is on private land and you need the landowner’s permission to access it. But you can (just about) touch it from the other side of the wall (be careful of the double-barbed wire); we just use a stick to bag this trig.

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

Curbar Edge walk guide
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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).

Although you don’t need to do the full loop to appreciate the views. Curbar Edge is just a short walk from Curbar Gap car park (the starting point of this Curbar Edge walk). It’s a very accessible view point and particularly special at sunset.

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.