Whim Wood and Little Moor toddler walk, near Hathersage (1km, circular)

Get your little ones out of their carrier and active on this short toddler walk near Hathersage. There are magical forests to explore and stunning views to admire.

This walk will lead you across quaint wooden bridges over bubbling brooks with opportunities for rock scrambling, den building and stick stacking, before heading out onto Little Moor. Pack a picnic as there is a perfect picnic rock. If you’re lucky, you may even spot highland cattle grazing.

Map of Whim Wood and Little 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 Map OL 01 (Dark 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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Get a printable download of this walk

Need to know

DISTANCE OF WALK: 1km / 0.6 mile

TYPE OF WALK: short circular woodland and moorland walk

PARKING: Parking is in a layby along Ringinglow Road, close to the start of this walk. Click here for location on Google Map, postcode S11 7TW. There are three short sections for parking on both sides of the road.  Please take care not to block gates leading into fields or onto tracks as farmers require access.

WALK HIGHLIGHTS:  Den building and stunning views.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Allow 1-2 hours to really enjoy this walk with little ones.

ACCESSIBILITY: This walk is not suitable for prams. There are also stiles to climb over.

TOTAL ASCENT: 54 metres

FACILITIES: There are no facilities on this walk.

The route

START: Ringinlow Road layby
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: SK 2442 8088
Post code: S11 7TW
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Route follows an anticlockwise direction.

1. Walk through the pedestrian gate between the drystone wall leading into the woodland. As you enter, there is a wooden sign for ‘Whim Wood’ opposite you. Follow the path to the left, over a tiny wooden bridge. 

2. Continue the path alongside the drystone wall, over another small wooden bridge and a section of wooden walkway.  On the right you will reach an area of boulders and large sticks. This is a good place to stop off for a play; den building, stick Jenga and rock scrambling.

3. When you’ve finished playing, re-join the footpath. The footpath continues to follow the drystone wall, and then gets steeper as you climb up through the woods. 

4. When you reach the top, there are some more rocks to play on and a narrow gate in the drystone wall ahead of you. Head through the gate and follow the path to the left. 

5. The footpath winds between gnarly silver birch trees and an old stone bothy. 

6. You then reach a gate ahead of you, heading out of the woodland and into open moorland. There are sometimes highland cattle grazing this area. Go left through the gate and head downhill and through another gate. About 10 metres further on there is a National Trust sign for ‘Little Moor’. 

7. A little way down the path there is a large flat rock perfect for a picnic or snack stop. Take a moment to admire the view down towards Hathersage and the Hope Valley and look out for kestrel hovering overhead.  Continue following the path to the bottom of the hill where there is a stone stile over the wall, back onto the road where you parked. 

After your walk

The Millstone Inn is just around the corner offering home cooked meals and enviable beer garden views. 

A few minutes down the road is the popular village of Hathersage, known for its heated outdoor pool it also boasts pubs, restaurants, cafés, fuel station, outdoor gear shops and a children’s playground.  

You are also just a few minutes’ drive from our short Ox Stones walk and our longer Grindleford walk to Padley Gorge, Owler Tor, and Mother Cap (5.8km circular).