9 Edges Walk (Derwent Edge to Birchen Edge) | 23-Mile Route

Yes, you’ve guessed it, the 9 Edges Walk is a challenge to hike along 9 different gritstone edges in the Peak District.

It’s a fantastic long-distance walk in the National Park, taking in some fantastic views along the way. You can set yourself a challenge to walk or even run the route or take your time and have a lovely day out in the Peak District.

First, things first, the Peak District edges in questions are:

1. Derwent Edge
2. Stanage Edge
3. Upper Burbage Edge
4. Lower Burbage Edge
5. Froggatt Edge
6. Curbar Edge
7. Baslow Edge
8. Gardom’s Edge
9. Birchen Edge

The route begins at Ladybower Reservoir from Fairholmes car park, past Derwent Dam then up to Lost Lad and Back Tor, the start of Derwent Edge. From here you continue on to Stanage Edge, completing the two longest edges first.

Next, you tick off Upper and Lower Burbage, yes these are two separate edges, before heading via the Longshaw Estate and onto edge number 5 – Froggatt Edge, the next two are beautifully linked so from here you tick off Curbar Edge then Baslow Edge.

And finally, it’s another transition through a beautiful woods to the final two edges Gardom’s and Birchen Edge. The last edge is just over 1 km from the trig point to the car park, then you’re done!

Here you will find details on how to get to the start and end of the walk, map, GPX file, route information, facilities on the walk, plus a brief step by step guide of the walk.

Let me know if you have done this Peak District challenge in the comments below.

Check out all the Peak District challenges here.

9 Edges Challenge

gpx file

9 Edges Challenge walk map

© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460

 

Linear walk information

Since this is a linear walk, you’ll need a plan for getting to the start and finish of the walk (details below).

The easiest option is to find a friend that drives, leave one car at the finish point, then both drive to the start and leave the second car there.

The drive from the finish at Birchen Edge car park to Fairholmes car park is 16 miles, about a 30-minute drive via Hathersage.

Public transport options

There are limited options if you’re doing this walk via public transport. The nearest train station to the start is Bamford and at the end of the walk it’s Grindleford, but this station is actually closer to Froggatt Edge so quite a distance away.

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SK 17294 89340

Car parking address: Fairholmes Car Park, Ladybower Reservoir, Derwent Lane, Bamford, S33 0AQ

Parking Cost (Cash and card payments are accepted)

Up to 2 hours £3.50

Over 2 hours £6.00

There are some spaces before the car park, these used to be free however, I’ve been notified that pay and display machines have been added (January 2022).

Walk finish point

Finish grid reference: SK 28034 72134

Car parking address: Birchen Edge Car Park, Bakewell, DE45 1PU (A619) next to Robin Hood pub

This is a National Trust car park so it’s FREE to members or alternatively, for a full day’s parking, it’s £5.00.

Facilities on the walk

There are public toilets available at the start of the walk at Fairholmes car park and also when you come down from Lower Burbage Edge and walk through the Longshaw Estate. There’s also a small shop/cafe you can buy takeaway food at Fairholmes (currently closed).

In addition, there is also a pub – The Grouse Inn (open for takeaway food/drinks) before Froggatt Edge which you could stop for refreshments and a toilet stop, if necessary.

At the end of the walk, there are no toilets, but there is a handy pub where you could finish in style – The Robin Hood.

Water on your walk – I recommend a filter water bottle for your Peak District walks, it saves you carrying extra weight and you can fill up safely and drink water from the streams on your walk.

Other useful information

Edale Mountain Rescue Team organises a Nine Edges challenge event each year which raises money for the charity and they also provide checkpoints and snacks along the way, if you’d like to enter the organised event.

The route is fairly easy to navigate, especially along the edges but I recommend you take a map and compass (see below) to ensure you don’t slip up during the transitions.

Check the weather for your walk location and hills

Since the majority of the walk is along the edges of the Peak District it can be very exposed and windy so worth taking extra layers to keep warm.

• BBC Weather for Bamford + Curbar
• Met Office weather for the Peak District
• Met Office weather for High Neb and/or MWIS (Mountain Weather Information Service) for the Peak District

Ordnance Survey Walk Map

You require two maps for this walk is OL1 – Peak District (Dark Peak Area) for the section up until Longshaw Estate and OL24 – Peak District (White Peak Area) for the last section.

Check prices here with Ordnance Survey (OL1 and/or OL24) you can buy a standard map or a waterproof one. You can sometimes find cheaper deals on Amazon, (OL1 and/or OL24 but the Ordnance Survey website sometimes has discounts for buying more than one map!

And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.

FFor online maps, I recommend the OS Online App (I have been using it for many years and it is worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one-month or annual option with the OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App.

Check prices here for the one month or yearly option with OS Online App. 

Want to read later? Save the walk to Pinterest

9 Edges walk route

Stage 1 – Ladybower Reservoir (Fairholmes) to Stanage Edge

Distance: 7 miles/11 km

Grid reference SK 17294 89340

From Fairholmes car park, head towards Derwent Dam, up the steps and alongside Derwent Reservoir. At Walker’s Clough, begin to ascend all the way to Lost Lad’s cairn at 518 m, then it’s a short distance up flagstones to the Back Tor (trig 538 m) and the start of Derwent Edge.

Follow the edge all the way on the flagstone path, past the unusual rock formations including Dovestone Tor and the Wheel Stones. Once past the Wheels Stones, turn left and head down to the road via Moscar House and Moscar Lodge to avoid most of the road section.

Note – this section includes a large amount of the ascent for the day

Stage 2 – Stanage Edge to Lower Burbage Edge

Distance: 7 mile/11 km

Grid reference SK 23078 87869

Cross the A57 road and start ascending, you’ll see the sign for Stanage Edge shortly after. Continue walking up, bearing right up to the edge when the path splits. Walk along Stanage Edge, past the second trig point (High Neb 48 m), then keep going.

Be sure to keep on the path heading along the edge and don’t split off towards Standedge Pole. Stanage Edge is about 6 km in length, the longest of all the edges on the route. Keep walking all the way to the end where you’ll spot another trig point (Stanage Edge Trig).

Now descend on the footpath, bearing right, which will take you to Upper Burbage car park (see map below). From here, head on the path across the streams then up on to Upper Burbage Edge.

Continue all the way along past the cairns and on to Lower Burbage Edge. Then descend the footpath back down where it meets the road.

Stage 3 – Lower Burbage Edge to Baslow Edge

Distance: 6 miles/9 km

Grid reference SK 26278 80544

At the end of Lower Burbage Edge, cross the road, into the Longshaw Estate, turn left and follow the path, heading through a gate before you go into the main grounds.

Note – There are toilets here if you need them or you can wait for the pub!

Walk all the way through the Longshaw Estate, turn right out onto the road, then past The Grouse Inn. (Continue on map 3) Go through a gate, across the field, through some woods, cross the road and through a small section of woods which will bring you out onto Froggatt Edge.

From Froggatt Edge, the path then leads straight into Curbar Edge which you follow all the way until you turn right at the sign for Baslow Edge and then cross the road.

Stage 4 – Baslow Edge to Birchen Edge car park

Distance: 4 miles/6 km

Grid reference SK 26108 74677

Once you’ve crossed over the road, take the path onto Baslow Edge, follow the path that bears right as this will take you directly along the edge. Walk all the way until the end where you’ll reach a path. Turn right here, then at the end, you double back on a lower path through what may be thick ferns (depending on the time year).

Follow the path down through the woods, across a bridge and then out onto another road. Cross over and go over the stile a few metres down the road. Now follow this as it gradually ascends, then after 1 km, just before the gate, turn left and follow the boundary wall.

This will take you along a somewhat hidden edge in most parts but it opens up further down so you can see across to Curbar Edge. Go through the broken wall and immediately turn right and go through the gate.

Head up through the bracken all the way to Birchen Edge. From here you simply follow the edge until it descends and loops back to the car park.

Are you interested in doing the 9 Edges walk? Let me know if you have any questions in the comments

More options for this walk

Shorten the walk

Fancy doing the 9 edges walk but want to break it down into smaller chunks? You can split the route into two sections by parking at Upper Burbage car park or Longshaw Estate car park (roughly halfway point).

Please get in touch if you’d like other options for splitting the route up.

More walks in the Peak District

Fancy trying some of the Peak District edges (on shorter walks)? You might like these Peak District circular walks.

• Derwent Edge Walk From Ladybower Reservoir (Fairholmes) | 10-Mile Route
• Burbage Edge, Padley Gorge + Higgor Tor Walk From Upper Burbage | 8-Mile Route
• Curbar Edge Walk From Curbar (+ Froggatt Edge + White Edge) | 6-Mile Route

Or if you want to do another long hike, how about the Edale Skyline walk?

• Edale Skyline Walk From Hope | 20-Mile Route (Ultimate Peak District Challenge)

Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

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