Baslow Edge + Birchen Edge Walk From Baslow | 9-Mile Route

Moorland on Birchen Edge walk

One walk and three fab Peak District edges, yes, I know it’s called the Baslow Edge + Birchen Edge walk but there’s a surprise third edge you’ll explore on this beautiful walk from Baslow.

From the village of Baslow you’ll first head up to walk along the beautiful Baslow Edge, with views across the valley and over towards Curbar Edge it’s a wonderful way to start the walk. 

After Baslow Edge you’ll head across moorland, where you might spot one of the local deer then over the road and up towards Birchen Edge. You then add a short loop up and along Birchen Edge, where you’ll walk past the Three Ships (rock formations), Nelson’s Monument and also the Birchen Edge trig point. If you’re short on time then you can skip this loop and head straight across to the third edge on the walk – Gardom’s Edge. 

Then it’s downhill through beautiful woodlands and across the road to more woods before arriving back in Baslow for the end of your walk.

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

Fancy a shorter walk? – You can do both these edges on individual walks. Baslow Edge 3-mile walk or Birchen Edge 2-mile route

Or if you’d like something longer you could try our 9 Edges walk!

Let me know in the comments if you’ve done this walk from Baslow and what you think!

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Baslow Edge + Birchen Edge from Baslow

Rocky outcrop on Baslow Edge
Views along Baslow Edge

Walk information + GPX

Walk type: Moderate circular walk

Distance: 9 miles/14.5 km

Walk time: 4.5-5.5 hours

Total ascent: 519 m/1,703 ft

Highest point: 326 m/1,069 ft

Walk highlights: Views from Baslow Edge, Birchen Edge – trig and Three Ships, views from Gardom’s Edge

Trig points: 1 – Birchen Edge (Add White Edge trig extra 1.8 km)

Ethels: 0

Stiles: 4

gpx file

Baslow Edge + Birchen Edge walk map

Baslow Edge + Birchen Edge walk map
Baslow Edge + Birchen Edge walk map

© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460

Click for online map

 

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SK 25823 72083

Car parking address: Nether End car park, Church Lane, Baslow, DE45 1SR – Google location

This is a medium sized paid car park, peak costs (see below*) apply between 8 am to 6 pm. Evening parking is £1.20 between 6 pm and 8 am. There is a cash or card option to pay; however, the card option refused to work when I went, I’d recommend taking cash!

  • Up to 1 hour £1.70
  • Up to 2 hours £2.70
  • Up to 3 hours £4.00
  • Up to 4 hours £5.20
  • All day £6.20

*Prices correct at time of writing.

car park
Nether End Car Park in Baslow

Public transport

There’s no train station in Baslow however, there are buses that stop in Baslow that go between Bakewell and Buxton. See timetable for the X70 bus service here.

Facilities on the walk

There are public toilets available at the start of the walk at Baslow; however there are no other toilets on the route. 

At Curbar Gap car park on weekends there is a van called Jolly’s that sells hot drinks. At the end of the walk there are a few options for places to eat and drink in Baslow – The Wheatsheaf (great food here), Cafe on the Green or you can pop to the nearby Robin Hood Inn (lovely food here too – you’ll need to book a table at weekends!)

Other useful information

Baslow can be a popular place to start a walk so arrive early to guarantee a space. Alternatively, there’s a car park at Curbar Gap, which is on route but this can be equally as busy.

During autumn/winter months there are sections of this walk which can be muddy, be prepared with the right footwear for an enjoyable walk to ensure you’re not slipping (as much) in the mud.

There are a couple of busy road crossings on this route, please take care when doing these parts of the walk. There is also a 200 metre section on the road, again please take care and remember to walk facing the traffic (on the right-hand side of the road).

Road crossing
Busiest road crossing on the route

There are also a few stiles on this walk, from a tall stepped stile, to small wooden stiles plus a few stone stiles too. Please get in touch if you need to check if this walk is right for you (I also have photos of the stiles).

Please keep the Peak District beautiful and respect everyone who uses the park. Take ALL your rubbish home to dispose of and remember close gates (as you found them). Thank you so much.

Would you know what to do in an emergency situation?

Blue skies, Mountain rescue team walking

We have a guide with what to do, who you need to call and also some useful kit that should be in your backpack. Ask us any questions in the comments or via our social media.

Happy hiking + stay safe

read here

Peak District weather

Check the weather for your walk location and hills. It’s often good to check a few resources. Although, not too high, the edge section can be cooler in temperature especially on windy days.

Ordnance Survey walk map

The map required for this walk is the Ordnance Survey OL24 – Peak District (White Peak Area). Check prices here with Ordnance Survey or Amazon. If you’re hiking in all weathers the Active OS maps are pretty good to have.

View both Peak District map options here.

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

For online maps, I recommend OS Online App (I have been using for 3+ years and worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one month or yearly option with OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App. 

See both maps that cover the Peak District here.

 

Baslow Edge + Birchen Edge walk route

Stage 1 – Baslow to Baslow Edge

Distance: 1.7 miles/2.8 km

Grid reference SK 25816 72083

From Nether End car park entrance/exit cross the side road, then over again at the traffic lights and finally across the side road heading up Eaton Hill. Walk up the road for 500 m until you reach the house on the corner. Turn right and continue up the road for 500 m. Then turn left through the gap next to the metal gate onto the grass (photo below). 

Stone gap next to metal gate
Go through gap next to gate

Walk along the path, through a small gate next to the stone wall then continue and climb a wooden stepped stile over the wall. From here, bear diagonally right across the field towards the wall on the edge of the field. You’ll pick up a wider track which you continue along.

There’s a gap in the wall but keep walking next to it, past a small handwritten sign that says ‘Footpath’ on the wall. You’ll reach a small gate with a fingerpost and yellow arrow. Go through and walk along until you reach a path junction where there’s a green public footpath signpost.

Green public footpath signpost
Follow signpost towards Blackstone Edge

Turn right here, heading uphill, following the signpost for Blackstone Edge. Walk up here, you’ll reach a rocky outcrop and the path joins with another, go past the bench then you’ll reach the next path junction. Take the narrow path almost doubling back on your immediate left, heading uphill to Baslow Edge (not the wider track that goes past the large Eagle Stone).

Path along Baslow Edge
Path along Baslow Edge

Stage 2 – Baslow Edge to Road

Distance: 2.3 mile/3.7 km

Grid reference SK 26298 73632

Follow the narrow rocky path as it leads you to the edge of Baslow Edge. From here, it’s fairly straightforward as you follow the rocky terrain as it tracks alongside the edge. There are a few paths that lead you different ways round but if you keep to the left you can’t go wrong!

Viewpoint from Baslow Edge
Viewpoint from Baslow Edge

Walk all the way along, down to a grassy section then along to a viewpoint with a curved stone wall, with Curbar Edge on your right. There’s a fantastic sign which points out all the local hills in front of you, on a clear day!

Now follow the path around as it rejoins the other wider track. You’ll reach 3 gates, go through the small wooden one on the far right, follow this until you reach a road crossing. Carefully go across, (this road can be busy) then walk on the grassy verge next to Curbar Gap car park (safer than walking through the busy car park). Cross the car park entrance then go through the wooden gate signposted White Edge.

Walk along here and when the path splits take the right-hand path, follow this along, over a small stream then uphill to another signpost. 

Signpost towards Birchen Edge
Signpost towards Birchen Edge

Optional detour – Here is where you can do a short out and back detour to White Edge Trig Point (by turning left) – this will add approximately 2 km to your walk.

At the signpost, turn right, signposted to Birchen Edge, follow the path, when it splits take the right-hand lower path. This then becomes a rough path/track which you follow for 1.5 km until you reach the gate that brings you out at the road.

Stage 3 – Road to Birchen Edge (Trig)

Distance: 1.7 miles/2.8 km

Grid reference SK 27647 74027

From here, cross the road and turn left walking on the right-hand side for 200 metres to the main crossroads. This is the busiest crossroads on the walk so please take your time here to safely cross.

Short section down the road

Once across the road the footpath starts from the corner, go through the wooden gate and walk gradually uphill over the moorlands, through some trees towards the base of Birchen Edge. On your right, there’s a path next to a large boulder (this is the way to Gardom’s Edge – you’ll head that way later or you can opt to skip Birchen Edge if you’re short on time).

Remember this boulder for later on the walk!

After this boulder you’ll see a path on the left heading up to Birchen Edge, ignore this (it’s better to come down this path). Walk along the lower path below Birchen Edge for approximately 1 km (approx 15-20 minutes). You’ll reach a path on your left, heading uphill. It starts gentle but there are a few rocky sections (it’s easier going up this way than coming down it).

Once at the top, take the footpath heading left along the top of Birchen Edge, it begins in surrounded by bracken but clears as you walk towards Nelson’s Monument and the Three Ships. 

Continue walking on the path until you reach Birchen Edge Trig Pillar.

Birchen Edge Trig Point
Birchen Edge Trig Point

Stage 4 – Birchen Edge to Baslow

Distance: 3.2 miles/5.2 km

Grid reference SK 27839 73054

From the trig point, take the path you saw before which is to the left of the trig point, (don’t continue straight on) it’s a short steep downhill section that winds down. 

At the bottom, turn right, then almost immediately left down the path next to the big boulder (as mentioned in Stage 3!) Walk along the path, through grassland towards the corner of the two walls, then continue past here and through the grassland and plenty of Silver Birch trees. 

You’ll go past another big rock, then beyond that there’s a wall with a wooden gate that leads you out to Gardom’s Edge. The views are beautiful from here so it’s worth stopping and exploring before continuing.

Gate leading to Gardom's Edge
Gate leading to Gardom’s Edge

Turn left through the hole in the stone wall, the path continues alongside the wall but you can walk to the edge for more stunning views before continuing your walk.

Follow the path as it heads alongside the wall, to a large stone cairn, go through the gap in the stone wall and walk on the path gradually heading down until you reach an intersecting path with a huge rock. Turn right here and go down the path down through the woods.

Wooden stile
Small wooden stile

At the bottom, you’ll go over a wooden stile, then a small stone stile that meets the road. Cross the road here, turn left and walk along the pavement for 300 metres. Then go over the stone stile at the signpost for public footpath.

Walk down the footpath then over the small footbridge (the new one of the right below). Walk up alongside the boundary fence until you reach a wooden and metal gate. Turn left here through the wooden gate and follow the path through the plantation. This section can be very muddy in places and there are a few tricky sections.

Footbridges
Cross the footbridge

Continue until it brings you out at another path, turn right and walk down and through a small wooden gate which brings you out at some houses. Turn left at the road and walk down to the church on the corner. Turn left here and follow the road all the way back to the car park at Baslow.

Ask me questions about the Baslow Edge and Birchen Edge walk in the comments below.

More walk options

Shorten the walk

Feeling tired and want to shorten the walk, you can miss off the Birchen Edge section (approximately 2 km) and turn straight off towards Gardom’s Edge – see stage 3 details.

Then you can come back and do Birchen Edge as a short 2-mile walk – route here.

More walks in the Peak District

Love the walks along edges? You might like these Peak District circular walks.

Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

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8 thoughts on “Baslow Edge + Birchen Edge Walk From Baslow | 9-Mile Route

  1. AIDAN LATHAM says:

    We did this walk on Saturday 20/11/21, great walk, but just wanted to say the New Footbridge has a Fallen tree across it, the big one you can see in the foreground of the picture. It is Passable, but you really have to stoop down to get past.

    • Becky - Peak District Walker says:

      Hi Aidan, oh no, that must have happened really recently as I last walked the route last month! Thanks for the head’s up, I’ll make a note on the post so people are aware, I hope it’s not damaged the new bridge! Thanks, Becky 🙂

  2. Tim says:

    Hi Becky
    I did this walk with 3 friends on 14/5/22, starting at the Robin Hood pub. We all thought is was a really beautiful walk. The weather was perfect, and there were carpets of bluebells in the woods approaching Baslow. We followed your excellent description easily (with one small exception in that we couldn’t find the church 500m up Eaton Hill). As many of your paths are not shown on the 1:25000 OS map, we would not have spotted this circuit were it not for your fantastic local knowledge. Thank you very much. Tim.

    • Becky - Peak District Walker says:

      Ah that’s wonderful Tim, I’m so glad you enjoyed the walk. Oh I’m sorry, that’s my fault, in my head I always think the garden looks like a church, even though it’s a house so I must have typed what was in my head oops! I’ve updated it now 🙂 Thanks so much and I’m glad you enjoyed 🙂

  3. Jerry says:

    Just did this route (albeit back to front) today (2022/06/28) and loved it. I’ve been walking in the peaks for years but hadn’t ever noticed Gardoms Edge before. So, many thanks. I suspect we’ll be doing it again.

    • Becky - Peak District Walker says:

      Ah that’s wonderful, it’s a great hidden gem and lovely to explore along the edge. I’m really glad you enjoyed and thanks for taking the time to let me know 🙂

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