Are you looking forward to warmer weather, springtime nature and flowers? Spring is a wonderful time of year in the Peak District. From the early snowdrops and daffodils flowering to the cute lambs hopping in farmer’s fields, you have a feeling that things are springing into life.
After a muddy, rainy and windy start to the year, many of those gorgeous walks you’ve added to your ‘walking list’ are now perfect to venture out on. There might still be some mud, where the sunshine hasn’t dried up the ground but it’s still a wonderful time to be outside.
Here you’ll be able to find our favourite spring walks so you can plan them in your diary.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve done any of these walks. Do you have a better springtime walk?
9 Best Spring Walks
Of course, all walks are pretty special in springtime, but we’ve been through all the routes on our site to bring you some which are extra special at this time of year. Take a read of our descriptions below and choose the walk which you feel will put a spring in your step!
In the main walk posts, you will find a detailed route description, as well as the map and GPX, making it as easy as possible for you to plan your time in the Peak District.
Chee Dale Stepping Stones
Distance: 5.5 miles/8.8 km
Walk time: 2-3 hours
Total ascent: 369 m/1181 ft
Walking along the Wye River spring is everywhere, the luscious green trees and plants turn this walk into one of my favourites, and that’s before I reach the stepping stones.
There are plenty of different ferns, flowers and plants growing along the riverside, some of which you don’t see in other parts of the Peak District. Chee Dale is also famously known for its stepping stones which means you can channel your inner child and step across these large stones to reach the other side.
Spring is a good time to do this work as water levels have dropped so there’s less chance that the route will be flooded which can happen in the winter months.
Read the full walk route here or select our PDF of the route to print or use on your smartphone during the walk.
Walk route + map herePadley Gorge and Burbage Edge
Distance: 8 miles/13 km
Walk time: 4-5 hours
Total ascent: 446 m/1,463 ft
This great walk in the Peak District takes in many highlights without having to hike too many miles!
It takes on the highs of Burbage Edge, Over Owler Tor and Higger Tor towards the beginning and end of the walk. Then there’s a great low-level section through the Longshaw Estate, including Padley Gorge walk.
This walk is a fabulous chance to see nature coming back to life in springtime, both up close on the lower level paths of the gorge and zoomed out in the stunning landscape views from Burbage Edge.
Read the full walk route here or select our PDF of the route to print or use on your smartphone during the walk.
Buy the Padley Gorge PDF here.
Walk route + map hereMagpie Mine and Ashford-in-the-Water
Distance: 5.5 miles/8.9 km
Walk time: 2-3 hours
Total ascent: 334 m/1,096 ft
This walk from the pretty village of Ashford-in-the-Water includes rivers, woods and fields all in one walk, oh and a little uphill walking!
Magpie Mine is a disused lead mine and covers a large area with many buildings still intact. It makes a great place for both adults and children to explore.
Once you’ve explored the old mine, you’ll enjoy a gradual descent via Great Shacklow Woods to the River Wye, where you follow it back to the start at Ashford-in-the-Water. In the woods during springtime you’ll see the greenery bursting to life, with wild garlic in abundance, scenting the air around you.
If you fancy a longer route we’ve also got an 8-mile walk to Magpie Mine.
Read the full walk route here or select our PDF of the route to print or use on your smartphone during the walk.
Walk route + map hereLathkill Dale
Distance: 4.4 miles/7 km
Walk time: 2-3 hours
Total ascent: 312 m/1,023 ft
Lathkill Dale walk is one of the most beautiful Derbyshire Dales in the Peak District. If you love walking through the dales then this is an idyllic walk, with plenty of wildlife, dramatic limestone cliffs and a winding river through the dale.
The dale is a National Nature Reserve, home to many species, including dippers and water voles. During spring these creatures will be busier than ever and you may catch fleeting glimpses of them as they busy themselves along the dale and waterway.
Read the full walk route here or select our PDF of the route to print or use on your smartphone during the walk.
Buy the Lathkill Dale PDF here.
Walk route + map hereThe Peak District Edges
Distance: 10.5 miles/16.9 km
Walk time: 4-5 hours
Total ascent: 483 m/1,586 ft
If you want to take in huge views of the Peak District as the colours of spring break forth this walk is the one for you. The Six Edges Walk takes in Baslow, White, Gardom’s, Birchen, Frogatt and Curbar Edges. The perfect walk for a clear day as this circular route gives views in all directions.
We’ve also got a few other Peak District Edge walk options for you:
Read the full Six Edges walk route here.
Walk route + map hereChatsworth House
Distance: 7.2 miles/11.6 km
Walk time: 3-4 hours
Total ascent: 211 m/692 ft
Chatsworth Park and House is a magnificent place for a walk and this 7-mile route from Baslow takes you on a lovely loop of the park as well as a few other highlights on the way.
The start of your walk, in the pretty village of Baslow, soon takes you into Chatsworth Park and towards Chatsworth House. You’ll head out of the park and through a couple of other villages before returning through the park and past herds of grazing deer, as you meander beside the River Derwent.
As well as seeing the ungroomed delights of spring awakening in the countryside, you can also choose to explore the more manicured 105-acre gardens of Chatsworth; the product of nearly 500 years of careful cultivation.
Read the full walk route here.
Walk route + map hereStanage Edge from Redmires Reservoir
Distance: 12.6 miles/20.3 km
Walk time: 5.5-6.5 hours
Total ascent: 529 m/1,733 ft
You’ll get to see different landscapes of the Peak District in all their glory if you choose this 13 mile walk in spring. From reservoirs to moorland, rocky edges to woodland and hills to babbling brooks, you’ll get a taste of everything. There are also 3-4 trig points to bag along the way!
Beginning from the Upper Redmires Reservoir, you head on to Rod Moor before descending to the Wyming Brook Nature Reserve, around the head of the Rivelin Reservoir.
Head through charming woodland along Wyming Brook before walking around the lower of the three Redmires Reservoirs. From here you walk around to the foot of Rud Hill to the corner of the Lady Canning’s Plantation and the fantastic Ox Stones.
Heading west across the moorland path you pass Upper Burbage Bridge then up to Stanage Edge. Following the edge north, you will see the distinctive Stanedge Pole (or Stanage Pole) in the distance. When the paths diverge you will see an Intersected Station point, used by the Ordnance Survey as a point of reference, before dropping down to the Redmires Reservoirs to end your walk.
Read the full Stanage Edge and Redmires Reservoir walk route here
Walk route + map hereLadybower Reservoir
Distance: 4.4 miles/7 km
Walk time: 2-3 hours
Total ascent: 299 m/980 ft
There are lots of amazing routes from Ladybower Reservoir but we love this 4-mile walk which takes you up the slightly quieter Crook Hill. Walking up through the woods gives you a chance to see the woodland flowers blossoming before you head to the top of Crook Hill for luscious views of the greenery surrounding it.
If you prefer a longer route from Ladybower Reservoir you can also check out the one below:
Read the full walk Crook Hill route here or select our PDF of the route to print or use on your smartphone during the walk.
Walk route + map hereMonk’s Dale from Miller Dale
Distance: 5.5 miles/8.8 km
Walk time: 2-3 hours
Total ascent: 369 m/1181 ft
Monk’s Dale is one of the five Derbyshire Dales, covering 57 hectares. It is one of the quieter dales, partly because it can be trickier underfoot, due to fallen trees. But we think this can add to the fun of the walk.
This 4.5 mile walk takes you through the valley of Monk’s Dale Nature Reserve and you’ll be met by an array of greens from different plants, trees and mosses along the walk.
The walk is wonderful to enjoy any time of the year, but particularly in spring/summer months when you can see the Nature Reserve really come to life with birds and wildflowers.
Read the full walk route here or select our PDF of the route to print or use on your smartphone during the walk.
Walk route + map here
Do you have any more questions about these autumn walks in the Peak District? Ask me in the comments below.
Ordnance Survey Walk Maps
For these walks, two maps cover them OL1 – Peak District (Dark Peak Area) and OL24 – Peak District (White Peak Area)
And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.
For 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.
More walks in the Peak District
Love taking in the sights of the Peak District? You might like these selections of Peak District walks.
Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here
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