Errwood Hall + Shining Tor Walk From Errwood Reservoir | 5-Mile Route

A great walk with a real mix of scenery from low level walking next to Errwood Reservoir, exploring the ruins of Errwood Hall, then a big uphill to reach Shining Tor summit with gorgeous views of the surrounding hills and Goyt Valley.

From Errwood Reservoir you begin the walk on the flat, a great way to warm your legs up, then it’s a gradual incline to find the ruins of Errwood Hall and the old burial ground. 

The next part of the walk is a tough uphill hike bringing you to the base of Shining Tor. You’ll walk across a small section of boggy ground before you reach the flagstones, then on to Shining Tor and the trig point. Lastly, you descend walking towards Errwood Reservoir and along back to the car park.

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

We have another 10-mile route from Derbyshire Bridge car park if you want a longer walk up Shining Tor.

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

Errwood Hall + Shining Tor from Errwood Reservoir

gpx file

Errwood Hall + Shining Tor walk map

© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SK 013 757

Car parking address: The Street, Buxton, SK17 6SX – Google location

This is a free car park, it’s medium sized but can fill up during peak times, there are a couple of other options, on the other side of the dam there’s a smaller lay-by on Goyt’s Lane (Google location). Alternatively, there’s Errwood Hall car park, which is on the route, however, the road is closed on Sundays so it limits the use of this car park (Google location)

Public transport

The nearest train station is Buxton train station (4 mile/6.5 km) but there are no public transport options to the exact start of the walk.

Facilities on the walk

There are no public toilets available at the start of the walk at Errwood Reservoir and there are none on the walk.

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

Other useful information

Would you know what to do in an emergency situation?

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. We’d recommend that you check a few resources and for hill walks look at the weather conditions in the valley and on the hilltop as they can greatly vary.

• BBC Weather for Buxton
• Met Office weather for Shining Tor
• Met Office weather and/or MWIS (Mountain weather information service) for the Peak District

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 weather the Active OS maps are good to have as they are laminated so better on rainy days.

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 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 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.

Want to learn more map skills? Check out our Guided Walks with map reading skills here.

Errwood Hall + Shining Tor walk route

Stage 1 – Errwood Reservoir to Errwood Hall

Distance: 0.9 miles/1.4 km

Grid reference SK 013 757

From the Street car park looking towards Errwood Reservoir, turn right out of the car park and either pick up the road or the footpath that follows the road above. Walk alongside the reservoir, go over the bridge then you’ll reach Errwood Hall car park. 

Turn right into the car park and take the footpath up the three steps opposite the car park entrance, there’s also a wooden signpost for Errwood Hall Woodland Walk.

Follow the footpath, go between the gap in the wall, then at the path junction turn right, signposted Errwood Hall. Continue on the path then follow it as it bends around to the right then shortly after you’ll reach steps up to the ruins of Errwood Hall.

Add a little explore time in here!

Stage 2 – Errwood Hall to Shining Tor

Distance: 1.6 mile/2.5 km

Grid reference SK 0082 7476

Then, from the point you reached the ruins, take the narrow footpath on the left, heading slightly uphill. Shortly after this you’ll go past some steps, walk up these then take the faint trails heading all the way to the top where there’s a grassy path leading to a burial ground. 

Walk directly across the hilltop and down the other side on the grassy path where you’ll pick up a track bearing left downhill. You’ll reach a signpost, turn right here and follow the grassy track uphill towards the trees. 

The path zig-zags up to the trees, then follow the rocky track uphill to the moorland area. Keep following the faint path and eventually it will bring you out on the flagstoned footpath that runs from Cats Tor to Shining Tor. Turn left and follow it until you reach a small wooden gate leading to the trig point.

Stage 3 – Shining Tor to Errwood Reservoir

Distance: 2.5 miles/4 km

Grid reference SJ 9947 7375

Return back though the small gate the continue in the direction signposted Stakeside. The footpath runs alongside the wall heading down then back up again until you reach a gap in the wall. Turn left and walk alongside the wall heading downhill where Errwood Reservoir comes into view after a short time.

Keep walking all the way down until you reach a gap next to a metal gate, signposted Errwood car park. Walk down the path to the car park, then turn left and follow the road all the way back to The Street car park (or wherever you parked!)

Ask me questions about this route in the comments below.

More walk options

Shorten the walk

You can shorten the walk a few ways, firstly, by parking at Errwood Hall car park, depending on what day you visit. This will shorten the route by 2 km in total (1 km each way).

In additional you can skip the detour to the burial ground and in stage 2 instead of hiking uphill, simply continue walking around the base of the hill, which will bring you out at the signpost where you begin your uphill hike.

More walks in the Peak District

Love the walks in the White Peaks area? You might like these Peak District circular walks.

• The Roaches Walk + Hen Cloud From Upper Hulme | 7-Mile Route
• Lud’s Church Walk (+ River Dane) From Gradbach | 6-Mile Route
• Three Shires Head Short Walk From Gradbach | 5-Mile Route

Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

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