Robin Hood’s Stride From Elton | 4.5-Mile Route

Looking for a beautiful short walk to do in the Peak District?

The Robin Hood’s Stride walk is perfect for everyone to enjoy, with pretty scenery and fun things to explore on the way, including Robin Hood’s Stride, Cratcliffe Rocks and the Hermit’s Cave!

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

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

Robin Hood’s Stride Short Walk from Elton

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Robin Hood’s Stride short walk map

© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SK 221 609

Car parking location: Well Street or Main St, Elton, DE4 2BW – Goole location

There is no car park ,but there is free street parking near the church where you can start the walk from.

Public transport

Nearest train station: Matlock train station (6 mile/10 km)

From the train station at Matlock, you would then need to catch a bus to Eton.

Facilities on the walk

There are no public toilets available at the start of the walk at Elton or on the route.

You’ll spot the Duke of York pub in the village, but this is only open from 8.30 pm, so no good for a post-walk drink!

However, there is a local pub not far away in the village of Winster called Bowling Green.

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

There are some steep drops from the cliffs near Robin Hood’s Stride so please be careful, especially if you’re doing the walk with children.

The route is fairly well signposted when you are on the Limestone Way but less so in other parts, although there are public footpath signs. I would recommend you take a map and compass (see below).

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 Elton
• Met Office weather and/or MWIS (Mountain weather information service) for the Peak District
• Met Office weather for Elton

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.

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

Want to read later? Save the walk to Pinterest

Robin Hood’s Stride walk route

Stage 1 – Elton to Tomlinson Wood

Distance: 1 miles/1.6 km

Grid reference SK 22150 61006

From the road outside Elton church (with the church on your right), continue down the road, then take the path forking off left, signposted Youlgreave.

Continue walking in a northerly direction, through a narrow gate, then after 50 m bear right following the fingerpost sign to Youlgreave (Cliff Farm). In the distance, you’ll see Anthony Hill as you walk through various fields with wooden gates between them.

Then another small gate will lead you to a road, cross the road (Cliff Lane) and then continue along the path descending gradually to Cliff Farm, via a wooden stile, then a stone stile in the corner of the field.

From the farm, head directly north, over another stone stile, towards Tomlinson Wood (a small wooded area). There’s then a very small stone stile to squeeze through, walk around the edge of the woods, to an opening in the dry stone wall.

Stage 2 – Tomlinson Wood to Robin Hood’s Stride

(Via Stone Circle)

Distance: 2.3 mile/3.7 km

Grid reference SK 21758 62474

Head north, gradually descending, until you reach the Limestone Way trail. Turn right and continue following through a small wooded area, then out on the road.

Turn right up the road for a short distance and you’ll reach a sign saying Robin Hood’s Stride 1/4 away. You can also do a short detour to a small stone circle. Follow the boundary fence for 200 m until you reach it.

There’s no right of way through the field, so the best thing to do is backtrack and then walk towards the base of Robin Hood’s Stride.

Stage 3 – Robin Hood’s Stride to Elton

Distance: 2.2 mile/3.5 km

Grid reference SK 22542 62274

As you reach the base of Robin Hood’s Stride there are plenty of options for exploring, both the rocks at Robin Hood’s Stride and Cratcliffe Rocks on the left.

There are several trails up to the top of Cratcliffe Rocks, with wonderful views, but the secret spot is the Hermit’s Cave at the base of the cliffs, situated at the most southern point.

Once you’ve finished exploring the area, hop back onto the Limestone Way and follow along the track. You then go through a gate next to a cattle grid and follow the road heading south for about 800 metres.

Then at the crossroads, turn right back into the village of Elton at the start of the walk.

Have you done this walk, did you find the cave? Let me know any feedback in the comments. 

Options to extend this walk

Fancy a slighter longer walk, at Tomlinson Woods, you can add an extra loop to explore Bradford Dale, a beautiful walk alongside the River Bradford.

More Walks in the Peak District

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

• Rushup Edge
• Chrome Hill walk
• Burbage Edge + Padley Gorge

Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

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