Shining Tor walk is one of those must-do hikes in the Peak District. It’s the highest peak in the Cheshire Peak District and has beautiful views towards its neighbour Shutlingsloe, which is known as the ‘Matterhorn of Cheshire’ due to its iconic shape.
This route begins from the Derbyshire Bridge car park, takes you through the Goyt Valley before hiking up and along Foxlow Edge to Pym Chair (another place you can start this walk).
From Pym Chair, you then follow the ridge up and over Cats Tor then on to Shining Tor in the distance, before completing the circular walk back along the River Goyt to the Derbyshire Bridge car park.
Here you will find details of the full route including how to get to the start of the walk, map, GPX file, plus a detailed step by step guide of the walk.
Have you done the Shining Tor walk? Let me know in the comments?
Fancy a shorter walk? Try our 5-mile walk to Shining Tor here or this 6-mile route to Axe Edge and Cheeks Hill starts from Derbyshire Bridge
Shining Tor walk from Derbyshire Bridge car park
Walk information + GPX
Walk type: Medium circular walk
Distance: 10 miles/15.5 km
Walk time: 3-4 hours
Total ascent: 695 m/2,280 ft
Highest point: 559 m/1,834 ft
Walk highlights: Goyt Valley, views back to Errwood Reservoir, Cats Tor and Shining Tor
Trigs: 1 – Shining Tor
Ethels: 2 – Shining Tor + Cats Tor
Stiles: 1
Shining Tor walk map
© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460
Click for OS online map
Walk start point
Start grid reference: SK 01808 71575
Car parking address: Derbyshire Bridge car park, off Buxton Rd, Macclesfield, SK11 0AR
This is a small free car park off the A 537 main road, there’s no postcode for the car park but the Cat and Fiddle pub just up the road.
Alternative start point – Pym Chair car park, High Peak, SK23 7RF (SJ 99460 76785), this is also free, but there are no toilets here. This would also shorten the route by 2.2 miles/3.5 km as you wouldn’t need to walk along the road through the Goyt Valley. (More details at bottom).
Public transport
Unfortunately, there are no suitable public transport options for this start point.
Facilities on the walk
There are public toilets available at the start of the walk at Derbyshire Bridge car park, plus a small information board on the side of the building.
For after the walk there is a pub just up the road called the Cat and Fiddle pub (they do recommend you book a table as it’s extremely popular).
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 and waterfalls on your walk.
Other useful information
There is a third alternative for parking, which you’ll notice near Goytsclough Quarry. Please note this is a one-way road and you can’t drive from Derbyshire Bridge car park to here (a single road with no passing points).
This walk has a mix of terrains but also through the valley and woodlands, you’ll notice it’s warmer, whereas the section from Cats Tor to Shining Tor can be exposed and cold. Take some extra layers to put on!
Peak District weather
Check the weather for your walk location and hills, the temperature up high on the ridge can be much colder than in the valley, especially on a windy day!
- BBC Weather for Macclesfield
- Met Office weather for the Peak District
- Met Office weather for Shining Tor and/or MWIS (Mountain Weather Information Service) for the Peak District.
Ordnance Survey Walk Map
The map required for this walk is OL24 – Peak District (White Peak Area). Check prices here with Ordnance Survey or you can maybe find cheaper deals on Amazon.
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.
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Shining Tor walk route
Stage 1 – Derbyshire Bridge (via Goyt Valley) to Errwood Reservoir
Distance: 2.2 miles/3.6 km
Grid reference SK 01867 71583
From Derbyshire Bridge car park, begin your walk by heading back out of the car park, past the building on your left and turning right down the road, alongside the River Goyt. After about 300 m, you’ll cross over Derbyshire Bridge. You can read the history of this on the sign at the car park.
Keep walking for another 700 m on the road, then look for a path, signposted to the quarry on the left which runs parallel to the road heading uphill.
There’s another fingerpost sign pointing left to Stakeside, with a gate, this is where you come out at the end of the walk! But for now, keep walking straight. The path merges back with the road, going through a small car park.
Shortly after the car park, take a footpath on the right which loops down near the river and over a cute wooden bridge, (a prettier option than staying on the road). 800 m later you are back on the road, go through the gate and on the other side, there’s another footpath you can join that takes you towards Errwood Reservoir, where four paths meet.
Stage 2 – Errwood Reservoir to Pym Chair (car park)
Distance: 2.8 mile/4.5 km
Grid reference SK 01134 74678
At the signpost for Errwood Reservoir, turn left and take the wide track uphill, be sure to look behind for views of the reservoir. Go through the gate, following the sign left towards’s Shooter’s Clough. Then follow the path as it zig-zags through the trees and over a small water crossing. Depending on the weather you might get wet feet but there are a few rocks to use as stepping stones!
As the path joins the main track, turn left and immediate right across the grass, the path then takes you down some stone steps and across a lovely bridge. Go across the steps on the other side, through a gate at the top and turn right following the signpost for Pym Chair. After 300 m you’ll reach another fingerpost, this time turn right following the sign for Errwood and Foxlow Edge (very faded).
Walk up through the trees and it will bring you out at a drystone wall and main track. Turn left and follow the track along Foxlow Edge for 500 m. Cross back over the drystone wall and take the footpath downhill towards the road in the distance.
At the road, turn left and walk for 1 km down the road to Pym Chair, before you reach the car park there’s a footpath on your left.
Stage 3 – Pym Chair to Shining Tor
Distance: 1.9 miles/3.1 km
Grid reference SJ 99554 76710
Go through the gate and along the ridge following the flagstoned path as it takes you first over Cats Tor, with Shining Tor in the distance and the drystone wall on your right.
In early spring look out for Early Purple Orchids in the moorlands – see my nature and wildlife page for photos here. I also spotted a bird on the walk too.
The path is a gradual uphill and you might wonder where the summit is! But keep going, the trig point is located on the other side of the drystone wall for Shining Tor summit at 559 m (check out all 88 of the Peak District trig points here).
Stage 4 – Shining Tor to Derbyshire Car Park
Distance: 2.7 miles/4.4 km
Grid reference SJ 99469 73743
Turn left following the footpath down from the summit then up again as it meets a track. Turn right, then after 200 m turn left over a stile and follow the path as it heads downhill on a rugged footpath next to a drystone wall.
Cross a small wooden bridge, continuing on the path heading left towards the trees and following the sign towards Derbyshire Bridge. Then another 200 m and you are back at the gate you walked past in stage 1.
Go through the gate, turn right and follow the footpath down to the road then continue along the road all the way back to Derbyshire Bridge car park.
Do you have any more questions about this walk, maybe what to wear on your hike or any other questions? Ask me in the comments below.
More walks in the Peak District
Love the walks in the Peak District? You might like these Peak District circular walks nearby.
- Shutlingsloe walk + Macclesfield Forest
- Three Shires Head waterfall walk
- The Roaches, Hen Cloud and Lud’s Church
Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here
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