This is the perfect walk for a clear day in the Peak District. You’ll hike along six of the Peak District edges on this circular route which means there are views in all directions.
Your walk begins from Birchen Edge car park, next to the Robin Hood Inn. A short, sharp climb brings you up onto Birchen Edge to can catch your first views of the day as you also catch your breath! You’ll also quickly reach your first trig point of the day, just past Nelson’s Monument.
Coming off Birchen Edge and heading over lower, sometimes boggier ground, there’s a lovely hike in to White Edge, with great views of the rocks ahead of you. Once you’ve visited your second trig, White Edge, you gradually make your way back down to the road and past The Grouse Inn (a possible lunch stop) before passing through a pretty wooded area and up onto Froggatt Edge.
This is our favourite stretch of the walk, as you make your way from Froggatt to Curbar Edge, then Baslow Edge. You can now see down into the River Derwent Valley and all the way across to Chatsworth House. As you approach Wellington’s Monument it’s time to look for a tiny, steep path down through the trees to cross a packhorse bridge, surrounded by amazing plantlife.
Going over the A621 Sheffield Road you then head up onto your final edge; Gardom’s Edge and begin the last stretch through woods and across boulder strewn moorland to reach the A619 and head back to your car.
Here you will find details on how to get to the start of the walk, route information, a map, GPX file, plus detailed step-by-step directions for the walk.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve done this walk and what you think!
Six Edges from Birchen Edge
Walk information + GPX
Walk type: Circular Walk
Distance: 10.5 miles/16.9 km
Walk time: 4-5 hours
Total ascent: 483 m/1,586 ft
Highest point: 372 m/1,221 ft
Walk highlights: Views from the edges, Nelson’s Monument, Wellington’s Monument
Trigs: 2; Birchen Edge and White Edge
Ethels: 0
Six Edges from Birchen Edge walk map
© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460
Click for online mapWalk start point
Start grid reference: SK 28032 72135
Car parking address: Birchen Edge car park, Chesterfield Road (A619), nr Baslow, Bakewell, DE45 1PU – Google maps
The car park is right next to the Robin Hood Inn. It’s not a huge car park (about 30 spaces) so it can be busy at weekends but since most of the walks are short people come and go throughout the day.
Parking cost (Correct as of May ’24)
Up to 4 Hours – £3.50
All day – £5.00
Payment is by cash, card or PayByPhone App. PayByPhone users can pay by using the app or calling 0330-400-7275 , SMS 65565. (Location ID 807042)
Free for National Trust Members
Public transport
The 170 bus service runs between Chesterfield and Bakewell and stops near the Robin Hood Pub. There are no train stations nearby.
Facilities on the walk
There are no public toilets available at the start of the walk at Birchen Edge car park. The nearest public toilets are down the road at Nether End car park in Baslow.
During your walk you pass The Grouse Inn at about halfway. You could stop in for refreshments and use their facilities.
At Curbar Gap car park (an alternative start point if you like) you might be lucky enough to find Jolly’s coffee and cake van!
You can also treat yourself to a drink and some food at the end of your walk in the Robin Hood Inn and use their facilities!
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
The low ground between Birchen Edge and White Edge can be very boggy! Make sure you have good hiking shoes or boots for this.
Although you are up on the edges for a lot of the walk and therefore just on undulating ground, there are a couple of short, steep sections to get you onto and off the edges.
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?
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 herePeak 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 Baslow
- Met Office weather for Baslow, Derbyshire
- Met Office weather 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.
Six Edges Walk from Birchen Edge route
Stage 1 – Birchen Edge car park to White Edge
Distance: 1.6 miles/2.6 km
Grid reference: SK 28028 72135
From the car park, head down the steps towards the road. Turn left following the signpost for Birchen Edge. After 100 m, turn left and head along the narrow footpath. After another 500 m the footpath splits, take the right-hand fork up the steep path.
The path winds gradually uphill through some thick heather and bracken, but eventually, it brings you out at three large rock formations, known as the Three Ships and Nelson’s monument.
Another 100 m further along the edge you’ll reach Birchen Edge trig point, at 310 m. Once you’ve stopped to enjoy the views continue to follow the path down from the trig point to the open moorland below. There are a couple of paths, try to stick to the one aiming most directly towards a gate in the drystone wall, in front of a crossroads.
The crossroads is the junction of the busy A621 and Clodhall Lane. Take care crossing here as cars come along very fast. Go over the A621 and up Clodhall Lane opposite.
Continue up Clodhall Lane for approx. 150m, before going through a gate in the drystone wall, on the right hand side of the road. There are two gates; take the one which continues away from the A621, keeping Clodhall Road on your left and heading across open moorland up onto White Edge.
Stage 2 – White Edge to The Grouse Inn
Distance: 3.4 mile/5.5 km
Grid reference SK 2759 7418
Head up through a boulder field to emerge onto White Edge. There can be a lot of sheep in this area. Follow the path past the edge of dry stone walled fields until you see White Edge Trig appear on your right. Take a very small detour to visit the trig before returning to the main path and continuing along White Edge.
This is quite a long section but very beautiful. At around 4.5 miles/7.3km you will reach a broken dry stone wall and the Hurkling Stone. The Hurkling Stone is an ancient boundary marker.
The boundary of the Manors of Holmesfield, Padley and Baslow all met at this point and it was once the meeting place of shepherds. Take a look at the marks on the stone! The most obvious is a small cross and the letters MB for Manor of Baslow. There is also an Ordnance Survey marker.
Once you’ve finished inspecting the stone go to the other side of the dry stone wall and turn immediately left to follow the path which runs alongside it.
This path takes you down to the A625 road, where you will see The Grouse Inn opposite. You are now halfway round your walk and can reward yourself with refreshments at the inn if you choose!
Stage 3 – The Grouse Inn to Curbar Gap
Distance: 2.7 miles/4.4 km
Grid reference SK 2590 7795
Cross the road and walk past The Grouse Inn on your right. Go through a gate, across the field, through some woods, cross the road and through a small section of woods which will bring you out onto Froggatt Edge.
As you start to walk along Froggatt you will have great views to the right and spot an ancient stone circle to your left, known as Stoke Flat circle.
Keep walking along the main path on Froggatt Edge. This path then leads straight into Curbar Edge which you follow all the way until you turn right at the sign for Baslow Edge and then reach the road.
This is Clodhall Lane again and you are very close to Curbar Gap car park (turn left up the road for this). On busier days there is a coffee and cake van parked at this car park. You can also choose to start your walk from Curbar Gap if you prefer. Address: Curbar Gap car park, Clodhall Lane, S32 3YR. Charges: £3.50 up to 4hrs, £5.00 all day.
Stage 4 – Curbar Gap to Wellington’s Monument
Distance: 0.7 miles/1.1 km
Grid reference SK 2609 7470
If you’re not visiting the coffee and cake van, cross the road and take the path onto Baslow Edge. Follow the path that bears right as this will take you directly along the edge.
Walk all the way until the end where you’ll reach a junction of paths. You will be able to see Wellington’s Monument to your left and there is a steep bank down to some a wooded area below.
Turn right here, then at the end, you double back on a lower path through what may be thick ferns (depending on the time year). This will lead you down into the wooded area. This section is short but steep in places, so take care.
Stage 5 – Wellington’s Monument to Birchen Edge car park
Distance: 1.7 miles/2.7 km
Grid reference SK 2629 7367
Follow the path as it continues down through the woods. You come to an old packhorse footbridge. Cross the bridge, admiring the lush vegetation below – can you spot a yellow skunk cabbage?! Once across the bridge come out onto another road.
Cross over and go over the stile a few metres down the road.
Now follow this path as it gradually ascends through more woods and rocky boulders, then after 1 km, just before the gate, turn left and follow the boundary wall.
This will take you along Gardom’s Edge, a somewhat hidden edge in most parts, but it opens up further down so you can see across to Curbar Edge. Keep following the path ahead, heading down into more open but boulder strewn land. Heading diagonally across the open space to the left corner of the wall, where it meets the road.
Go through the gate and over the stone steps in the wall here to come out onto the A619 road. Be aware, the stone wall and steps are steep and you are coming out onto a narrow pavement with a busy road beside it. Take care, especially with dogs which may try to leap the wall.
Once on the pavement turn left, walking past the Eric Byne Memorial Campsite entrance. Follow the A619 for around 150m before taking the left turn in the road, past the Robin Hood Inn and back to the car park.
Ask me in the comments below.
Other walk information
More walks along edges in the Peak District
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