Stanage Edge, Derwent Edge + Ladybower Reservoir Walk From Bamford | 14-Mile Route

Stretch your legs on this long walk from Bamford, taking in the delights of Stanage Edge, Derwent Edge and Ladybower Reservoir.

We are creating more walks that are public transport friendly so this route begins from Bamford train station in the Derbyshire Peak District. However, if you find driving an easier then there are car parking options too! Read the section on where to start the walk!

From Bamford train station, begin heading out the village a gradual uphill to pick up the footpath along Stanage Edge, the first highlight is the views and second is High Neb trig point! Next it’s downhill and a slightly muddy section through farmland before you pick up the path up to Derwent Edge. Our route takes you up to the rocks known as the Wheel Stones, because we think they are awesome and worth exploring! 

Next you head back down the path with stunning views of Ladybower Reservoir and it’s down through the the woods before you come out at the Ladybower Inn. The next section is fairly flat as you walk alongside the reservoir towards the ‘Plug hole’, from here you walk across Ladybower Dam following the Thornhill Trail to Bamford Station.

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

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

Buy a printable/downloadable PDF route guide for the walk here.

Printable PDF Guides

Stanage Edge, Derwent Edge + Ladybower Reservoir from Bamford

gpx file

Stanage Edge, Derwent Edge + Ladybower Reservoir walk map

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SK 207 825

Bamford train station is the start of the walk.

You can catch a train direct from either Sheffield (22 minutes) or Manchester (53 minutes).

This is a small free car park at the station. Alternatively there are a couple of other car parks on the route so if you’re driving you have a choice of where to start your walk. Dennis Knoll is a small free car park with no facilities or Heatherdene is a larger pay and display car park with toilets.

Car parking address: Bamford train station, Saltergate Lane, Bamford, Derbyshire, S32 1EG – Google location

Option 2 – Dennis Knoll car park, Long Causeway, Bamford, Derbyshire, S32 1BQ- Google location (Located on Stage 1 route instructions)

Option 3 – Heatherdene car park, Ladybower Reservoir, Hope Valley, S33 0BY Google location . £2.50 for up to 2 hours, £6 all day. Cash and cards taken. (Located on Stage 4 route instructions)

Facilities on the walk

There are no public toilets available at the start of the walk at Bamford; however there are toilets at Heatherdene car park near Ladybower Reservoir, a slight detour via the car park to use them.

There are two pubs that you walk directly past on the route – The Ladybower Inn and The Yorkshire Bridge, as well as the lovely Anglers Rest a short distance off the route in Bamford.

Other useful information

The two edges on the walk can be much colder than the valley sections, it’s worth taking some extra layers for the walk. 

Also the section after the road crossing from Stanage Edge can be very muddy and boggy in places, this is only a short part of the walk but worth wearing waterproof footwear.

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. It’s often good to check a few resources.

• BBC Weather for Bamford
• Met Office weather for High Neb on Stanage Edge
• Met Office weather and/or MWIS (Mountain weather information service) for the Peak District

Ordnance Survey walk map

The map for this walk is the Ordnance Survey OL1 – Peak District (Dark Peak Area). Check prices here with Ordnance Survey or Amazon. If you’re hiking in all weathers the Active OS maps are good to have.

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 for 3+ years and worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one month or yearly 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.

Stanage Edge + Derwent Edge walk route

Stage 1 – Bamford to Stanage Edge

Distance: 3.2 miles/5 km

Grid reference SK 207 825

From Bamford train station (platform 2 side) walk down the side road out of the station then turn right down Saltergate Lane. The golf course is on your right and after 300 m there’s a wooden stile with a fingerpost sign that leads you through the golf course. 

There are no signs so head diagonally across the golf course, avoiding the balls! In the far right corner there’s narrow track leading to a gate that brings you out on a wide track. Turn right here and follow it uphill, round a sharp bend and continue walking. The track then splits, keep on the left-hand track/small road. Walk up here until it bends round to the right, you’ll turn left here over a small wooden stile next to a tree (photo below).

Walk straight up, the footpath will take you through a series of fields and over 5 wooden stiles (between 2 and 3 steps high) where you’ll come out at the top of the fields. Turn right heading towards the signpost that says Coggers Lane, this will bring you out at a wide metal gate on the road. Turn left and walk down the road. You’ll go over a cattle grid (photo below) and past Dennis Knoll car park (option to start the walk here if you’re driving).

Keep walking straight on, past the green barrier where there’s a sign for no cars. Walk down this path as it bends around to the right and gradually heads uphill to join Stanage Edge.

Stage 2 – Stanage Edge to Derwent Edge

Distance: 4.8 mile/7.8 km

Grid reference SK 2378 8466

Once you reach the top of Stanage Edge take the rocky footpath on your left and continue along here where the path begins to widen. You’ll then go over a small wooden step stile and keep walking along Stanage Edge, the path can be muddy and wet in places so you’ll need to navigate as best you can! 

After about 1.5 km you’ll reach High Neb trig point, also a Peak District Ethel, 458 m the highest point on Stanage Edge. Another 1.5 km later you’ll reach the quarry area, take the path that bears left picking up the Sheffield Country Walk. Follow the path as it heads down, you’ll walk past a green public footpath sign for Stanage Edge. Shortly after take the left hand path which brings you out at the road, over another wooden stile.

Turn left and walk down the road, narrow grassy verge that you can walk on, it’s the worst bit of the walk but it’s short. After 500 m, cross over and go down the side road on the right. Then turn left signposted Public Footpath via Derwent Edge.

Walk down the track past the house, then just before the metal barrier look for a wooden post on the left. Follow this rough footpath as crosses over the brook, you may need to jump to avoid wet feet!

At the path junction, make sure you’re on the right of the wall, walk round and you’ll see another green public footpath signpost. Turn left here and walk uphill via the track next to the wall heading under the pylons. Go over the wooden stile (or metal gate if it’s open). Walk up the track, it splits further up, stay on the right-hand track and keep heading up past a stone grouse butt. Then you’ll reach the main path for Derwent Edge.

An option is to turn right here and head up to the Wheelstones, about 500 m. These are fascinating to explore and make a great place to stop for a break.

Stage 3 – Derwent Edge to Ladybower Reservoir

Distance: 2.2 miles/3.5 km

Grid reference SK 2016 8853

Once you’ve explored the Wheelstones on Derwent Edge head back down the path, at the cairn with the green public footpath signpost keep walking straight on, there are some beautiful views of Ladybower Reservoir from here. Follow the path round the edge where you’ll reach another path junction with several paths. 

Turn right head, taking the rocky path (photo above) that is heading immediately downhill (not the bridleway which bears off to the right). Once you reach the wall turn left and follow the path through the woods, go through a wide gate and keep walking to a small wooden gate with views of the reservoir.

Turn left, through the next wooden gate signposted Cutthroat Bridge. Continue on the path all the way down, through another wooden gate then to the end of the path which turns sharply right down to the road (there’s a steep short cut if you prefer). 

Stage 4 – Ladybower Reservoir to Bamford

Distance: 3.4 miles/5.5 km

Grid reference SK 2051 8655

At the road, turn right, walking past the Ladybower Inn, turn left and go across the bridge, then walk on the pavement alongside Ladybower Reservoir. 

Option – If you need a toilet stop, turn left into Heatherdene car park, you can use the facilities then walk along the upper path which will bring you out at Ladybower Dam, via some steps and across the road.

Alternatively, walk down the pavement, past The Yorkshire Inn pub to Ladybower Dam. Turn right and walk across the dam, through the metal gate and turn left down the path. Walk 300 m, the path splits, take the right-hand one, signposted to Bamford Station.

Follow the path, heading towards Shatton, you’ll go through a wooden gate then see a signpost for the Thornhill Trail, approximately a 1.5 mile trail to Bamford station. You’ll go through another two gates, over a road then pick up the trail again, through another two gates then at the end of the trail turn left following the signpost for Bamford and Shatton.

Turn left down the next road and walk down alongside the children’s playground and across the bridge over the River Derwent. Turn right and walk down the road, then next left down a side road back to Bamford Station.

Ask me any questions about this walk from Bamford in the comments below.

More walk options

Shorten the walk

There aren’t many options to shorten this route but you can skip the out and back to the Wheel Stones on Derwent Edge but this will only save you 1 km in distance.

More walks in the Peak District

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

• Win Hill + Crook Hill Walk From Ladybower Reservoir | 9-Mile Route
• Derwent Edge Circular Walk (via Lost Lad + Back Tor) | 8-Mile Route
• Bamford Edge BEST Short Walk in the Peak District | 2-Mile Route

Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

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