Tideswell, Miller’s + Cressbrook Dales Walk From Litton | 8-Mile Route

From the pretty village of Litton, this 8-mile circular walk takes you around four of the Derbyshire Dales, starting in Tideswell Dale, next alongside the River Wye is Miller’s Dale and Water-cum-Jolly Dale, then finally to Cressbrook Dale.

It’s mostly a low-level walk, with good paths so it’s a great route and there’s plenty of wildlife and nature to spot along the way.

In the spring and summer months, the Derbyshire Dales are a vibrant green with the mix of plants and trees, which turn to beautiful golds and reds in autumn making this a beautiful walk any time of year.

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

Have you done any of the Derbyshire Dales walks?

Tideswell Dale to Cressbrook Dale from Litton

gpx file

Tideswell Dale to Cressbrook Dale walk map

© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SK 16439 75157

Car parking address: Street parking in the village, Litton, Buxton SK17 8QX (or layby on Mires Lane)

There are a few options for free street parking in the village. Alternatively, if you’re driving up the road into Litton from the A623 (Mires Lane) there are two small laybys (SK 17290 75419) where you can park and begin your walk (on the upper path over the wall) before the village. (I parked here on a sunny Sunday)

Public transport

Nearest train station: Buxton train station (9 mile/15 km). From Buxton, you can catch the no. 65 bus to Litton (about 30 mins) – Stagecoach bus

Facilities on the walk

There are no public toilets available at the start of the walk at Litton, the nearest toilets are at Tideswell Dale car park (about 1.7 km from the start).

At Litton, there’s a lovely pub called The Red Lion to finish your walk with a treat!

Other useful information

The walk through the dales is fairly easy to follow however, I still recommend a map so you don’t add extra miles on your walk – details below.

The River Wye can flood during heavy rain, mostly winter months and the path can become flooded along Water-cum-Jolly Dale, there’s is an alternative route that takes you up some stone steps to a higher path. This means that this section of the path (even in good weather) can be muddy.

Peak District weather

Check the weather for your walk location and hills

• BBC Weather for Tideswell, Derbyshire
• Met Office weather for the Peak District
• Met Office weather for Tideswell, Derbyshire 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 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. 

Want to read later? Save the walk to Pinterest

Litton, Derbyshire walk route

Stage 1 – Litton to Miller’s Dale

Distance: 2.4 miles/3.8 km

Grid reference SK 16460 75144

Starting at Litton, walk down the road towards The Red Lion pub, the road splits off to the left and you want to turn down this road out of the village. There’s some road walking but there’s a pavement as you walk through Litton Dale.

At the road, there’s a signpost for Tideswell, turn left, there’s a small gate after a few metres that you can go through to walk parallel to the road, go through a second gate then walk along the path until you reach Tideswell Dale Car Park (another place you can start the walk if you prefer).

Walk through the car park and out the other side through the gate into Tideswell Dale, with limestone rocks on your left. Follow the stream through the dale, keeping to the lower path, it splits by the wooden carving of the water vole but rejoins a few hundred metres down the path.

Continue down the path, where you leave Tideswell Dale and join a quiet road, walk down here past some houses on your left then at the stone pillars follow the concession path (through private housing area) and across the bridge to Miller’s Dale.

Stage 2 – Miller’s Dale to Cressbrook Dale

Distance: 1.8 mile/2.9 km

Grid reference SK 16138 72939

Walk down Miller’s Dale, now following the River Wye on your right. Keep walking by the river, (as per the note above regarding high water levels if the path is flooded follow the sign for Cressbrook Mill upper path.)

Miller’s Dale then merges into Water-cum-Jolly Dale and eventually leads you past some black railings onto the road. Turn left and walk up the road, the road splits but keep to the right and follow the road until you reach a very faded sign for ‘Ravensdale – No through road’. Go down here to Ravesdale Cottages, which is the start of Cressbrook Dale.

Stage 3 – Cressbrook Dale to Peter’s Stone

Distance: 1.6 miles/2.6 km

Grid reference SK 17190 73692

Continue walking through the dale, over a small wooden bridge into Cressbrook Dale Nature Reserve. After a while, the path splits, but keep to the left-hand path and continue through the dale. You’ll then come out of the Nature Reserve area and Cressbrook Dale really opens up.

Walk through the dale on the lower path, next to the drystone wall, you’ll go past a wooden bridge on your left which takes you to Tansley Dale (another pretty dale to visit). But for now, keep walking and follow the path as it bends round to the right.

If you look up you’ll see Peter’s Stone jutting out of the green hills above you. Keep walking until you’re almost past it then you’ll see a small wooden sign in the ground (Peter’s Stone only). Follow this path up to the rocks, you can walk around (or scramble up if you like!)

Stage 4 – Peter’s Stone to Litton

Distance: 1.9 miles/3.1 km

Grid reference SK 17345 75244

Once you’ve explored Peter’s Stone, head back down the same track and walk along past the drystone wall on your left. Walk along and look for a path heading uphill and almost parallel to the path you’re on.

Head uphill to the upper path towards the road, go past the gate (this is where the laybys are if you parked here instead of Litton) and keep walking on the path above Cressbrook Dale, there are some stunning views of the dale and back to Peter’s Stone.

Walk along the path and follow it round as it then takes you above Tansley Dale, through a gate where you then head across to the corner (there’s a sign on the other side of the wall (Public Footpath – Litton). Go across the field and over a stone stile, turn left, then shortly after go over another stone stile on your right.

Walk across the field towards the buildings and another stone stile. Turn left and you’re back in Litton village.

Let me know if you have any questions about the Cressbrook Dale walk in the comments

Other options for this walk

Shorten the walk

You can shorten this walk by missing out the section up to Peter’s Stone at the end of Cressbrook Dale (it also saves you about 100 metres of ascent up Peter’s Stone).

At the wooden bridge, go across, through the gate then up Tansley Dale, follow the path uphill and you’ll join the upper path at the gate as it leads across the field.

More walks in the Peak District

Having fun exploring the Derbyshire Dales? Check out these lovely walks

• Tideswell Dale, Miller’s Dale + Monsal Trail walk
• Wolfscote Dale + Biggin Dale walk
• Chee Dale (stepping stones walk

Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

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