12 BEST Views In The Peak District (+ Walking Routes)

Have you ever wondered where the best views in the Peak District are? If you love a good viewpoint for sunrise or sunset then here you might be able to find some good spots.

There are many popular places to visit in the National Park but here I will share with you my top 12 best Peak District views and the walking routes to enjoy them. Hopefully, you should find a few good places to add to your list.

There is a mix of different viewpoints in both the White Peak and Dark Peak area of the Peak District. The walks to suit all levels, from short to long routes! And don’t worry, not all great views come with a huge hike so you’ll find a walk for everyone. I’ve also which places are my favourite spots for sunrise and sunset viewpoints too.

The only thing with good views is that you generally need decent weather to appreciate them, the Peak District does hide in rain clouds sometimes but the sunshine does breakthrough and you can get to see the hills, reservoirs and views eventually. 

Which walks do you think have the best views in the Peak District? Let me know in the comments below.

12 best views in the Peak District

What are you waiting for, take a look now and see whether your favourite walk is on this list?

If you’d like to do the walk then you simply click on the button and it will give you the full walk route, including a map, GPX file and other useful information.

I’ve included options for shortening some of the routes but please get in touch if you need any help planning your walk.

Mam Tor + The Great Ridge

Distance: 5 miles/8 km

Walk time: 2-3 hours

Total ascent: 414 m/1,258 ft

If you’re looking for a walk with a wow factor then Mam Tor and the Great Ridge has to be on your list! This walk is one of the best views in the Peak District, maybe the best of the best, but I will let you decide.

This walk is one of my favourites, starting from Castleton and making your way up first to Lose Hill then walking the whole ridge to Mam Tor. But there are many options from both Castleton and on the other side of the valley Edale.

Walking along the ridge you get the best views of Mam Tor, I think the best are from Back Tor, about halfway along the ridge before you reach Hollins Cross.

Best views for sunrise + sunset – Due to the location and how the ridgeline continues, sunset although pretty, the sun dips behind the hills but the colours in the sky are still beautiful from the trig point.

For sunrise, you can get some lovely views across the Hope Valley from Mam Tor. A favourite photographers spot is down from the top near a gate on the path. In fact, it’s the same image on our Mam Tor charity patch.

Laddow Rocks

Distance: 9 miles/14 km

Walk time: 4-5 hours

Total ascent: 589 m/1,932 ft

Laddow Rocks is one of those unknown hidden gems in the Peak District and it’s not until you turn around after a steep climb that you realise what a beautiful view it is.

From Crowden, it’s a tough climb to the top, but once you reach Laddow Rocks, you’re in for a treat. The path follows the Pennine Way route and then takes you along the edge to Crowden Great Brook, but be sure to keep stopping for a glance behind.

If you’d rather do a shorter route, then you can do an out and back option, which would be about 5 miles to Laddow Rocks, then back the same way.

Kinder Scout Plateau

Distance: 8 miles/13 km

Walk time: 4-5 hours

Total ascent: 806 m/2,644 ft

Kinder Scout is the highest point in the Peak District, so of course, you’d expect it to also have the best views.

Unlike a traditional mountain, Kinder Scout is a huge moorland plateau, with the highest point being 636 metres. Much of the plateau is around that height so it’s around the edges you’ll get the best views. I love the edges overlooking the Hope Valley but the northern edges are pretty as well.

This walk starts in the lovely village of Edale and takes you up one of my favourite routes, up Grindsbrook to the top. Once you reach the plateau you’ll have wonderful views looking back to the route you walked up.

If you’re looking for the best sunset views, one of the best places is over on the western side (no surprise there), near Kinder Downfall, where you can watch the sun setting over Kinder Reservoir.

You can add that on to this walk below, by heading north at Noe Stool towards Kinder Low, then picking up the Pennine Way path to Kinder Downfall and back the same way, past Edale Rocks.

Best sunset view location – from Kinder Downfall

Chrome Hill + Parkhouse Hill

Distance: 4 miles/7 km

Walk time: 2-2.5 hours

Total ascent: 423 m/1,387 ft

Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill are both iconic Peak District hills and they come with some of the best views. The striking hills are limestone reef knolls and if you’re lucky you might even find fossils in the limestone rocks.

Chrome Hill is also known famously as the dragon’s back, as it does look like the scales on the back of a dragon. See if you can spot it when you’re out walking. The best views are from Parkhouse looking back to Chrome Hill

From Chrome Hill, you get the best views towards Parkhouse Hill many photographs have visited early in the morning for the sunrise photo!

This short walk from Hollinsclough includes a walk up to Chrome Hill, but you can include Parkhouse Hill if you don’t mind a steep hike to the top.

Best view for sunrise – below Chrome Hill summit looking towards Parkhouse Hill

Bamford Edge viewpoint

Distance: 2 miles/3 km

Walk time: 1-1.5 hours

Total ascent: 77 m/253 ft

Now, this might be the shortest walk on the list but it is one of my favourite Peak District views and as you can see it’s also perfect for a sunset hike.

There’s not much else to say, a short hike and beautiful views, the photo says it all!

Of course, this does mean it can be a popular spot on hot summer’s evenings, remember those! If you fancy enjoying it yourself (or fewer people at least) I’d recommend visiting on a weekday.

There is the main section of Bamford where you can enjoy the view but there are also a few other spots further down the edge, so worth walking a few extra metres to find your own little view.

Best view for sunset – anywhere along the edge you’ll get great views

Want to read later? Save the walk to Pinterest

Shutlingsloe Hill

Distance: 7 miles/11.5 km

Walk time: 3-4 hours

Total ascent: 513 m/1,683 ft

Shutlingsloe Hill is one of the Peak District hills located in Cheshire, in fact, it’s also known as the Matterhorn of Cheshire, which I love!

This walk ascends from Macclesfield Forest and as you walk towards you Shutlingsloe, you can see the iconic shape in front of you. Then when you reach the trig point at the top you have beautiful views.

As you can see it’s a lovely spot to watch the sunset too.

Best view for sunset + sunrise – Shutlingsloe summit is the best viewpoint since there are not many other larger hills nearby (except Shining Tor).

Edale Skyline walk

Distance: 20 miles/32 km

Walk time: 8-10 hours

Total ascent: 1,252 m/4,107 ft

Now here’s a walk with all the best views in the Peak District, although you do have to hike a long way to fit them all in on one day!

The Edale Skyline walk takes you on a gigantic walk around the hills surrounding Edale village. This walk starts in Hope and firstly takes you up to Win Hil, where you’ll have views across to Ladybower Reservoir.

Then up to the far east end of Kinder Scout plateau, where you walk along the edge all the way around with beautiful views to the nearby hills including Grindslow Knoll.

From Kinder Scout plateau, you then head along the other side of the walk, via Rushup Edge, on to Mam Tor and finally Lose Hill.

If you prefer you can walk shorter sections and still enjoy the views, but of course, this way you get to have an amazing day!

Best sunrise + sunset view – Win Hill summit is a wonderful spot to see the sunrise or sunset if you can time your walk to be there at the right time!

Winnats Pass viewpoint

Distance: 5 miles/8 km

Walk time: 2-3 hours

Total ascent: 382 m/1,253 ft

Winnats Pass is known for being a stunning place to drive through, as the road cuts through the hills on the way into Castleton village.

The views might be beautiful as you drive through but walking up to the top is a must-do walk to add to your hiking list for the Peak District.

It’s a slightly challenging hike to the top of Winnats Pass, a bit of a scramble in some places, but once you reach the top the views are totally worth it.

This is another walk that starts in Castleton and also includes ascends Mam Tor, but from the other side so you’ll get to enjoy two great views on one hike!

Best view for sunrise – anywhere along the top of Winnats Pass is a beautiful place to watch the sunrise.

Curbar Edge + Froggatt Edge

Distance: 6 miles/10 km

Walk time: 2.5-3 hours

Total ascent: 199 m/653 ft

Here’s another gem of a walk, great views without too much ascent, it just goes to show you can find beautiful spots without getting too out of breath!

The Peak District has many ‘edges’, as you’ll notice a few of them appear in this post. And the great thing about them is you can enjoy the scenery all the way along the edge.

This walk has two, Curbar Edge and Froggatt Edge, you can also extend it to a third, nearby Baslow Edge as well.

Best view for sunset – a popular location but Curbar Edge has stunning views for sunset.

The Roaches + Hen Cloud

Distance: 10 miles/17 km

Walk time: 4-5 hours

Total ascent: 766 m/2,513 ft

Our first Staffordshire walk on the list, the Roaches and Hen Cloud both have wonderful views, especially as it’s the highest point in the area when looking west towards Titteswoth Reservoir (pictured in the distance above).

This walk takes in both Hen Cloud and The Roaches, but also continues all the way to Lud’s Church, another Peak District must-see place to go, I won’t spoil the surprise, but be sure to add Lud’s Church to your list.

If you prefer you can miss out the additional climb up Hen Cloud, but it is worth it for the views and it tends to be slightly quieter than the main section along the Roaches.

Derwent Edge

Distance: 10 miles/16 km

Walk time: 4-5 hours

Total ascent: 624 m/2,047 ft

And another one of the edges to finish the list of Peak District best views! This is Derwent Edge, which has stunning scenery all along the edge but also some impressive rock formations along the way, including ‘Cakes of Bread’ and ‘Wheel Stones’.

Derwent Edge is particularly impressive when the heather is flowering between July to September time, as it much of the Peak District, but this walk is full of plenty of heathers.

As you walk along the edge you can enjoy the scenery around you, then as you begin to descend this stunning view of Ladybower Reservoir, another one of my favourites.

What do you think of these walks, are there any more you’d add to the list for the best views in the Peak District?

Check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

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Mam Tor Patch

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Kinder Scout Patch

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Thorpe Cloud Patch

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The Roaches Patch

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Win Hill Patch

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