The Peak District National Park has many great walks for all different abilities and tastes. Trig walks, reservoir walks, caves, the edges, etc. All providing incredible views! I haven’t done all the walks in the Peaks, not even half! But out of the ones I have done, this is certainly one of my favourites without a doubt!
The Whinstone Lee Tor Circular is a lovely 5-mile walk that starts at Ladybower Reservoir and takes you up onto the edge of Derwent Edge, seeing views for miles! The walk itself isn’t anything too strenuous. The hardest part is the climb up 200 metres, where then the path then flattens out as you walk along the hillside edge. You then have a short descent back down to the reservoir, followed by a walk along the side of the reservoir back to where you started the route from. It’s easy to navigate, and on a fine day, the view will sweep you away!
Location
The walk starts and finishes on Snake’s Pass, next to Ladybower Reservoir, not too far from the village of Bamford. A very beautiful part of the Peak District.
Parking
Parking is rational! There isn’t a car park for this walk, but there are parking bays at the side of Ladybower Reservoir, at the bottom of Snake’s Pass, on Snake Road (the A57), next to Ashopton.
SatNav: Ashopton Viaduct, Hope Valley, S33 0AX
Tip: get there early to get a parking spot, as it does fill up very quickly!
The Route
Follow this map, as you walk the route, you shouldnât get lost! Make sure your location is turned on and you should be able to see exactly where you are, on this map. Or if you prefer, download the GPX file and use it on your choice of route tracker.
1.
Starting at the side of Ladybower Reservoir, on Snake Road (Snake Pass), near Ashopton. Take the footpath leading off Snake Road, northeast, up through the tiny village of Ashopton. Very shortly, you should see a path going off to your left-hand side, through some woods. Take the footpath and follow it up onto the hillside.
2.
Eventually, the path will lead you onto the start of Derwent Edge. Here, be careful as you will see a lot of different paths going off in all different directions. Facing the direction you are walking in, take the first path going off to your left-hand side. This should be the path that leads you along the edge of the hillside, and not over the top of Derwent Edge. This path is called Whinstone Lee Tor.
3.
Follow the Whinstone Lee Tor footpath along the edge of Derwent Edge, until you reach a signpost and footpath, leading you through a gate on your left-hand side.
4.
Take the footpath leading you down the hillside, towards a shelter and some little houses. Go through two sets of gates and continue to follow the footpath down towards the reservoir.
5.
At the Reservoir, head through the gate on your left-hand side, and follow the footpath back to where you started the walk from.
Enjoyed this walk and would like to do another walk in the Peak District, please check out some of my other walk guides:
https://livingwiththewolf.co.uk/category/peak-district-national-park/
For more information about Peak District, please visit their website:
https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/home
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