Padley Gorge and the Tors is one of my favourite walks in the Peak District National Park! The views from start to finish were fantastic! If there is one season to do this walk, it’s Autumn. Sadly, we were a couple of weeks too early to see Padley Gorge at its best, but still, it was beautiful!
The walk is just over 6 miles long, easy to follow, and on well-marked paths. The route starts at Padley Gorge, and takes you out onto the rolling hills, over Over Owler Tor, across to Mother Cap, and down to Owler Tor. At the end of the walk, you can reward yourself with tea or coffee and a nice slice of cake, at the visitor centre. If you’re Vegan or avoiding dairy, don’t worry you won’t miss out! They have a lovely selection to choose from.
Location
The route starts and finishes along the B6521, up from Grindleford, in Hope Valley.
Parking
There is free roadside parking. Make sure you park in the marked-out bays, as there is police enforcement in the area. Also, I recommend getting there early, as they do get full up quite quickly!
SatNav: S11 7TZ
The Route
Follow this map, as you walk the route, you shouldn’t 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.
The route has two loops. I recommend doing the large loop first. This is the route that will lead you through Padley Gorge and over to the Tors. The small loop is where the visitor centre is located. I personally only recommend doing this loop, if you are planning on stopping at the visitor centre for a drink and bite to eat.
1.
Starting on the B6521, head through the gate that’s on the same side of the road as the parking. Follow the path down to the river, and cross along the wooden bridge.
2.
At the path junction, take the path going off to your left-hand side, through Padley Gorge. Follow the path as it winds through the woodland until you reach a little gate.
3.
Head through the gate and follow the lane down towards a road junction. At the road junction, turn towards your right-hand side and follow it until you reach a gate.
3.
Head through the gate and follow the path through the field and out to the other side. Passing a farmhouse on your left-hand side, follow the farmhouse lane until you reach a road.
4.
At the road, turn towards your right-hand side and walk for a very short distance along the edge of the road. Very shortly, you will see a road forking off to your left-hand side.
5.
Head down the road that is forking off to your left-hand side. As you walk down the road, you should pass a woodland on your right-hand side. Just at the end of the woodland, you just see a gate with a footpath into a field. Head through the gate and follow the path up the hillside.
6.
As you reach the top of the hill, you should come to a path junction. Take the path going off to your right-hand side and follow it for a short distance. Very shortly, you will see a path going off to your left-hand side. Take this path to the top of Over Owler Tor.
7.
After you finish enjoying the views at Over Owler Tor, take the path heading southeast, towards Mother Cap. You will be able to see Mother Cap in the distance. It’s basically, one giant pile of boulders!
8.
From Mother Cap, continue following the path down off the hills towards a car park. Cross over the road, and turn towards your left-hand side. Follow the road for a very short distance, until you see a gate and footpath on your right-hand side.
9.
Head through the gate and follow the path over to Owler Tors. From Owler Tors, continue following the footpath, heading downhill, back to where you started the walk from.
10.
If you’re feeling thirsty and peckish, across the road where your car is parked, and head through the gate. Follow the footpath towards the visitor centre. At the visitor centre enjoy a cup of coffee and slice of cake.
11.
Once you’ve finished, continue on the path until you reach the road. Turn towards your left-hand side, and follow the road back down to where you’ve parked your car.
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
Want to stay updated with new hikes? Don’t forget to subscribe by completing the form below!
(don’t forget to check your junkbox for the confirmation e-mail!)
