Date: 26th – 29th March 2026
Base Location: Bakewell, Derbyshire
Price: £60
Overview: A weekend of walking and community in March, based in the famous Derbyshire ‘Peaks’ village of Bakewell. Picture above; Mam Tor.
This walking itinerary is designed to showpiece the various different styles of scenery in the Peak District, from the ridge walk across to Mam Tor which is like being on top of the world (see photo above), …
…to the Tolkein-esque gnarled tree and silver stream ancient woodland of Padley Gorge (see photo below),…
…to the classical village walk from Bakewell to Edensor village (pronounced En-zuh) at the foot of the majestic Chatsworth House, nestled in gentle rolling Derbyshire hills.
You’ll need to arrange your own accommodation for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Thursday 26th March
It doesn’t really matter what time you arrive in Bakewell on the Thursday night, but if you’re arriving early enough you can rendezvous to dine and socialize with those from the group who have already arrived, should you wish to.
I’ll be around from 6:00 pm until at least 9:00 pm. We’ll use the Lobby Lounge of one of the Bakewell hotels and I’ll advise which one nearer the time.
Friday 27th March: Mam Tor
Start Time: 10:30am
Meet Point: Castleton Visitor Centre, Buxton Rd, Castleton S33 8WN
Distance: 6.5 miles
Parking: Castleton Car Park – HPBC at the Castleton Visitor Centre, Buxton Rd, Castleton S33 8WN. There are public toilets at the Visitor Centre. Parking between 4 and 10 hours is £6.80, see various charges per duration. Car park ticket machines accept 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2 coins and do not give change. Card payments accepted via the pay and display machines. You can also pay for parking in all council owned car parks via the PayByPhone application.
On the Friday we’ll start with the biggy, Mam Tor, the roof of the Peak District, and we’ll have an optional visit afterwards to Speedwell Cavern, and being Friday we’ll avoid the weekend queues.
We start from the village of Castleton.
Lose Hill looking toward Mam Tor.
Mam Tor’s ridge pathway allows you to enjoy the ‘view from the top’ as you go along, rather than just as single stop-at-the-top and 5 minute look around, as you get with other hills.
Speedwell Cavern
Parking: There is Speedwell Cavern Car Park opposite Speedwell Cavern. The address is Speedwell Cavern, Winnats Pass, Castleton, Hope Valley S33 8WA.
Anyone who doesn’t wish to go down Speedwell Cavern after the walk can rest up in the town of Castleton, where we’ll be parked, at the foot of Mam Tor, or visit Buxton for the later part of the afternoon – 12 miles to the South, or return to Bakewell to explore the town more.
Speedwell Cavern is on the recognisable Winnats Pass, the winding road snaking down the gorge you see below.
It is an underground boat journey, arrived at by going down some steps, in one of the four show caves in the region. The cave system consists of a horizontal lead miners’ adit (passage) 200 metres below ground leading to the cavern itself, a limestone cave. The experience takes between 30 and 60 minutes.
The last tour is at 3:00pm and Speedwell Cavern closes at 4:00pm so we will need to be mindful of time.
Saturday 28th March: Padley Gorge
Start Time: 10:30am
Meet Point: The Fox House country pub, Longshaw House, Hathersage Rd, Longshaw, Sheffield S11 7TY
Distance: 6 miles
Parking: Park at The Fox House country pub with their kind permission, Longshaw House, Hathersage Rd, Longshaw, Sheffield S11 7TY, where we’ll have lunch after the walk optionally, unless you wish to take a packed lunch or do something else for lunch. Please Note: It is possible that by the time we travel, The Fox House will have formalised their car park as a public ticketed car park.
Alternative Parking: Alternatively, there’s a municipal car park 200 metres south of the Fox House pub at National Trust Car Park – Longshaw Estate – Woodcroft, Grindleford, Sheffield S11 7TZ.
Padley Gorge is an enchanting ancient woodland and brook in a valley, unlike anything else. Its twisted trees, wooden bridges and flowing waters give it a fantasy movie feel.
This walk also includes paths to the tucked away Grindleford Station, across the plains past Owler Tor and great views down from the small village of Hathersage Booths.
The Fox House at Longshaw.
Sunday 29th March: Bakewell to Chatsworth House
Start Time: 10:30am
Meet Point: Bath Gardens, on the roundabout (Rutland Square) in the centre of Bakewell, opposite The Rutland Arms Hotel. Address is Rutland Square (Stand B), Bakewell DE45 1BT
Distance: 6 miles
Parking: As this walk starts in Bakewell you’ll already be parked! 🙂
On the Sunday we’re going to pop to the neighbour’s place. …In this case the Duke of Devonshire, Peregrine Cavendish, and the 17th century grand mansion of Chatsworth House.
A 3 mile or so ‘outward’ walk gets us there, and after we’ve explore the house and estate – and had lunch – it will be another 3 miles about in the different return leg; about 6 to 7 miles in total, plus a bit more depending on how much you want to walk around the Estate and grounds or just sit with a coffee instead.
In addition to the option of your own packed lunch, there are several options for eating at Chatsworth, including The Carriage House Café…
…the luxurious Cavendish Restaurant (with prices to match)…
…and various ‘Food to Go’ options at the Chatsworth Park Shop, the Tea Shop, and various food trucks serving everything from stone baked pizza to fresh scones….
Video
This video shows the beauty of Bakewell, where we’ll be based.
“Base Camp Bakewell”
For snacks, self-catering and packed lunch filling there are two supermarkets in the town;
- A Co-op close to the centre, on Market St, Bakewell DE45 1DS, about 300 metres from the central roundabout and The Rutland Arms Hotel.
- and an Aldi just out of town; Ashford Rd, Bakewell DE45 1GL
Refunds
Refunds cannot be given except on a first come basis if the full capacity of the event is reached AND someone from the Waitlist pays for the event.
Group Ethos
This is an inclusive, boundaries respecting group. Participants must act in accordance with this at all times. Failure to do so will result in instant removal from the event and group without refund.
What to do next?
Don’t book any accommodation before you’ve confirmed your place with me.
- Speak to me or message me to let me know you’d like to go.
- I’ll let you have bank details to make a payment.
- Then you can set about arranging accommodation.
You can call me on 07758 351 527.
I look forward to seeing you there,
James
