We tend to think of the Dark Peak when we think of height, and it’s true you’ll find the highest reaches of the Peak District there.
But the upland plateaus of the White Peak and Southwest Peak also provide sweeping views and claims some of the highest villages and churches in the National Park and beyond.
This 5.5-mile walk links three rural White Peak settlements built on lead-mining. The upland meadows provide far-reaching views of both the White and Dark Peak. You’ll need to supplement this walk description with an OS map as there are many twists and turns along the way.
Starting at sleepy Flagg (parking considerately at its centre) head northwest up Main Road past the little chapel and nursery school. Follow the first wooden fingerpost on the left into a field.
The route crosses several fields to High Stool Farm. Emerging at Pasture Lane near the bend, cross to the farm entrance and go through the squeeze stile into another field. The route then passes between High Stool Farm and Town Head Farm to cross several more fields.
Reaching the road, turn left, passing the first right turn to continue along Highstone Lane. Take the second right into Church Lane to drop to Chelmorton. Enjoy views of the Dark Peak with Axe Edge spread out across the skyline.
Chelmorton is a charming village, laying claim to several superlatives. St John the Baptist Church sits in the highest parish in England and the church is the highest in England with a spire.
Chelmorton also lays claim to the highest village in Derbyshire. Church Inn is an excellent place to stop for lunch (closed Tuesday).
From here continue uphill, veering right to climb past Bank Pit Spring. In days of yore, it supplied Chelmorton’s water. Reaching the top, continue along the path that runs alongside a rake (flower rich in summer).
Keep right, eventually emerging at Pillwell Lane. Go through the gate, turn right, almost immediately climbing a stile into a field on your left.
Follow a straight course through several fields to Sough Lane. Cross the rough track and climb the stile next to the field gate.
Follow the drystone wall through several fields. The high-stepped stiles over the drystone walls are a killer for people like me with short legs, but you can, at least, appreciate the brachiopod fossils in some of the stones.
The route goes over Sough Top (a small rise) then passes right of Sough Reservoir. Just after, climb the wall stile on your left into a field. Magnificent views open out over the White Peak. Fin Cop, the Wye Valley, Tideswell and Taddington all come into view. Descend diagonally through the fields, dropping steeply into Taddington at Slipperlow Lane.
Cross the road into a field, slipping through a gap between houses to emerge at Humphrey Lane. Turn left then right onto Main Street. Follow down through the village with its pretty stone-built cottages and converted barns.
Towards the bottom end, you’ll find the Queens Arms. As you continue down, look for Dokindale Lane on your right – in truth a narrow path that climbs between hedgerows and walls.
On the mainly limestone-strewn path, you’ll find stretches of basalt and volcanic ash, speckled with white crystals.
After a steady climb, the path meets Humphrey Gate road. Turn left onto it and continue to the junction of Moor Lane. Go through the stile and turn diagonally left to cross a series of fields.
The lumps and bumps of spoil heaps are evidence of the many disused mineshafts. Enter a long ‘runway’ of narrow field (one of several in the vicinity indicative of medieval strip farming) and turn left. It leads to Flagg Lane.
Climb the wall stile and turn right. Walk the road until you reach a public footpath post on your left. Climb the drystone wall and follow the field boundary on your left down through fields, passing Flagg Hall Farm. One last field cuts across to Main Street in Flagg and your starting point.
Like Chelmorton, Flash lays claim to its own superlatives. But it’s not just the highest village in Staffordshire, or even the Peak, it claims to be the highest in Britain.
Contested by Wanlockhead in Scotland, satellite technology measured the height of the highest house in both villages, and Flash won. The community also lays claim to Britain’s highest village pub.
This is a lovely four-mile walk in a quiet corner of the Peak, taking in country lanes, moorland and fields. Along the way, you’ll catch cracking views of fine landmarks: Axe Edge, The Roaches, Ramshaw Rocks, Parkhouse Hill, Chrome Hill and Shutlingsloe to name a few.
Parking at Flash village hall (charge), head into the village along Brown Lane, veering right into Back Oth Cross road (what a great name).
Just past the New Inn and the old Wesleyan chapel, take the gravel track on your right for a short distance, looking for a way marker on your right. It takes you up and over a series of fields to a farm track skirting Oliver Hill.
Leaving the track, follow the path over the moorland and down to Oxenstitch farm. Turn right onto a road, then first left onto a smaller lane. A second left takes you onto an even smaller country road.
Go past a series of houses, through a gate and continue along the rough track as it drops down to the A53.
Cross the road carefully and take the path that drops to a gate above a farmhouse. Slip round the wall on its left, where there’s a stile. Cross it and drop down to the house.
Go through two gates, then descend fields to Dove Head and Mount Pleasant Farm. It’s hard to believe hereabouts is the source of the River Dove, not much more than a reedy ditch at this point.
Climb the steep driveway to its end and turn right. Follow the country lane down then uphill to its end. Turn right if in need of sustenance - at the junction with the A53 you’ll find Flash Bar cafe.
Otherwise turn left and continue until you reach a fingerpost on your right. Go through the wicket gate and drop through the field, keeping the drystone wall on your left.
Eventually you’ll come to a small metal gate on your left. Climb it and continue downhill to the head of the River Manifold. This field section is not well used, and you may have to wade through grass, but it’s a public right of way.
From here it’s a short ascent to the A53. Cross the road to Brown Lane and return to your starting point, finishing, perhaps, at the New Inn.
This is a pleasant ramble taking in Eldon Hill with far-reaching views over the White Peak. Along the 4.7-mile walk, views open out to Mam Tor, Win Hill and Bamford Edge. The distinctive Minninglow can be spotted on the skyline.
At 450 metres (1,542 ft), Eldon Hill claims the highest point in the White Peak.
Park considerately on Church Lane (by the Methodist Church is a good option) and head up the road away from the A623. Veer left to keep on Church Lane, then take the first right to climb Eldon Lane with views of Eldon Hill in front of you.
Aim for Eldon Hole, an old mineshaft mostly hidden by thick vegetation. Follow the fence on its left side and ascend to the summit of Eldon Hill, marked with a cairn.
From the marked summit head due east. You’ll see the quarry on your left. The grassy path passes through spoil tips from an old mineshaft.
Go through the gate on your right in the corner of the field and follow the stone wall on your left. On your right you’ll see a rare example of limestone pavement in the Peak District.
Follow the wall at the bottom of the hill as it bends round and go through the gate. At the top end of the field, go through a second gate and turn right onto the public bridleway, a stoney track.
The track eventually turns to grass before reaching a crossroads of paths signed for The Cop, Batham, Castleton and Hurd Low. Turn right, following the finger post in the direction of Hurd Low.
Keep following the Limestone Way as it curves into a squeeze of boundaries. Go left then right at the bottom to follow a path between a fence and drystone wall. The path becomes a farm track, passing Ox Low (with Eldon Hill behind) and Oxlow Rake.
Moorland and meadow give way to woodland. At the bottom of the track, skirt a farm to meet a lane with a couple of dwellings. Turn left along the lane and continue to the junction with Old Dam Lane.
Turn right and descend to the curve of road you rounded close to the start of your walk. From here, retrace your steps back to your starting point.
