The Peak District & Derbyshire

Frogatt, Curbar and White Edge red deer circular walk

A red deer stag bellowing among the autumnal bracken at Longshaw, with a view of the open countryside in the background and a bare tree on the left — A red deer stag at Longshaw | © National Trust Images / Adam Kirkland

A picturesque moorland route taking in Froggatt Edge, Curbar Edge and White Edge. There are views across the expanse of Big Moor, a chance to spot its famous red deer and even the option to take a break halfway round for a pint and some pub grub.

Near to

Longshaw, Burbage and the Eastern Moors

Start point

Curbar Gap car park, grid ref: SK262747

Preventing wildfires

Barbecues and campfires are not permitted in the area. Please take your litter home with you as this can also pose a fire risk, along with its impact on the environment and wildlife.

Address
Curbar Gap, Peak District, Derbyshire
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Grindleford station is 3 miles (4.8km) from Curbar Gap.
On foot
Calver and Curbar villages are within walking distance, with some steep sections up to Curbar Gap. There's a more gentle approach from the south, coming from Baslow along Bar Road and Baslow Edge.
By bus
You can take the 214 from Sheffield to Calver, the 66 from Chesterfield to Baslow and Calver, the 170 from Bakewell to Baslow or the 175 from Bakewell to Calver. See the Foot section for details of walks from Calver and Baslow.
Cycling
The route from Baslow is a bridleway and is accessible by mountain bikes for cyclists who would rather not use the roads.
By road
From Junction 29 on the M1, follow the A617 to Chesterfield. Take the A619 to Baslow and turn north onto the A623. Take a right at the Bridge Inn at Calver then the next right through Curbar village. The car park is at the top of the hill.
Dogs
Please keep your dog on a lead to protect wildlife and avoid disturbing other walkers. There are no dog bins so please take dog waste home with you.
Car park
There's pay and display parking at Haywood, Wooden Pole and Woodcroft. National Trust members park for free when they show their membership card. There's also parking at the starting point of the walk, Curbar Gap car park.
Toilet
There are toilets and other National Trust facilities at Longshaw, a 10–15 minute drive from Curbar Gap car park.
Café
Longshaw Café and other National Trust facilities at Longshaw, are a 10–15 minute drive from Curbar Gap car park. The café has outdoor seating with scenic views across the estate.
Shop
There's a combined café and shop, along with other National Trust facilities, at Longshaw, a 10–15 minute drive from Curbar Gap car park.
Pub
The Grouse Inn, Froggatt (not National Trust), is about halfway along the route. It serves home-cooked meals, with vegetarian, gluten-free and children's options.
Total stages: 11
Total stages: 11
Start point
Curbar Gap car park, grid ref: SK262747
Stage 1
From Curbar Gap car park, head east through the gate onto a vehicle track.
Stage 2
When the track forks, take the right towards Sandyford Brook. Cross the bridge over the brook, with the dry-stone-walled fields on your left.
Stage 3
Climb the steep bank, following the wall on your left to the top of the bank and the corner of the wall.
A male adder | © National Trust Images/Rob Coleman
Stage 4
At the corner of the wall, a well-trodden path leads you north along White Edge. The Gritstone Edges were once extensively quarried for their rough, coarse stone. Many corn and textile mills were built here and you may find remnants of discarded millstones that give the stone its common name, millstone grit.
Stage 5
Make a quick detour to the trig point on your right for a great place to spot deer as you take in views across the expanse of Big Moor, with the old Barbrook Reservoir in the background. Back on the path, continue for some distance along White Edge to the hole in the wall.
Red deer
The UK's largest land mammal, the red deer is a favourite sight on Big Moor. But it's well camouflaged against the reddish-browns of the moorland and sometimes all you'll spot are the stags' antlers sticking up above the heather. The best way to see the deer is with binoculars – trying to get closer will only scare them away. And the best time of year to see them is during the rut, when stags battle to mate with the hinds.
Stage 6
Turn left at the hole in the wall, where a disused dry-stone wall leads from here through fields down to the Grouse Inn pub.
The vibrant hues of flowering heather | © National Trust Images/Henry Pisarski
Stage 7
The next section of the route leads you across the fields behind the National Trust car park at Haywood.
Stage 8
From Haywood car park, head south over a small brook and carefully cross the main road to the gate opposite that leads to Froggatt Edge.
Stage 9
A wooded track leads to another gate, preceded by another brook. As the woodland opens out – with views across to the limestone of the White Peak – you can see the remains of a small ancient stone circle on your left, with one central stone around a metre high.
Stage 10
Follow the track along the full length of Froggatt and Curbar Edges. Once famous for millstones, these are now known as great places to rock climb.
Climbing the rocks at Froggatt Edge, Derbyshire | © National Trust Images/Tom Harman
Stage 11
At the end of Curbar Edge, a small gate leads back to the car park at Curbar Gap.
End point
Curbar Gap car park, grid ref: SK262747
Trail map
Map of a circular walk around Froggatt, Curbar and White Edges in Derbyshire | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Longshaw, near Sheffield, Derbyshire

01433631757

peakdistrict@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Near to

Start point

Trail information

Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

Preventing wildfires

Getting here

Facilities

Accessibility

Terrain and elevation

Trail route

Total stages: 11

Total stages: 11

Start point

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Point of interest

Stage 4

Stage 5

Point of interest

Stage 6

Point of interest

Stage 7

Stage 8

Stage 9

Stage 10

Stage 11

End point

Trail map

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