Views and woodlands walk at Longshaw
This walk is a great way to spent time in some of the lesser visited parts of Longshaw. Take in panoramic views across the Peak District from the top of Tumbling Hill on the 'Views and woodlands walk' at Longshaw. This circular trail is the chance to spot pied flycatchers and other wildlife on woodland trails. Visitors can also navigate using a 300-year-old signpost, admire carpets of wild flowers on the moors, and discover a historic train line.
Start point
Haywood Car Park, Grindleford, Hope Valley, S11 7TZ. Grid ref: SK255777Trail information
*The walk includes steep sections and uneven ground. For futher details, please see Terrain section.
**Not suitable for wheelchairs. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome. For futher details, please see section marked Facilities. You may encounter sheep & lambs, ground nesting birds, adders and cattle on this walk so please keep your dog on a short lead at all times.
Try forest bathing
Along your walk, pause for a moment in the forests. Pay attention to your senses, what can you see, hear and smell as you take in the woodland? Taking time to slow down and connect with nature has benefits to both mental and physical health.
Total stages: 11
Total stages: 11
Start point
Haywood Car Park, Grindleford, Hope Valley, S11 7TZ. Grid ref: SK255777
Stage 1
At the top of the car park, take the sharp right-turn past an electricity pylon. Follow this path down the hill through Hay Wood. After about 100 metres, keep right at the fork and head slightly uphill. When you reach the residential Tedgness Road turn right and continue north along it until you reach the main road.
Stage 2
Carefully cross the main road to the pavement opposite and turn right. Almost immediately turn left down a steep tarmacked footpath. At the bottom turn right towards Grindleford Station.
Stage 3
Walk over the railway bridge and follow the road, turning right up the road to the gate at the bottom of Padley Woods. From here, there's a maze of paths going up into the woods. The most direct route is to follow this main paved footpath up the hill, where eventually you'll emerge from the woods onto grassy moorland via a small gate. Come back another day with an OS maps and explore the smaller footpaths that leave this main route.
Pied flycatcher at Longshaw | © Chris Kelly Stage 4
You will arrive at a bridge, with a signpost pointing the way. Following the pink waymarked route, cross the bridge, head up the hill, cross the main road carefully, and head through another gate opposite. This is Granby Barn, which contains information about the local area and is a good place to stop for shelter on a rainy day. Follow the path up the hill through another gate and past a pond on the left. Continue on theis main path, through more gates, until you reach Yew Tree Junction. Turn left for the cafe and facilities, or right to continue the walk.
Pond at Longshaw | © National Trust Stage 5
Turning right at Yew Tree Junction, your back will be to Longshaw Café. Go through the gate and walk along the main drive until you reach the crossroads. You'll walk between twin gateposts and past a companion stone on your way.
Stage 6
At the crossroads, see if you can spot the old gatepost turned into a seat. Turn left up the hill towards Wooden Pole car park, keeping an eye out for the Northern Hairy Woodants on either side of the path. When the car park comes into sight, follow a footpath on your right that takes you through a gate to a road, with a white gate opposite.
Stage 7
Having crossed the road, head through the white gates and follow this footpath through the woods. This is a great area to slow down in and try forest bathing. You'll pass disused quarries, billberries, and sometimes red deer. When you reach the main footpath, turn right down the hill and follow this path to the main road.
Stage 8
Having crossed the main road, turn right and head through the white gates. This is the opposite end of the old drive to Longsahw Cafe. Follow this path, with the woods on your right and open fields on your left. Keep an eye out for a stile on your left.
Stage 9
Go over the stile, down into a tussocky field and follow the packhorse track paved with ancient, worn stones west down the hill. The path is indistinct in places, as the stones give way to boggy ground. Keep heading straight down the hill and the stones will reappear near the bottom. Here you'll see a wall, a holly tree, and a little stream flowing over the rocks.
Stage 10
Bear left, passing the holly tree, and go along to the corner of the wall. Here, turn right, cross the stream and then walk up a steep bank into a small rectangular field. Head through the double gate on the left and follow the worn path uphill in the direction of the rocky outcrop of Tumbling Hill. After going through the gate in the top right-hand corner of the field, take an immediate sharp left turn following the wall.
Stage 11
After a few yards turn right at the fork to head up the steep incline to the top of Tumbling Hill. Take care, as this is a clifftop. Continue along the path along the ridge, past a large cairn. Follow the path into the woods until you reach a wall and then turn right down the hill back towards Haywood Car Park.
End point
Haywood Car Park, Grindleford, Hope Valley, S11 7TZ. Grid ref: SK255777
Trail map
Views and woodlands walk at Longshaw map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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