Family-friendly things to do at Longshaw

Visitors looking at mushrooms in the woodland area of Longshaw, Burbage and the Eastern Moors, Derbyshire — Explore Longshaw with your family | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Longshaw Estate provides a stunning backdrop for an adventure in the great outdoors. It’s a great hub to start from before you explore Burbage and the Eastern Moors, where you can enjoy the view from Duke's Seat or take a walk through Padley Gorge. Find out what family-friendly events are coming up and how best to plan your day out.

Autumn fun for all the family

Autumn is a wonderful time to visit Longshaw Estate, with the vibrant changing colour of the season, wonderful walks and exciting events for all the family.

There’s plenty to keep you entertained during October half term. Longshaw’s hosting a Monstrous Minibeasts trail designed for youngsters aged between 4 and 11 years old, but everyone is welcome to take part.

There’s also a Bubbling Cauldron Walk designed for children aged between 5 and 10 years. Craft a magic cauldron, then use it to collect ingredients for an enchanted potion, whilst exploring Longshaw's spooky woods on a storytelling journey. The walk finishes with seasonal snacks and drinks at the Moorland Discovery Centre.

For older children (aged 11 – 14) there’s also a Bubbling Cauldron Walk, where you use a magic cauldron to collect ingredients for an enchanted potion, as you explore Longshaw's spooky woods. The walk finishes with seasonal snacks and drinks at the Moorland Discovery Centre.

You can find out more about our events and look ahead to Christmas here.

Family of three walking through Longshaw during Autumn — Family enjoying a walk through Longshaw | © ©National Trust Images/Robert Morris

Special events this season

Why not try our Nature photography workshop with Going Digital?

Longshaw is known for its autumnal wildlife including rare fungi, rutting red deer and spectacular autumnal woodlands. This is a great chance for complete beginners to get to know their camera, and for intermediate photographers to elevate their skills.

This workshop is aimed at adults and children age 16+. Children under 18 must be supervised by an adult.

Our very popular free social walks also take place every Wednesday.

Family walks at Longshaw, Burbage and the Eastern Moors

If you're looking for a short wander or a big adventure, Longshaw's a great place to come for a family walk. The estate is a good hub to start from, before you explore Burbage and the Eastern Moors, where you can enjoy the view from Duke's Seat or take a walk through Padley Gorge.

Longshaw is covered with a maze of footpaths, so let us help you find your way. We have three waymarked walks, all starting from outside the Longshaw Lodge – simply follow the coloured arrows. Take a photo of the map on the outside of the Welcome Building in the Woodcroft car park so you have a map with you at all times.

Short walk

For a short family wander follow the pink arrows from nearby the Longshaw Lodge to the pond. This route includes steps and goes across terrain that varies with the weather. There are fences in this area to keep the cattle separate from the pathway.

Longer walk

Want to venture further? Follow the pink arrows on a 1.5-mile circular walk to Padley Gorge, where paddling and picnics are popular, but please remember to take all your litter home with you. The circuit continues along the brook and back through twisting woods on a stone track, past boulders that you can picnic and play on.

Waymarked walks

There are two other waymarked walks, both starting from near the Longshaw Lodge. The orange walk is about 1 mile, and depending on the time of year can be accessible with a buggy or wheelchair.

Our rangers work hard to maintain this path but sometimes after heavy rainfall the path can present a challenging terrain for buggies and wheelchairs, so please bear this in mind when planning your trip.

For those wanting a little more of a challenge, the blue walk is a little longer and takes you on a 3-mile walk. This route includes kissing gates and a main road crossing.

Help look after the places you love to visit by taking only photographs and leaving only footprints (or pawprints) behind.

Children building a den from sticks at Longshaw, Burbage and the Eastern Moors, Derbyshire — Visitors at Longshaw, Burbage and the Eastern Moors, Derbyshire | © National Trust Images / Trevor Ray Hart

'50 things to do before you’re 11¾'

Challenge yourself to tick off the list of 50 outdoor adventures, from rock clambering to watching a sunset. How many can you do at Longshaw? Here's a few suggestions to get you started:

Visitors walking along the accessible path at Longshaw, Burbage and the Eastern Moors, Derbyshire — Try Longshaw's accessible route for a walk with all the family | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Wonderful wildlife to see at Longshaw

Take a look at some of the creatures great and small that you could discover on your next visit to Longshaw, Burbage and the Eastern Moors

Three red deer in a meadow at Longshaw looking at the camera. Two of them have new growth antlers at different stages. — Red deer in a meadow at Longshaw | © Kev Dunnington

Red deer like to roam at across the Longshaw, Burbage and Eastern Moors estate.

The red deer are familiar faces here. They roam freely but you can often see them in the meadows and woodlands. Please make sure you admire them from afar so you don't disturb them.

A close up of a Northern hairy wood ant | © Kev Dunnington

The Northern hairy wood ant

Meet some of the smallest residents of Longhsaw Estate. The northern hairy wood ant is a protected species. It depends on the honeydew produced by aphids which live in the canopy of oak, birch and pine trees. In return for the honeydew the ants protect the aphids from other predators. Spring and summer are perfect times to spot their trails from tree to nest across the estate. It is fascinating to watch them at work as they bring materials for the nest or go back and forth to bring home a meal.

A large red damselfly on the Eastern Moors resting on the reeds. Its delicate wings and black and red markings are clearly visible. — A large red damselfly on the Eastern Moors resting on the reeds and grasses. | © Kev Dunnington

A red damselfy

This colourful collection of wildlife was spotted enjoying the wet flushes, undisturbed river sections and bog habitat over on the Eastern Moors part of the Peak District. Broad bodied chasers, damselfly and marsh orchids are just a few of the species which benefit from the work the team Eastern Moors Partnership are doing to look after the landscape and make sure it stays wet for wildlife.

A bird with a long curvy beak, speckled brown feathers and long legs sat on top of a drystone wall against a backdrop of a cloudless blue sky. — A curlew sat on dry stone wall in the Peak District. | © Adam Kirkland

Curlew

A curlew is identifiable by its long, slender, downcurved bill (perfect for probing for prey) and mottled brown plumage. Listen out for its very recognisable eerie, 'cur-lee' call that can often be heard from February through to July on its breeding grounds. They spend winter in coastal areas and arrive in upland areas where they nest on rough grasslands, bogs and moorlands in spring.

A heron hiding amongst the reeds near a pond — A heron amongst the reeds around the pond at Longshaw | © Kev Dunnington

Look out for heron by the pond at Longshaw

You might spot a heron near the pond at Longshaw, probably looking for a meal. We’re not sure what the catch of the day was when this photograph was taken, but as well as fish, herons are known to be partial to frogs and small mammals which is probably what it was looking for here.

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