I live in Sheffield and don’t drive, so many of my favourite Peak District walks by public transport start with a bus or train journey into the hills. Over time I’ve realised that some of the best routes are the ones you can reach by public transport. No parking stress, the freedom of point to point walks, and the option to finish somewhere new.
This guide focuses on longer routes, from around 10km up to 25km, for days when you want to properly stretch your legs and spend more time out in the hills. These walks take in some of the Peak District’s most iconic places, from gritstone edges and wide open moorland to Kinder Scout itself.
All of the routes can be reached by train or bus from Sheffield or Manchester, and I’ve included downloadable GPX files to make planning and navigation easy. Where it makes sense, I’ve also included parking options so the routes are still useful if you’re travelling by car.
If you’re looking for shorter or easier routes, I’ve also shared a separate guide to easier Peak District walks by public transport.
1. Win Hill
This is a great walk if you want something that feels like proper exercise without being overly long. Win Hill can be approached from several directions, but this is my favourite way round. Starting in Bamford and finishing near Ladybower gives you a more gradual incline up and down, which makes it ideal if you want a steady climb while chatting with a friend. The climb is steady enough that you’ll feel it in your legs, but it never feels relentless, and the views at the top make it worth the effort.
The route begins by passing through woodland before climbing up towards the summit. It’s a really varied walk, with forest paths where you’ll often spot mushrooms and moss covered rocks, before the landscape opens up at the top. From the summit you get wide views across the Hope Valley and over Ladybower Reservoir.
If you’re driving and want a circular route, you can park at Ladybower and walk to Bamford along the Thornhill Trail before beginning the climb. This option is longer but gives a more gradual ascent. If you’re travelling by train only, another option is to start in Bamford and finish in Hope. I’ve included GPX routes for each of these variations so you can choose the option that suits you best.
Useful info
🥾 Difficulty: Moderate
🧭 Route type: Point to point
⏱ Time: 3 hours
📏 Distance: ~10km
⛰️ Elevation: ~400m
🌤 Season: Good year round. The summit is exposed in strong winds
🚆 Public transport: Train to Bamford or Hope from Sheffield or Manchester. Bus 257 from Ladybower to Sheffield or Bamford
🚗 Parking: Heatherdene car park, Ladybower Reservoir
🗺️ Download GPX file for this walk (Bamford → Win Hill → Ladybower, 11km)
🗺️ Download GPX file for this walk (Ladybower → Win Hill → Ladybower, 10.5km)
🗺️ Download GPX file for this walk (Bamford → Win Hill → Hope, 9km)
2. Stanage Edge Loop
This is my go to walk when I’m bringing someone to the Peak District and want to show off the gritstone edges and wide views without committing to a full day hike. The views to effort ratio is hard to beat.
The route is a circular walk from Hathersage and is very easy to follow. After a steady climb, the landscape opens out onto Stanage Edge, with wide views across the valley and climbers often scattered across the rock faces. It feels nicely varied too, starting in farmers’ fields before reaching the open edge. If you prefer a steeper start, walking it in reverse gives you a more gradual finish.
On the way down, you pass near Brontë Cottage and North Lees Campsite, where you can either take a direct path across a slightly slanted field or rejoin the main path near the cottage. I usually opt for the latter, especially if the ground is wet. I also like finishing in Hathersage, where there are plenty of cafés and pubs if you’re waiting for the bus or train. Like most edge walks, it’s best avoided in very windy weather, and the paths can be muddy after rain.
Useful info
🥾 Difficulty: Moderate
🧭 Route type: Circular
⏱ Time: 2.5 to 3 hours
📏 Distance: 9km (just under the 10km, but the elevation makes it feel like a longer walk)
⛰️ Elevation: ~300m
🌤 Season: Best in calm weather. Avoid windy days as the edge is exposed
🚆 Public transport: Train to Hathersage from Sheffield or Manchester. 272 bus from Sheffield to Hathersage
🚗 Parking: Public car parks in Hathersage village
🗺️ Download GPX file for this walk (can be uploaded into apps like Komoot, AllTrails etc)
3. Shatton Moor and Burton Bole
This is a great walk if you want big views and open moorland without the crowds. Starting from Bamford, the route climbs up onto Shatton Moor before crossing wide, exposed terrain above the Hope Valley.
The walk begins with a steady ascent that definitely gets your legs going, but once you reach the moor it opens out and levels off. Looking back, you get great views over Bamford towards Win Hill and Stanage Edge. By the time you reach Burton Bole, the landscape opens up completely. To get there, you’ll need to leave the main path and follow grouse tracks up and back down to rejoin the route. It’s a small detour, but worth it for the views.
From here, you get wide reaching views over Castleton and Edale, with Mam Tor, Lose Hill and Kinder Scout all visible. Despite how expansive it feels, it’s often very quiet, which makes it even more special.
The route then drops down towards Bradwell and on to Hope, or you can loop back to Bamford. Both options give you more views on the descent, and if you’re travelling by public transport, it’s easy to link the two villages.
Useful info
🥾 Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
🧭 Route type: Point to point or circular
⏱ Time: 3 to 4 hours (depending on route)
📏 Distance: 9-12 km
⛰️ Elevation: 450m
🌤 Season: Good year round. The moor is very exposed in strong winds and muddy in the wet
🚆 Public transport: Train to Bamford from Sheffield or Manchester. Return from Hope by train or Bradwell via the 272 bus to Sheffield
🚗 Parking: Limited parking in Bamford or public car park in Hope village
🗺️ Download GPX file for this walk (Bamford → Bradwell, 9km or Bamford → Hope, 12km)
🗺️ Download GPX file for this walk (Bamford circular, 12km)
4. Derwent Edge and Ladybower Reservoir
This is one of the longer walks on the list and a great option if you want something that feels like a proper day out. At 15.5km with around 500 metres of elevation, it’s a route where you’ll really feel like you’ve earned the views.
The route starts at Ladybower Inn and gets most of the climbing out of the way early, with a steady ascent up onto Derwent Edge. It’s definitely a leg burner, but once you reach the top the hard work is done and you can relax and enjoy the rest of the walk. From the edge you get wide views across Ladybower Reservoir and the surrounding moorland. The gritstone rock formations along Derwent Edge make a perfect place to stop for lunch before continuing across the moorland.
The route then follows a paved path across the boggy moorland. Even with the flagstones it can still get muddy, even in summer, so make sure you wear appropriate footwear year round. From there the path gradually descends with sweeping views over Ladybower before dropping down through the moor. Near the end of the walk you follow a small stream down towards the valley, which is a really peaceful way to finish the route. The final stretch along the reservoir is flat, making it a calm and relaxing end to a long walk.
If you’re driving, you can park at Fairholmes car park and follow a circular version of the route from there.
Useful info
🥾 Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
🧭 Route type: Circular
⏱ Time: ~5 hours
📏 Distance: 15.5km
⛰️ Elevation: ~500m
🌤 Season: Good year round, although the moor can be very muddy even in summer and the edge is very exposed in strong winds
🚆 Public transport: Bus 257 from Sheffield to Ladybower Inn
🚗 Parking: Fairholmes car park, Ladybower Reservoir
🗺️ Download GPX file for this walk (Ladybower Inn start, 15.5km)
🗺️ Download GPX file for this walk (Fairholmes circular, 12km)
5. Kinder Scout, Kinder Reservoir and the Western Edge
This is by far the biggest walk on the list and definitely not one for the faint hearted. At around 25.5km with roughly 1,100 metres of elevation, it’s a proper full day hike and one of the most epic routes you can do in the Peak District.
The route climbs onto Kinder Scout twice, and each ascent feels completely different, which really shows just how vast and varied the plateau is. The first climb is via Jacob’s Ladder, with steady stone steps leading up onto the high moor and wide views across the surrounding valleys.
From there, the route drops down towards Hayfield and Kinder Reservoir, which feels like a real highlight part way through the walk. The second ascent follows William Clough, a beautiful valley where you walk alongside a stream, with steep sides rising around you before the landscape opens out again at the top.
Once back on the plateau, the route follows the western edge of Kinder Scout across long stretches of open moorland before descending via Jacob’s Ladder. It’s a long and demanding day, but the variety of landscapes makes it one of the most rewarding walks in the Peak District.
If you’re driving, you can also start from Bowden Bridge in Hayfield, which joins the route near the reservoir.
🥾 Difficulty: Challenging
🧭 Route type: Circular
⏱ Time: ~8.5 hours
📏 Distance: 25.5km (Edale route) or 14.5km (Hayfield route)
⛰️ Elevation: ~1,100m
🌤 Conditions: Very exposed on the Kinder plateau. Not suitable in very windy weather.
🚆 Public transport: Train to Edale from Sheffield or Manchester
🚗 Parking: Edale village car parks or Bowden Bridge car park, Hayfield
🗺️ Download GPX file for this walk (Edale circular, 25.5km)
🗺️ Download GPX file for this walk (Hayfield circular, 14.5km)
These walks show how accessible the Peak District can be without a car. Slowing down, travelling by bus or train, and spending time outdoors in this landscape is what inspired Lamble, where we create ethical and sustainable clothing and prints inspired by the Peak District.
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