Best autumn walks and trails in the Peak District and Derbyshire

There are walks you do for the miles. And there are walks you remember because of the moments. Autumn in the Peak District has a habit of making even familiar places feel a little different. Woodland turns copper and gold. The light sits lower across the hills. Streams sound louder after the rain and the gritstone edges look particularly dramatic against a grey sky.

It’s also the kind of weather that makes having somewhere good to come back to feel like part of the plan. So whether you want a full day on the hills, a long but gentler trail or a walk that can become part of a bigger weekend, these are some of our favourite ways to get outside this autumn. Boots on. Let’s go.

Grindleford, Padley Gorge and Higger Tor

Best for: woodland, big views and a proper day out
Difficulty: Hard

If you want a walk that shows off several different sides of the Peak District in one go, start in Grindleford. The route climbs through Padley Gorge, where woodland, streams and autumn colour do most of the talking. Then the landscape opens up.

Head towards Surprise View before continuing onto Higger Tor, where the trees give way to darker gritstone and wider views across the surrounding landscape.

It’s a walk with plenty of variety: Forest, Water, Open moorland, Rock.

And enough climbing to make coming back down feel properly earned. From Higger Tor, the route eventually brings you back towards Grindleford - and The Maynard, which makes a very convenient end to the day if your Post-Peak Plan involves food, a drink and not getting back in the car. Better still, make a stay of it.

If you’re building a full weekend around the walk, take a look at our guide to the best cosy places to stay in the Peak District and Derbyshire.

Hathersage, Stanage Edge, Ladybower and Bamford

Best for: variety, views and a rewarding full day
Difficulty: Medium to hard

This is one for people who like a walk to feel like a journey.

Starting from Hathersage station, the route heads up towards Stanage Edge, with the option of a pre-walk caffeine stop in the village before the climbing begins.

Once you’re up, this is classic Peak District territory: Big skies, Gritstone edges.

And the kind of views that make stopping for a minute feel entirely justified.

Continue across the tops towards Ladybower, where another big view waits before the route drops towards Bamford. It’s a long and physically challenging day, but one with plenty of variety and useful options to shorten things if the autumn weather decides not to cooperate. From Bamford, the route returns towards Hathersage and The George. Which is a very good point to stop walking.

We’ll leave the pint and food recommendations to our guide to the best foodie spots for post-hike fuel.

For now, just know there’s a reason this is the route in the collection we’d be tempted to do first.

Buxton and Chrome Hill

Best for: a challenge
Difficulty: Hard

This is the big one.

Starting in Buxton, the route heads out on a long loop towards Chrome Hill before returning to town. Chrome Hill is one of those pieces of landscape that looks almost designed to be photographed - its distinctive ridge giving the route a very different character to the woodland walks and gritstone edges elsewhere in this list.

But the views need earning. This is the hardest route in the collection and one to save for a day when you’re ready for a proper challenge.

Which also makes getting back to Buxton afterwards particularly satisfying.

Because once the boots are off, your options become considerably less strenuous: Food, Spa, Stay, Possibly all three.

If that sounds more like your kind of finish, Buxton Crescent Hotel features in our guide to the best cosy places to stay this autumn.

Hope, Castleton and Lose Hill

Best for: turning one walk into an overnight adventure
Difficulty: Moderate

Some routes lend themselves particularly well to an overnight stay, this is one of them.

Start at Hope, making it a handy option if you’re arriving by train, and head across towards Castleton. From there, the route moves onto higher ground towards Back Tor and Lose Hill, bringing in some of the landscapes the Hope Valley does best.

One of the nice things about this walk is that it can be completed in full in one go or broken up and turned into something slower, with Losehill House Hotel & Spa giving you the option of making an overnight stay part of the route.

Walk, Check in, Switch off, Carry on tomorrow.

There’s something particularly appealing about not treating every walk as something that has to be completed before the light goes. Autumn weekends are allowed to take their time.

Baslow, Chatsworth and beyond

Best for: landscape with a little culture built in

Not every great Peak District walk needs to be about reaching the highest point.

Start in Baslow and make Chatsworth the centrepiece of the day.

The route gives you time out in the landscape while also bringing one of Derbyshire’s best-known estates into the journey. Which is rather the point of this whole autumn series. The Peak might get you outside. But it doesn’t have to be the only plan.

Take your time around Chatsworth before continuing the walk and making your way onwards. When the walking is done, Fischer’s Baslow Hall is an option for food nearby, while Wildhive Callow Hall gives you somewhere to extend the stay.

Landscape, Culture, Dinner, A room, Then another day tomorrow.

That sounds like a fairly complete autumn plan to us.

Bakewell, the Monsal Trail and Ashford

Best for: an easier-going route with plenty of time to look around
Difficulty: Easy, but long

If you want the hours outside without quite so much climbing, start in Bakewell and head onto the Monsal Trail. Much of the route is relatively flat, making this an easier option physically, although you’ll still want to allow a good few hours to enjoy it.

Follow the trail towards the famous Monsal Head Viaduct, then make a loop that gives you a proper view back towards it. Because some landmarks are better when you’ve walked far enough away to see the whole thing.

From there, continue towards Ashford-in-the-Water before returning to Bakewell.

This is exactly the sort of autumn walk that doesn’t need to be rushed.

Take the long way: Stop, Look, Have something to eat, Then carry on.

And if Bakewell is your base for the weekend, there’s no particular reason for the walk to be the end of the day either.

Pick the walk that fits your weekend

Not every autumn weekend needs the same kind of adventure. Maybe you want the woods and streams of Padley Gorge; a full day across Stanage and Ladybower; Lose Hill with an overnight stop; Chatsworth with a little culture built in ; an easier few hours along the Monsal Trail; or Chrome Hill when your legs are feeling ambitious.

The best walk is the one that works for the day you actually want. And sometimes the best decision is simply giving yourself enough time to enjoy it properly.

A quick note before you set off

Autumn walking comes with a little more unpredictability.

Days are shorter and conditions can change quickly. Paths can be wet and muddy. So check the weather and your route before setting off, wear suitable footwear and take the layers, food and water you’ll need for the day.

If you’re using one of the Komoot routes, save it before you leave and keep an eye on daylight when planning your start time.

And if the weather turns? Change the plan, the hills will still be there tomorrow.

And what happens after the walk?

That bit deserves a plan too. We’ve put together our guide to the best foodie spots for post-hike fuel, with places to stop around these routes when cold cheeks and muddy boots have turned into a very good appetite. Or make the walk the start of a longer break with our guide to the best cosy places to stay in the Peak District and Derbyshire.

If you want the whole weekend mapped out, start with The Perfect Autumn Weekend in the Peak District.

Because there’s more to an autumn walk than reaching the end of the trail. Sometimes that’s where the best bit starts.

Plan your stay

Explore places to stay, autumn walks, food and drink, attractions and experiences across the Peak District and Derbyshire, then give yourself enough time for the walk and everything that comes afterwards.