Longshaw woodland explorer walk
Follow this 3 mile route to explore Longshaw and beyond. This walk will take you through wonderful woodlands and into the beautiful Padley Gorge where you'll follow the dramatic flow of water as it weaves through and over rock formations. You'll also follow an old packhorse route up onto Owler Tor where you can enjoy far reaching views of this part of the Peak District. The scenery on this walk changes with the seasons so it's definitely one to come back to throughout the year.
Total steps: 8
Total steps: 8
Start point
Longshaw Visitor Centre, grid ref: SK264798
Step 1
From the tea-room, cross the drive and turn left along the path by the fence. Go through a small gate. Turn right and go slightly downhill with Rhododendron bushes on your right and a ha-ha on the left to a small gate. Follow the path to the pond.
Step 2
Follow the curve of the pond and then continue down the hill through Granby Wood to Granby Barn. Take a look inside and learn a little about the history and wildlife of the estate.
Step 3
Follow the path down to the road, cross carefully to the small gate, go through and go slightly right down the path to the bridge over Burbage Brook. Cross the bridge and then look slightly right for the entrance to Hollowgate. Follow this old packhorse route with banks on either side covered in heather and gorse bushes.
Step 4
When you reach the top of Hollowgate, don't go through the wooden gate but turn left up a sharp incline. Owler Tor is off to your left. The wind and weather has transformed the relatively soft gritstone boulders and rocks into fantastic natural sculptures. Follow the path across Lawrence Field with the road on your right.
Step 5
When you get to the end of Lawrence Field, with a five-bar gate and stile directly in front of you, do not cross the stile but turn left and follow the path downhill keeping the fence line on your right. Over the fence is the top edge of Bolehill quarry which is popular with climbers. Around 500m down the path you will arrive at a fence with a small gate, go through this gate and continue on this path until it forks. Take the left fork and follow this towards the southern boundary wall of Lawrence Field. You will reach a gate on the right.
Step 6
Go through this gate and turn right onto the wide path descending the hill until you reach the end of this path and see an obvious path to your left.
Step 7
Turn left and continue to descend until you reach the main Padley Gorge path, constructed out of gritsone blocks. Follow this up the valley until you reach a metal gate leading onto an open area strewn with boulders. Follow the path alongside Burbage Brook to a small wooden bridge. Cross the bridge and follow the path left and upwards to the gate below Granby Barn where you crossed the road early in the walk.
Step 8
Cross the road carefully and retrace your steps past Granby Barn, the pond and back through the rhododendrons. This will lead you back to the tea-room where you started.
End point
Longshaw Visitor Centre, grid ref: SK264798
Trail map
More near here
Frogatt, Curbar and White Edge red deer circular walk
A circular walk with views across the expanse of Derbyshire's Big Moor, a chance to spot red deer and the option to take a break for a pint and some pub grub halfway round.
Padley Gorge and Burbage Brook walk
An easy 2.3-mile circular walk around Longshaw meadow that goes along Burbage Brook and near Longshaw pond, as well as through the ancient woodland at Padley Gorge.
Get in touch
Our partners
We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.
You might also be interested in
Walking
Explore some of the finest landscapes in our care on coastal paths, accessible trails, woodland walks and everything in between. Find the best places to walk near you.
Cotswold Outdoor: our exclusive walking partner
Find out more about the National Trust’s ongoing partnership with Cotswold Outdoor as our exclusive walking partner.
Staying safe at National Trust places
The special places in National Trust care sometimes come with a few risks for visitors, be it coastline or countryside. Find out how to keep safe throughout your visits.
Follow the Countryside Code
Help to look after National Trust places by observing a few simple guidelines during your visit and following the Countryside Code.
Things to see and do at Longshaw, Burbage and the Eastern Moors
Discover panoramic countryside views, ancient woodland and heather moorland on a walk at Longshaw. Find out what you’ll see on your next adventure.
Eating and shopping at Longshaw
Enjoy a brew with a view at the Longshaw Café where you’ll find a range of sandwiches, snacks and drinks, or pop to the second-hand bookshop to discover your next read.
Woodland walks
From tree-lined avenues to ancient woodland, find a sense of calm among the trees with our pick of the best woodland and forest walks.
Walking in the Peak District and Derbyshire
Discover the best walking routes around the Peak District and Derbyshire for walkers of all abilities, from peaks and lakeside paths to expanses of moorland.