Alport Castles Circular Walk in the Peak District

Located in the Dark Peak area of the Peak District, Alport Castles is the national park’s best kept secret in my opinion. 

Due to its remoteness, it’s less popular compared to the Upper Derwent Valley, located to the east, or even the B-29 ‘OVEREXPOSED’ Crash Site, located to the west of Alport Castles. However, if you enjoy being far away from everything with the craziest landscapes and views, then you definitely need to add Alport Castles onto your Peak District hiking bucket list.

Disclaimer – Don’t be fooled by the name ‘Alport Castles’ which I’ll explain in the next paragraph, so make sure to keep on reading.

If you’d like to see our Alport Castles walk then make sure to watch our YouTube video by clicking here.

About Alport Castles

Located in Alport Dale to the north of the A57 Snake Road, and a few miles to the west of the Upper Derwent Valley, is Alport Castles. Similar to Bleaklow moorland, located to the west of Alport Dale, this area of the Dark Peak is very remote.

In the rising need for water in the early 20th century, many valleys in the area were flooded to create reservoirs. The Upper Derwent Valley to the east of Alport Castles is one of the many examples. Luckily Alport Dale has been left untouched. 

Although its name suggests that this area once held a castle; spoiler alert, you will not find any remains of one! So what is Alport Castles, you probably – and rightfully – are asking at this point.

Alport Castles is a half mile-long landslip feature, the largest landslide in the UK. The name ‘castles’ comes from the debris from the landslide, which has produced several gritstone mounds that tower over the valley and look like castles from a distance. The largest of these mounds is called the ‘Tower’, and from a distance it resembles a full-scale motte and bailey castle.

A motte-and-bailey castle is a fortification with a keep situated on raised ground (motte), along with a walled courtyard (bailey) which is surrounded by a protective ditch and defensive fence.

What Caused the Landslide?

If you’re like me, you’d most likely want to know what caused the landslide. My internet research revealed that the exact cause of the landslide is still unclear. But there are 3 possible explanations:

1. According to one theory, the shale below the gritstone is too weak to support the heavy gritstone and collapsed under the weight of it.
2. Another one suggests that whilst the water can run through the gritstone, it can’t through the shale rock. The trapped water lubricated the rock and one layer slid over another and caused the slide.
3. The last theory says that the glacier erosion during the Ice Age over-steepened the side of the valley and once the glacier melted it caused the landslide.

How to Get to Alport Castles?

By Car: The best place to park is at either Fairholmes Car Park or Derwent Overlook Car Park in the Upper Derwent Valley. Use S33 0AQ in your SAT-NAV to find it. You’ll have to pay £5 to park at Fairholmes Car Park all day. On the other hand, Derwent Overlook Car Park is free of charge, but it gets full quickly. If you don’t have your own car but would like to enjoy the freedom of a private vehicle, then you can always hire a car to get to Alport Castles.

If the car park is full, there are plenty of other car parks along Derwent Reservoir. 

By Public Transport: Getting to Alport Castles by public transport is slightly difficult. Your best option is to take Bus X57 that runs along the A57 Snake Pass between Manchester City Centre and Sheffield. The two closest bus stops you can disembark at are either Snake Inn bus stop or the Viaduct bus stop at Ladybower Reservoir. If you’re visiting from further afield, I recommend arriving into either Manchester or Sheffield first via train. Train services to these two cities are excellent. Make sure to plan your journey with Trainline which also provides information on bus fares. 

Please Note! – This will obviously change the route of your walk completely so make sure to plan your route before you go.

By Bike:  Whilst you can’t cycle to Alport Castles, if you enjoy cycling then there are plenty of local cycle trails running along Derwent Reservoir and the Snake Pass. There’s also a bike hire shop at Fairholmes Car Park if you don’t have your own bike. 

Good to Know Before You Go

Length of the Alport Castles Walking Route

The Alport Castles walking trail we chose to complete was just under 13 km (8 miles) long. Depending on the weather, your speed or how long you’re spending at Alport Castles itself, this route could take approximately 4 hours. 

For reference, we had the clearest and most gorgeous day we could’ve wished for, so we tried to enjoy the scenery and the sunshine as long as possible. We actually spent a good 2 hours scrambling up to the Tower, then walking up to the ridge to enjoy the views from above too. 

If you’re adventurous, you can extend the walk in multiple ways. From Alport Castles you can carry on over towards Bleaklow moorland and find the B-29 ‘Overexposed’ Crash Site. This would easily double the length of the route we did. From Alport Castles you can also carry on along the trail to your right and circle back along Howden and Derwent Reservoir. Of course, you can also shorten your walk by only walking to Alport Castles and returning back where you came from.

Top Tip – Make sure you start your walk a bit earlier if you come on a weekend. Alternatively, I suggest coming on a weekday if you can. I think this walk is slowly getting more popular so the trails might get a bit busier on a nice day. 

Level of Difficulty

The route we did is easy to moderate and you can complete it with a basic level of fitness. If you’ve not been walking and hiking a lot you might find the ascents through the first woodland section and along the Snake pass section a bit steep. I recommend wearing the right footwear like trainers or boots. Whilst there are stone slabs on top of the moorland leading to Alport Castles, if you’d like to climb or get close to the Tower, supportive shoes are a must.

Please Note! –  I don’t recommend you stand to close the edge of the landslip area. The rocks are pretty loose up there. I mean, it’s the biggest landslide in the UK after all. Since you’ll be exposed for the majority of the trail, the wind can make this walk uncomfortable. Again, if the weather conditions aren’t suitable, please make sure you’re safe and don’t risk standing too close to the edges!

This particular route is only sheltered along the woodland at the start and at the end of the walk. You’ll be exposed the rest of the way, especially along the ridge, so wear appropriate clothing. I think this walk could be a great activity even on a slightly windy day but I wouldn’t suggest doing it in the pouring rain or when visibility is low. 

Facilities Around Alport Castles

Cafés and picnic spots: I highly recommend packing your own lunch and if the weather is lovely stop for a picnic at Alport Castles. You’ll be treated with amazing views of the landslide and Alport Dale. If you’d like to grab a coffee or tea and a light bite to eat, you can do that at Fairholmes Visitor Centre’s café. There are some picnic tables around Derwent Reservoir if you wish to properly sit down with your lunch.

Please Note! – You cannot have BBQ’s or any kind of open fire in the area, so make sure you pack an appropriate picnic.

Toilet facilities: There are public toilets available at Fairholmes Car Park at Derwent Reservoir. There’s also a water fountain at the toilets, in case you’d like to fill up your water-bottle. Please note there won’t be any public toilets available once you start along this trail.

What to Wear and Bring With You?

You are in the north of England and an area that has possibly one of the most extreme weather conditions in the Peak District. At the time of our visit it was a dry, sunny and warm day with hardly any wind. This is however very rare and we felt incredibly lucky, since the weather conditions can change dramatically around here.

Therefore, I recommend weather appropriate clothing when going on the Alport Castles walking trail. You’ll be exposed on the moorland and even on a sunny day it can be windy. Make sure you check the weather forecast before you set off and have a few layers with you. You’ll feel warm climbing uphill but along the moorland it can be a bit chilly.

The trail can be very uneven with rocks and tree roots as potential tripping hazards. Rain can also make parts of the trail muddy and slippery. Therefore, I suggest wearing supportive walking shoes or boots. 

Since the only facilities are at the start of the trail, I suggest packing your own lunch and snacks and having plenty of water and hot drinks with you depending on the weather. There are plenty of places to stop for a picnic or a quick water break to stay hydrated. 

Please Note! – Whatever you bring with you, make sure you either take it home with you or dispose of it responsibly. Enjoy your time in nature but Leave No Trace!

Alport Castles Walking Route

The trail is relatively easy to follow, but as usual, I’ve divided the route into 4 different sections:

1. Derwent Reservoir to Alport Castles

From Derwent Overlook Car Park follow the road to your left until you see a path leading up to the woodland on the other side. Take that path and just follow it through the woodland. 

This woodland is actually very beautiful especially in the early morning. It’s slightly steep, so take your time walking through it and enjoy the fresh, crisp morning air filled with bird songs.

Once you get out of the woodland you get to a fork in the road. Go right after crossing the fence and then immediately left to climb higher up. You’ll reach a stone wall with a stile in a few minutes. Don’t forget to look back here to admire the view!

Climb over the stile and make your way through the field, still ascending at this point. The path will eventually flatten out and will even have stone slabs so you cannot get lost. You’ll have an amazing view of Kinder Scout, the highest peak in the Peak District. 

You’ll need to follow this path all the way to Alport Castles which will eventually appear in the distance.

2. Exploring Alport Castles and Scrambling up the ‘Tower’

To make the most of your visit I highly recommend exploring Alport Castles from the top and also walking down to the ‘Tower’. It doesn’t really matter which way around you do it, but for reference we walked down to the ‘Tower’ first. 

You’ll need to take the path on your left from the main one and just head straight in the direction of the ‘Tower’ through a small valley. The view of the ‘Tower’ sitting between the two sides of this valley is screaming for photos. As you get closer to the ‘Tower’ you really start to appreciate just how massive this landslide is. It took a bit longer than I thought to reach it and you have to walk through boulders, so be careful. Once you’ve passed through the valley you’ll have a clear view of the ‘Tower’. At this point you can decide whether to proceed further or not. 

The ‘Tower’ is classified as a Grade 1 Scramble, which means it is the easiest scramble on the scale. However, you’re still required to do a degree of rock climbing since you have to use both hands and legs to reach the top. I think the little chimney on the top is considered a Grade 3 scramble. 

The views from the top of the ‘Tower’ are amazing so don’t skip the climb unless the weather conditions are horrible or you have a fear of heights!

Once you’re ready to leave, you’ll need to walk back the way you came and head back to the main path. From there you’ll just follow the path on the top that curves around, providing you with a stunning view of the landslide.

Please Note! – Please make sure you don’t stand too close to the edge, since the rocks are unstable and you really don’t want to slip here!

3. Alport Castles to Alport Bridge Through Alport Dale

Once you’re ready to leave Alport Castles, you need to take the path that’s leading down into the valley. It starts at the point where you can see the ‘Tower’ in between the valley sides. It’s a pretty steep descent and very rocky here, so take your time. Don’t forget to look back a few times to have a slightly different point of view of Alport Castles. 

Once you’ve reached the bottom, cross River Alport via the bridge and follow the path that will run along the other side of the valley. This part of the trail is quite relaxing. Once you get to a crossroads, take the path to your left, leading you towards Snake Pass / Alport Bridge.

You’ll need to cross the A57 Snake Road so make sure to be extra cautious as visibility isn’t perfect and vehicles are travelling at fast speed. Head through the gate on the other side of the road, and walk to the river bed to see Alport Bridge. 

4. Alport Bridge to Derwent Reservoir Through the Snake Pass

From Alport Bridge carry on along the footpath that runs parallel to the A57 Snake Road. You’ll be on this trail for a short while, until you reach the first crossroads. Take the left route here and carry on, slowly getting closer to Snake Road. There will be another crossroads soon after the first one, but just carry on along the left route. This section will become a tarmac road used by farmers. At the end you’ll have to cross the A57 Snake Road once more. (You’ll also start to appreciate why this area is called Snake Pass as you zig-zag through the area). 

After crossing the road you’ll start ascending again. This part is pretty steep so take your time. You’ll just need to follow this trail, which I must admit was slightly boring, but you’re getting closer to the finish line.

After you think you cannot walk any higher up you’ll reach the start of the woodland you walked through in the morning. You’ll once more need to walk through the woodland and make your way back to the car park.

Additional Walks in the Peak District

There are many amazing places and trails located close to Alport Castles. So, if you’d like to see more of the Peak District then make sure to check out the 10 best hikes in the Peak District or browse for more hiking trails in the UK and around the world in my Hiking Adventures Series.

For now, here are some hikes in the Peak District that are either walkable or approximately 30 minutes’ drive away from Alport Castles: 

B-29 ‘OVEREXPOSED’ Crash Site – An 8 km circular trail that helps you to find the B-29 ‘OVEREXPOSED’ Crash Site on Bleaklow Moorland just outside of Glossop. Click here to read it.

Derwent Edge and Derwent Reservoir – A 9-mile circular trail with rich history of the Upper Derwent Valley reservoirs, myths, legends, stunning views and crazy rock formations along Derwent Edge. Click here to read it.

Bamford Edge and Ladybower Reservoir – A 7-mile circular trail with stunning views from the top of Bamford Edge looking towards Ladybower Reservoir and the Hope Valley. Click here to read it.

Stanage Edge and Hathersage – A 6-mile circular trail that takes you through the historic village of Hathersage, literary locations, beautiful landscapes and a secret cave called Robin Hood’s Cave. Click here to read it.

Mam Tor, Winnats Pass and Castleton – A 5.5 mile circular trail which takes you through some of the most scenic places in the Hope Valley: Mam Tor, Winnats Pass and Castleton.  Click here to read it. 

Padley Gorge Walk – A magical walk in the Peak District which will make you feel like you’re walking through an enchanted forest. Click here to read it.

Final Thoughts on Alport Castles

I saw quite a few stunning photos of Alport Castles on social media before we visited it. However, being there in person made me realise that those photos didn’t quite do justice to just how massive the landslide actually is. I’m constantly blown away by the power of nature and its creations. 

If you decide to go, try to pick a nice day so your experience will be even better. I think ours would’ve been very different in horrible conditions. I imagine the landscape can change so much in each season so I’m already thinking about my return visit.

Have you ever visited Alport Castles before? If so, how much of the area did you manage to explore? Let me know in the comments below.