Padley Gorge – A Mystical Woodland Walk in the Peak District

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to walk through an enchanted forest? If so, I have good news for you. I think I found one of the most magical places in the Peak District in England – Padley Gorge. I’ve been exploring the national park for years now and I can confidently say that it would be hard to find a more mystical spot than Padley Gorge. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy chasing magical creatures in the woods?

If you’d like to see our walk then make sure to watch our YouTube video linked below.

About the Magical Padley Gorge

Padley Gorge is located in the Peak District between the village of Gindleford and the A6187 road. This deep and narrow valley is only o.5 miles from Longshaw Estate, which is a National Trust site. 

Padley Gorge starts at Grindleford Train Station and technically finishes at the woodland borders. However, the trail itself runs further north-east towards the A6187 and Burbage. It’s a very popular spot for a large variety of people like couples, photographers, dog walkers, families and solo walkers for multiple reasons. The gorge is located in the vicinity of countless other beautiful sights such as Longshaw Estate, Burbage, Hathersage and Surprise View, just to name a couple. Therefore, many walkers and day-trippers can combine their visit to the gorge with these other sights. It’s also easily accessible by different modes of transportation, making it more attractive to a larger number of people. Lastly, it’s an absolutely stunning gorge offering something special for everyone.

It is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), designated in 1972 as “the best example of the remnant oak-birch woodland that once covered much of the edges of the gritstone uplands of the Peak District.” 

Although the gorge is located right next to a main road and a train station, you’ll still feel like you’ve stepped into another world. You’ll be instantly surrounded by gnarled ancient oak and birch trees as far as you can see. Rocks and boulders covered in moss are spread all over the grounds. Below you, you’ll hear Burbage Brook meandering through smaller and larger boulders generating hundreds of tiny waterfalls. You’ll feel like you’ve just entered a fairy glen and you won’t sense the outside world until you leave the woodland. No wonder the Peak District is one of my favourite national parks in the UK.

How to get to Padley Gorge?

By Car

If you arrive by car, depending on the route you’d like to do, you have a few options for parking. (Please refer to the map where I marked a few popular parking spots). For reference, we parked at Haywood car park. Since it’s a National Trust site, if you’re a member you can park for free, otherwise you have to pay. Just a heads up, as you pass the turn off along the A625, the sign to this car park will say Longshaw. 

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 Padley Gorge.

By Public Transport

Nearest train station to Padley Gorge is Grindleford Train Station. The train service runs between Manchester and Sheffield. So if you arrive from further afield, I suggest getting to either of these cities. If you arrive by train, the station is basically in the middle of the walk so you’ll start the walk from the station and complete the loop by finishing at the station.

Alternatively, if you’re from the area, you can also take Bus 65 which provides services to destinations such as Buxton, Tideswell, Sheffield and Meadowhall. Bus stops are located along the B6521 close to where the train station is. However, bear in mind that the services aren’t as regular. Make sure to plan your journey with Trainline which also provides information on bus fares.

Top Tip – If you’re planning on travelling across the UK by train a lot, then check out some Railcard options which allow you to save some pennies on your train fares.

By Bike: There are quite a few cycle routes in the vicinity and actually part of the trail we did can be used by cyclists too. Obviously, you can’t cycle along Padley Gorge, but Grindleford train station has bike stands where you can leave your bike whilst you’re exploring the gorge.

Useful to Know Before You Go

Length of the Padley Gorge Trail

The route we did was about 8 km (5 miles) long. Depending on your speed and how long you are spending taking photos or stopping for a picnic, this route could take at least 4 hours. 

However, you can definitely extend the walk further if you carry on towards the Surprise View, Burbage South Edge, Hathersage or Upper Burbage.

Facilities Around Padley Gorge

Cafés and picnic spots: If you’d like to grab a coffee or a quick bite to eat, you can stop at Grindleford Station Cafe. It has a great selection of drinks, mains, sandwiches, burgers or even a full English breakfast. I also recommend packing your own lunch and if the weather is lovely stop for a picnic. The best place is probably the open space at the end of Padley Gorge which offers you some great views towards Burbage South Edge. You’ll also see a very well-placed ice cream van on the B6521 road just at the end of Padley Gorge (such a regular fixture that it is marked on Google Maps!), so make sure you treat yourself on a sunny and warm day. 

Toilet facilities: Please note that there are no public toilets available at the car park and at the start of the walk. Since most parts of the route are through a woodland, you’ll have some opportunities along the way. (Just a little heads up, it’s a pretty popular walk with many routes crossing it, so you might need to look a bit harder for a private spot!). However, there are public toilets as you enter Longshaw Estate.

Level of Difficulty

I think this route is relatively easy and you can complete it with a basic level of fitness. However, the terrain is made up of rocky tracks with tree roots jutting out of the ground. The ground can get muddy after rain so definitely wear suitable footwear. 

The walk is pretty sheltered for the most part, so it could be a great activity even on a windy or rainy day.

What to Wear and Bring with you?

You are in the north of England so weather conditions can change quickly. I highly recommend wearing proper walking shoes and weather appropriate clothing. Make sure you check the weather forecast before you set off and have a few layers with you. 

Pack some snacks and have plenty of water with you. The area around the end of Padley Gorge is a fantastic picnic and rest spot.

Padley Gorge Walking Trail

The area around Padley Gorge is full of amazing walking routes. So whichever you decide to take or end up on, you will be treated with some beautiful landscapes and views. However, if you’d like to do the exact route we did, I divided it into 3 main sections.

1. Haywood car park to Grindleford Station

As I mentioned above we started our walk at Haywood car park. We completed the route in a clockwise direction. At the car park you’ll see a visitor information board which includes a map showing the different paths you can take. Behind this sign the path splits into three, one to the right and two to the left. We took the ‘middle path’ to our left. 

During the first part of the trail you will walk through the forest, mainly downhill. We were so lucky and were treated with a misty morning which made the forest look so magical with the sun trying to peek through the heavy coating of mist. I think we spent a lot longer on this section than intended, but it would have been a shame not to take full advantage of the weather conditions. So we spent the time taking a ton of photos and just appreciating mother nature.

At the bottom of this route you will end up on an unnamed road in Grindleford village. This will eventually join with the B6521 Main Road approximately 300m to the west. From here you have to carry on along the main road to the north-east for another 800m before you reach Midland Cottages Road. This road will lead you to Grindleford Train Station where Padley Gorge starts.

We originally wanted to stay in the woods for as long as possible, but luckily the whole of Grindleford was still covered in mist, and traffic was minimal, so we didn’t mind walking along the main road for a short while.

2. Padley Gorge to Longshaw Estate

From the moment I set foot into Padley Gorge I felt like I’d just entered a different dimension. 

The mist was still hugging the ground whilst the sunrays were fighting to peak through. Gnarled trees coated in moss with tons of boulders covered in it as well surrounded us as far as we could see. Some trees were still dressed in brown coloured leaves, and the ground was covered in thousands of fallen ones, creating a natural carpet for us to walk on. The mixture of us walking over this blanket of leaves and Burbage Brook casually cascading next to us created a beautiful natural backing track. The whole gorge just made me feel like I’d just entered an enchanted forest and was expecting a magical creature to appear at any given moment.

I highly recommend taking your time walking through the gorge to really appreciate its beauty. No matter which season you visit Padley Gorge in, I guarantee that it will look stunning. The route is mostly uphill, so that will automatically give you a reason to stop and look around. 

It’s very easy to follow the path which eventually leads you out of the woods to a clearing where you can stop for a picnic. The rocks spread across this area will provide you with natural seating and tables. 

3. Longshaw Estate to Haywood Car Park

The last section of the walk will take you through Longshaw Estate all the way back to Haywood Car Park.

Once you’ve had enough rest at the clearing, cross the cute little bridge over Burbage Brook. Follow the path to your left and you will need to cross the B6521 road once again. On the other side of the road you can stop at the Granby Discovery Barn to learn about the history and wildlife of the estate. 

From there you’re basically just walking around Longshaw Estate. Follow the footpath which will pass the lovely Longshaw pond on your left and carry on towards Longshaw House. If you’d like to visit the house you’ll need to take the path to your left. Since it looked very busy on the day of our walk, we decided to visit it another time. Therefore, we took the path to our right and curved back towards Haywood car park. This footpath is very wide and can accommodate cyclists, so just be aware. 

It also has a great view out towards Hathersage, the Millstone Edge and Mother Cap, which I would love to explore in the near future. 

This path will eventually lead you to the A625 road, and you have to walk along it for a short while. I suggest extra caution here since it’s a busy road. You can join back onto the footpath on your right and follow it until you enter the forested section. Here you just need to follow the path until you reach Haywood car park. 

Additional Things to Do in the Peak District

If you’d like to see more of the Peak District make sure to check out some of my other blog posts:

Three Shires Head Walk – A picturesque waterfall, located at the meeting point of three counties in the north of England: Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

The Trinnacle Walk at Dovestone Reservoir – See some picturesque landscapes and do some cool things like climbing on top of a three-pronged grit-stone stack called the Trinnacle.

Chatsworth House and Gardens – Explore Britain’s favourite country house and thousands of acres of surrounding parkland.

Have you ever been to Padley Gorge before? Which season did you visit it in and how much of the area did you manage to explore? Let me know in the comments below.