Get a fresh perspective on the area with our superb Trails – a great way to discover the secret stories and backgrounds to the towns, villages and countryside of the Peak District & Derbyshire.
An ideal starting point for a weekend break, family day out or as part of a longer stay in the area, our trails offer fascinating insights into the area from unusual perspectives and cover subjects such as heritage, history, industry, natural history and much more.
The Peak District & Derbyshire Trails can be downloaded as pdf files using the links below.
Swadlincote - Trail No. 1 (walking): A Saunter Around Swadlincote
Swadlincote - Trail No. 2 (car): The Delights of the National Forest and Beyond
Swadlincote - Trail No. 3 (car): A Scenic Circle of Country Villages
Derby City - Trail No. 6 (walking): The Midland Friar Ale Trail
Derby City - Trail No. 7 (walking): The Full Crompton Ale Trail
Derby City - Trail No. 8 (walking): Bonnie Prince Charlie Time Traveller
Chesterfield - Trail No. 13 (cycling): Bike, Birdsong, Wildlife and Water
Chesterfield - Trail No. 14 (car): Hidden Villages
Chesterfield - Trail No. 15 (walking): Hustle and Bustle to Birds and Bluebells
Chesterfield - Trail No. 16 (car): Rags, Riches and Renaissance Halls
Matlock - Trail No. 17 (car): Country Villages, Farm and Film
Matlock - Trail No. 18 (car): Drive Back in Time
Matlock - Trail No. 19 (walking): Ills, Hills and Hydros
Matlock - Trail No. 20 (car): Cottons, Canals and Cromford
Matlock Bath - Trail No. 21 (walking): Spas, Springs and Cascades
Matlock Bath - Trail No. 22 (car): A Wirksworth Wander
Matlock Bath - Trail No. 23 (car): Nostalgia, Nurse Nightingale and a Nicety of Villages
Matlock Bath - Trail No. 23 (car): Flora, Fauna and Flying Saucers!
Ashbourne - Trail No. 25 (walking): Shrovetide Football - a Right Royal Game
Ashbourne - Trail No. 26 (cycling): Cycle Through Centuries
Ashbourne - Trail No. 27 (cycling): Water, Water, Everywhere
Ashbourne - Trail No. 28 (walking): A Walk into the Past
Buxton - Trail No. 31 (bus): Bussing Along from Buxton to Ashbourne
Bakewell - Trail No. 33 (walking): Delightful Dales and Viaduct Rails
Bakewell - Trail No. 34 (walking): Of Weirs and Bridges, Ducks and Pudding Wars
Bakewell - Trail No. 35 (walking): Mind the Gap!
Bakewell - Trail No. 36 (bus): Puddings, Plague and Purple Orchids
Castleton - Trail No. 38 (car): Vales, Views and a Vanished Road
Castleton - Trail No. 40 (car): Umbrellas and Oatcakes
Glossop - Trail No. 43 (car): Countryside, Canals and Peak Heritage
Glossop - Trail No. 44 (walking): Water and Wildlife
Peak Experience self-guided trails
The following trails were created by award-winning Peak Experience. Each is full of information about the heritage you can see along the route. Whether you'r interests are wildlife, archaeology, geology or simply getting to know more about the view, there is something for you. Many of the routes have cartoon children's activity trails for families going out together.
There are three trail difficulty ratings; green are the easiest routes, yellow are intermediate routes and red routes are the most strenuous. Please ensure you take appropriate clothing, footwear, maps, food and drink with you. Simply download, print and take out into the Peak District.
We'd love to hear what you think of a trail after you do it. What did you like or dislike? Would you do another trail? How can we improve them? Please email us your thoughts at peak.experience@peakdistrict.gov.uk.
Buxton Time Travellers Trail (1.96mb)
What links healing waters with Solomon's Temple? Download our handy easy-going walking tour of the historic spa town of Buxton to find out. We begin with St Ann's Well and end at the Pavilion Gardens, discovering lots of historic buildings and hidden gems. There's also time for tea and cakes along the way. An optional loop takes you up to Grinlow to visit Solomon's Temple for a longer walk. It's not a temple and Solomon didn't visit Buxton, so what is this strangely named tower?
Three Forts Time Travellers Trail (500kb)
Download the self-guided trail to Mam Tor, Peveril Castle and Navio Roman fort in the Hope Valley. The trail links all three by public transport and has information on bus routes, how to obtain timetables online and how to use your mobile phone to text for the next departures. Travel back in time and leave the car at home!
Hoe Grange Time Travellers Trail (418kb)
Discover what archaeology can tell us about the history of the land. Download this 8 mile (12.5km) route steeped in history - from Neolithic farmers to Victorian railwaymen. Ideal for cyclists as well as enthusiastic walkers.
Let the kids explore with you! Download the activity sheet for 7 - 11 year olds.
Coombes Valley Wild Walk (808kb)
Download the trail to this wonderful RSPB reserve in the south west peak. This family friendly stroll takes you through stunning woodland. Listen out for a symphony of bird calls and the changing colours through the seasons.
Let the kids explore with you! Download the trail for 7 - 11 year olds.
Edale Wild Walk (580kb)
Download a trail to explore the many faces of Edale's wild side. The walk starts at the Moorland Centre and takes you on to the edge of the moorlands above. The rewards are spectacular views and wildlife encounters.
Take the kids on an adventure! Download the trail for 7 - 11 year olds.
White Peak Wild Walk (636kb)
Download this self-guided walk and explore the White Peak's wildlife wonders. The walk begins at White Lodge, next to a bus stop on the A6 and a pay and display car park, between Bakewell and Buxton.
You can also download the children's activity trail. Ideal for any 7 - 11 year olds going with you.
Hathersage Jane Eyre Trail (614kb)
Download the trail and step into the pages of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, visiting the places in Hathersage that appear in her novel. You also get to visit locations from the BBC's Jane Eyre and the film version of Pride & Prejudice, as well the grave of Robin Hood's sidekick Little John, a Romano-British village, Norman fort, historic church and breathtaking moorlands.
Children going with you? Download the children's trail for 7- 11 year olds.
Castleton Geology Trail - Easy Access Route (2.6mb)
Download this trail and take the family around Castleton's more accessible geological wonders. All sites are accessible along roadside paved footpaths suitable for buggies, wheelchairs and for those with low mobility. Alternative routes across fields are suggested also.
Children going with you? Download the children's trail for 7 - 11 year olds to discover more on the way.
Castleton Geology Trail - Long Distance Route (483kb)
On this self-guided trail, get to the heart of the Peak District's 350-million-year-old-story, as you scale the shale and gritstone heights of Mam Tor and overlook the brooding Dark Peak in the north and the older limestone White Peak area in the south.
Grindleford Geology Trail (404kb)
Beginning and ending at Grindleford Station, this self-guided trail takes you through ancient woodland to discover ancient sea beds, a historic quarry and a medieval packhorse route.
Children going with you? Download the children's trail for 7 - 11 year olds to discover more geological facts on the way.
Lathkill Dale Geology Trail (1.2mb)
Download the self-guided trail along Natural England's Lathkill Dale National Nature Reserve. Travel back in time millions of years to discover ancient waterfalls, tropical seas, fossil sea creatures and the famous grey marble quarries. Produced in partnership with Natural England.
How We Ate......Blackwell (415kb)
A self-guided trail starting at Miller's Dale car park that takes you back thousands of years to discover how Blackwell and Priestcliff have been shaped by farming. Look out for the towering limekilns!
Download the children's trail for 7 - 11 year olds.
How We Ate......Longnor (778kb)
Download this 2.7 mile circular walk and work up an appetite around the glorious Manifold Valley near to the historic market town of Longnor. On your way you'll discover traditional farms, stone barns and walled fields with herds of cows and flocks of sheep. You'll see land that produced oats and many thousands of tons of cheese each year. On your return, you can take tea in the Victorian market hall, and sample delicious local produce.
Download the children's activity trail for 7- 11 year olds.
How We Ate.......Longshaw (355kb)
This self-guided trail takes you through the Longshaw Estate owned by the National Trust, and the home to the longest continuously running sheep dog trials. The jury has still to make its verdict!
A Journey Through Industrial Cheddleton (433kb)
Discover how industry has shaped Cheddleton's past, influenced its present and impacts on its future. You will take in the famous Cheddleton Flint Mill before following the now quiet canal to discover more industrial heritage.
