Here’s what we consider to be our top 10 best Peak District dog walks. They vary in distance and terrain, but all can be enjoyed with your dog.
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1. The Bakewell Loop
The Bakewell Loop has to be the most popular Bakewell dog walk on our website. It starts from Bakewell town centre and follows part of the Monsal Trail before descending back into Bakewell through fields and footpaths.
This is a lovely Bakewell dog walk. It is a pleasant circular dog walk around Bakewell, which follows part of the Monsal Trail and includes a public bridleway and some roads. You’ll get some spectacular views of Bakewell as you make the return journey across the fields. Apart from the initial walk up the hill towards Bakewell Station, the rest of the walk is relatively flat and easy going.
There are plenty of dog friendly pubs and cafes that you can visit once you return to Bakewell, but there is also the Hassop Station on the Monsal Trail where you can get refreshments. There is a covered area outside where you can sit with your dog.
2. Dog walk around Fernilee reservoir
This is a lovely circular route around the Fernilee reservoir which can be found in the Goyt valley near Buxton.
If you type SK17 6SX into google maps, you’ll be able to see whereabouts it is situated within the Goyt Valley.
Basically you can walk around the entire reservoir. One side of the reservoir is a flat wide path which is suitable for pushchairs. On the other side of the reservoir you will walk along a woodland section, mainly tracks and narrow paths. The wooded section is not really suitable for pushchairs – It would be much easier to do a linear walk along the opposite side of the reservoir.
More details about the walk can be found here.
Some recommended dog walk books
3. Solomons Temple, Buxton
Postcode: SK17 9DH
This is a lovely woodland walk from the Pooles Cavern car park up through the woods to Solomons Temple. You can climb the temple and get spectacular views of Buxton. Although please be careful with dogs around the temple, we had a friend whose dog decided to jump and suffered nasty injuries as a result.
There is a cafe at Pooles cavern which is dog friendly. There is seating outside for dogs, but they are also allowed inside.
The nearby pub The Duke is also a great place to get a bar snack or quick drink after your dog walk around Solomon’s Temple.
4. Padley Gorge, Grindleford
Postcode: S32 2JA
Directions: Take the B6521 towards Calver. From A623 turn onto B6001 at Calver and then B6521 in Grindleford towards the station. Park at the station.
There is a great circular walk from Grindleford Station- walk along the river cross the wooden footbridge to the open country above the woodland and cross down to the other side of the gorge – taking in the contrast between open moorland and shady woodland. There are refreshments at the cafe close to the station. You’ll find a large seating area outside. Perfect for muddy paws and boots.
5. Monyash Meander
Post code: DE45 1JJ – there is a small car park or you can find a space on Chapel Street.
This is a circular walk from the village of Monyash. The Bulls Head in Monyash is a very dog friendly pub and the Old Smithy Tea rooms next door is a dog friendly cafe. This gives you a choice of refreshment stops once you’ve finished the walk.
Part of the walk follows the Limestone Way which is a pleasant walled track that you follow heading towards Lathkill Dale. For details of the walk, click here.
6. The Wild Rhubarb Walk, Millers Dale/Chee Dale
Postcode: SK17 8SN
This is a more adventurous walk which begins at Millers Dale car park and then follows part of the Monsal Trail including walking through some of the tunnels on the trail. It then drops down to the waterside and you follow a rather rocky path through Chee Dale towards the end of the trail. Sturdy boots are required for this trail and it is quite tricky in places underfoot. A bit of rock scrambling is required, so the kids might enjoy it.
It’s spectacularly beautiful too! You’ll feel at one with nature.
Details of the dog walk can be found here.
7. A dog walk from Cromford Mill
Postcode: DE4 3RQ
Another circular walk where you will enjoy some canal side walking before heading up a steep incline towards Black Rocks. It starts and finishes at Cromford Wharf car park and you will find plenty of refreshments stops in and around the Mill.
For more details of the Cromford Mill dog walk, click here.
8. A dog walk around Ladybower Reservoir
Post code: S33 0AQ
Time: Approx 2 hours if walking at moderate pace and stopping for photographs along the way!
If you fancy a weekend walk, then try the Ladybower Reservoir circular dog walk. It is a lovely scenic walk in the Derwent Valley, and part of the walk includes the Derwent Dam, which was the scene of practice flights for the Dambusters raids during World War 2.
It is easiest to start the walk from the Fairholmes Visitor centre, where there are toilets and refreshments. There is a car park which can be used for a small charge. Alternatively you can try and find free spaces on the approach road, but these often fill up very quickly.
If you start from the Visitor Centre, simply head to the top right corner of the car park and find the well marked path that eventually will run alongside the waters edge. You’ll be heading towards Ashopton viaduct, which you will probably have driven across to get here. You’ll walk across the viaduct and then shortly after, look for the footpath sign that leads you back down the other side of the water. At this stage it is quite a wide tarmac road that you will walk along. You will be able to walk as far as the Derwent Dam, and you’ll see signs for the East Tower where you can get spectacular views of the dam.
Once you’ve viewed the dam, you can follow a well marked path back to the Fairholmes Visitor centre which marks the end of the walk.
9. A dog walk from Chatsworth House
Postcode: DE45 1PP
A visit to the Peak District can’t be complete without visiting the beautiful Chatsworth House home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. There is some spectacular parkland to walk around with your dog and they are very dog friendly. You will find bowls of water available near the toilets and also the Stable yard area.
The Carriage House cafe, which is located in the 18th century stable block, is dog friendly, and has a designated dog friendly area where you can sit with your dog (when government restrictions allow).
There is also plenty of outdoor seating available in the stables courtyard. A limited section of this is undercover, and there are also patio heaters for when it gets a little chillier.
Whilst dogs are not allowed in Chatsworth House itself, they are allowed in the gardens and also the gift shop.
For more details about the Chatsworth dog walk, check this post.
10. A dog walk from Eyam
Postcode: S32 5QW
This is an interesting village to visit – as it is also known as the “plague village”.
During the Plague, the village of Eyam suffered dreadfully, as did many of the Peak District villages. However, the locals attempted to stop the disease being spread further, by putting themselves in quarantine. Apparently the plague virus had been brought into the village by a local tailor on some infected cloth which he had bought whilst in London. The tailor himself died quickly, and 250 other villagers also died, including the rectors wife (the rector himself had instigated the quarantine).
There is a pleasant walk that you can do which features a little bit of woodland walk before descending back into the village to enjoy one of several dog friendly cafes or perhaps one of the pubs.
For details of the Eyam walk, click here.
We hope that you have enjoyed our Top 10 best Peak District dog walks and hope that you will find a new favourite walk to do with your dog.
