Top
Britain and Ireland

An Easy Hike Along Curbar Edge in the Peak District

Britain, Hiking

Curbar Edge, in the Peak District National Park, is a wonderful, easy grade walk along well trodden and marked paths providing stunning views across the Calver Valley. With great spots for picnics as you marvel at those stunning vistas, it’s a walk you don’t want to miss. 

The walk is relatively easy with only one slight climb at the very end as you head back to the car park. You can actually bypass this part to make it an even easier grade by turning back after the edge, instead of heading down and back along the river valley.

Allowing for a little meandering, my ViewRanger app measured this walk at 8.5 miles, and my iPhone registered the equivalent of 23 flights of stairs climbed. If you walk the edge, then turn back and return the way you came, then you’re looking at a very easy, but extremely pleasant walk of about 4 miles.

Start your walk at the National Trust pay-and-display car park just East of Curbar village or, if space is available, in the lay-bys just down the hill from the car park. Beware that this area can get crowded at peak times, so arrive early to be sure of a parking slot. The car park is free for National Trust members (join here and read my post about reducing your tax bill as a bonus).

If starting from the car park, there is a gate at the far-left corner of the front car park (to the right of the snack van if it’s there). If parked in the lay-bys, there’s a stile just a few yards up the hill on your left. Both paths converge after about 20 metres.

The walk map on the right, shows the car park and the rough route of the walk (shown in red).

Map of Curbar Edge Hike in the Peak District National Park

Once you leave the car park, follow the path up a slight incline and, within 20-30 metres, you’ll be on the Edge. You’ll know as the whole valley opens up into a spectacular vista before you. On the Edge there are numerous paths and smaller sheep tracks. Some are closer to the edge affording even better views, but there is a steep drop so little ones should be kept close. If you wish you can stick to the broader well-laid path that runs a few yards back from the edge.

As you hike along the edge, do stop and admire the wonderful vistas across the Valley, with Bamford Edge and Win Hill visible in the distance to the North, Chatsworth to the South and Eyam straight ahead to the West. In my opinion, there isn’t anywhere in the Peak District that provides such amazing views for such little effort, other than perhaps the peak of Mam Tor when approaching from the main car park.

Curbar_Edge_Peak_District_Hike

Froggatt EdgeContinue walking along the path with the Edge to your left and, after approximately two miles there will be a short plateau before the neighbouring Froggatt Edge begins. The views from this Edge are also pretty spectacular though not as high as Curbar Edge.

Keep following the broad path along the edge and as it starts to descend. At this point you can turn back if you want to avoid the final uphill at the end of the full loop.

As the path depends, you’ll start to see more vegetation and trees. Keep heading downwards and to your left as much as you can, as the other paths will eventually loop out onto the open moors on your right.

Shortly you’ll go through a gate and arrive at a road. Take care crossing then head through a smaller gate, almost opposite but just a little further up the road, and head down into the valley.

Gate Froggatt Edge

Cross the brook using the stepping stones and head up the path through the gap in the dry-stone wall ahead of you.

Follow the path through a small wood called The Haywood, following signs for the footpath to Grindleford Station. Head West (leftish) after the slight incline beyond the brook, where the path splits (see photo) and take the left-hand trail.

Eventually you’ll come to a track heading downhill, with trimmed hedges and a group of houses on your right. Follow this path taking note of the diversion guiding you to your right at the T-Junction, instead of left which might seem more logical when looking at the map. Follow the sign-posts for the Derwent Valley path.

Eventually you’ll come to a track heading downhill, with neatly trimmed hedges bordering the gardens of a group of delightful houses to your right. 

Follow this path taking note of the diversion guiding you to your right at the T-Junction, instead of following the path to the left which might seem more logical when looking at the map but will take you to a blocked dead-end. 

Follow the sign-posts for the Derwent Valley path if in doubt.

Continue to a road with a humped bridge. Turn left and stay this side of the road, with the bridge on your right and you’ll see another gate leading to a path across a meadow. 

Once across the meadow, look left and upwards and you’ll see the jagged rock formations of the Froggatt and Curbar Edges. Continue along the path through the wood, over the ford across the stream and eventually you’ll come to the very pretty Derwent River, a perfect spot for a picnic or a well-earned rest.

Follow the path along the left bank of the river, crossing another road by climbing the stone steps up to the bridge and then back down the other side, until you eventually come to the village of Froggatt. 

Continue along the road and then take the gate on your right after the bridge, back onto the river path. You’ll eventually come to the weir and The Goits. Follow the path with the river still on your right, past Calver Mill (converted into luxury apartments) until you come to the village of Calver. 

The Bridge Inn should now be ahead of you. The pub has a lovely beer garden with river views and is a perfect place for a well-deserved beer and lunch from their tempting Spanish influenced menus.

When you leave the pub, you’ll see another road opposite you (Curbar Lane), immediately to the right of the one you just came along. Follow this road back up the hill through the village of Curbar. 

This is a fairly steep road, but after a while you’ll notice the road goes off to the left and then snakes back to the right in a tight S-Bend. Just before the bends there is a small gate on your right. Take this and walk straight across the fields cutting out the S-Bend. 

At the end of this path you’ll be back on the road close to your starting point which is just a little further up hill and around the final bend.

0

After travelling internationally on business for multiple decades, I have decided to take early retirement. I am now fulfilling two dreams. To travel more slowly and to write my own thriller novels.