Our Walks

Our Walks Programme provides six walks each week, we do not walk on Mondays and Fridays. Each walk has morning and lunchtime picnic stops.

• Tuesday We walk at a slower pace over 4 to 5 miles starting at 10.30 am.
• Wednesday There are two different length moderate walks; a shorter walk around 6 miles starting at 10.30 am and a longer walk of 10 to 13 miles normally starting at 10 am. Sometimes the longer Wednesday walk starts at an earlier time of 9 am or 9.30 am, so please check the walks listing. In addition to these walks there are occasional longer or faster walks which are aimed at those looking for a strenuous walk.
• Thursday Walking at a moderate pace this group covers 8 to 9 miles, often finishing at a cafe for tea and cakes.
• Saturday Again walking at a moderate pace, these walks vary from 6 to 8 miles. You may need to contact the leader in advance to book on these walks.
• Sunday These walks are normally 10 to 12 miles at a moderate pace.

If you plan to walk with a group for the first time we suggest you contact the leader of a walk you wish to join; contact details for the leader of each walk can be found by clicking on the walk.

A printed version of our four-monthly programme of walks is sent to members of Derbyshire Dales Ramblers Group three times a year but users of this need to check on the website list of walks for any last minute updates.

If you are new to walking and would like to start with shorter walks to build up your fitness, we recommend you consider the health walks organised by the Derbyshire Dales Council.

Where do we walk?

Whilst most of our walks are located in or close to the Peak District National Park we do walk in other areas of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire and Nottinghamshire.

The Peak District National Park provides a variety of opportunities to explore the open countryside, farmland, picturesque villages and moorland with fantastic scenery; on a clear day the long-distance views can be amazing.

Most of our walks are on designated footpaths and predominantly quiet lanes but we do take advantage of open access land so be prepared to walk through rough moorland on higher ground. There is much good advice relating to safety and what to expect when walking in the countryside on the Ramblers website.

All are welcome

We welcome new members and visitors on all our walks, so come and join us. Non-members can walk up to 3 times for free before joining Ramblers.
Children are welcome on our walks but please note that anyone under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult with parental responsibility. We also welcome well-behaved dogs kept on short leads on most of our walks; however, some walks are not suitable for dogs so please check our programme or with the walk leader beforehand.

What to bring?

The weather in the Peak District is very changeable so it is important always to be prepared for rain! A waterproof jacket is a must, plus waterproof trousers if very wet.

Our walks are usually on uneven and muddy ground; walking boots or walking shoes are therefore recommended for all our walks. In summer, you need to wear light clothes and pack sun cream and plenty of liquid to drink, whilst in winter plenty of layers, plus hats & gloves, are important. Walking poles are sometimes recommended by walk leaders, but they are not mandatory, and it is up to individual walkers whether or not to use them.

All our walks stop for a picnic lunch and coffee breaks on route and some of the longer walks include a refreshment break in the afternoon. Please bring enough food & drink for the day.

We recommend that all walkers carry an ‘In Case of Emergency’ card (ICE), so the leader knows who to contact in an emergency. You can download an ICE Card here.

What to expect?

We start our walks promptly at the time specified in the programme, so please arrive at least 15 minutes beforehand so you are ready for the leader’s briefing and to walk on time.

All walks will be led by an experienced walker who is familiar with the route and will advise the group of any hazards to look out for at the outset of the walk. Each walk will normally have a backmarker, and we ask that you walk between the leader and backmarker.

All our walks are led by our own members as volunteers, they will have spent time checking the route in advance but sometimes circumstances require a change to the route or, in case of extreme weather or illness, cancellation. Before leaving home, please check the walk details on this website for any last minute updates.

Finally, we hope everyone who joins us will have a great walk.