Test Your Navigation Skills on These Peak District Walks
We have set up these walks for people to try out their new-found navigation skills following the attendance on one of our Hill Skills & Navigation courses.
The walks are graded by difficulty as Bronze level or Silver (see below). For each walk, mark up the route on your own map. Consider where it might look a bit tricky. Have a think about how you might make the walk shorter or longer. Think about which scale map might be best for the given route – if you have more than one map, look at the routes on all the maps you have. Finally, check the weather, pack the right kit for the day, and go out and give it a go. Maybe, come back with a friend, a partner, or a HOT date and see if you can impress them with your navigation skills too!
Listed below are several routes to try which are graded by difficulty as follows:
Bronze walks
These walks should be relatively easy to navigate following paths and bridleways all the way. They have been set with the graduates of our Bronze Hill Skills and Navigation courses in mind. Do expect to need to look at your map and to need to make some decisions along the way. You will need to:
- Be able to plot the route from this web-page to your map
- Understand how to use map symbols and scales, on a variety of maps.
- Orientate the map with and without a compass.
- Use the orientated map to identify land features and indicate direction of travel.
- Follow linear features (e.g. paths and tracks).
- Estimate distance on both map and ground.
- Using a basic understanding of contours, match major landforms like hills and valleys to their map representation.
- And just in case it all goes a bit wrong, you need to be able to relocate using simple techniques on paths and other handrails!
#1 – Castleton circular – BRONZE Level
This walk has one aim in mind – to test your navigation skills! It sticks to paths and trails, but those paths are not always that obvious. Keep an eye on what’s around you and an eye on your map, and you’ll be fine!
General Information
Start / Finish Location – Visitor Centre, Castleton, S33 8WN
Suggested direction – Anti-clockwise
Distance: 11 km
Height gain: 419 m
Hardest bit to navigate? Just as you leave the village of Castleton – keep your wits about you!
Time required? 3 hours
#2 BRONZE Level – Youlgrave, Lathkill Dale, Monyash
Scenic walking in the White Peak following long obvious linear features with only some route finding required along the way.
General Information
Start / Finish Location – Main Street/Holywell Lane, Youlgrave, DE45 1UR
Suggested direction – Anti-clockwise
Distance: 11 miles / 18 km
Height gain: 421 m
Hardest bit to navigate? After Monyash
Time required? 3 – 5 hours
#3 BRONZE Level – White Edge, Baslow, River Derwent
Scenic walking in the Peak District following long obvious linear features with only some tricky route finding required along the way.
General Information
Start / Finish Location – Roadside car park by the Grouse Inn S11 7TZ on the A625.
Suggested direction – Clockwise
Distance: 10 miles / 17 km
Height gain: 400 m
Hardest bit to navigate? The last mile – from the River Derwent up through Hay Wood. But also keep your wits about you as descend down from White Edge past Swine Sty towards the road.
Time required? 3 – 5 hours
#4 BRONZE Level – Lose Hill and Win Hill from Hope
This short day’s walk links two hills together, just as they are in the local folklore. Head clockwise and start this walk with an ascent of Lose Hill. With two biggish hills packed into just ten miles – you’ll be best pleased if your legs have a bit pedigree in them!
General Information
Start / Finish Location – The Cheshire Cheese Inn, Edale Rd, Hope, S33 6ZF
Suggested direction – Clockwise
Distance: 10 miles / 17 km
Height gain: 668 m
Hardest bit to navigate? Coming through and out of the back of Edale Youth Hostel and maybe also getting back down to Hope from Win Hill.
Time required? 4 – 6 hours (two big hills!)
Further Reading/Information
OS Maps 1:25K Legend
OS Maps 1:50K Legend
Harvey’s Maps Legend
Recommended equipment / kit for walking in the UK
What to pack in your first aid kit
Accommodation in Castleton
Accommodation in Youlegrave
Hill and Mountain Weather Advice
Five Grade 1 Scrambles to Get You Started
Top Tips For Footcare
Top Tips to Get Your Children Walking
Walking boots: a new approach