A walk through ancient woodland in the Dark Peak to explore Padley Gorge, Surprise View and Padley Hall. Beginner/Intermediate.

These weekday walks take place regularly throughout the Peak District and are designed to help women build confidence in the outdoors while discovering some of the area's most beautiful landscapes, fascinating history and hidden gems.

Starting from Grindleford Station, we'll first visit the historic ruins of Padley Hall before gradually climbing to Bolehill Quarry and the breathtaking viewpoint at Surprise View. From here we'll descend into the enchanting Padley Gorge, following Burbage Brook beneath towering gritstone boulders and ancient oak trees.

Along the way we'll uncover stories of medieval manor houses, the Padley Martyrs, gritstone quarrying and the fascinating geology that has shaped this iconic landscape.

This walk is classed as Beginner / Intermediate and is perfect for anyone looking to build confidence on uneven terrain while enjoying one of the Peak District's most beautiful woodland walks.

Distance: 6.5 km

Level: Beginner / Intermediate – woodland paths, rocky sections, uneven ground and a few steady climbs.

Elevation: Approximately 234m

Time: Approximately 3 hours

Who will be your guide?

I’m Emily, founder of Peak Outdoor Community, and I’m a Mountain Leader based in Glossop at the edge of the Dark Peak. I’ve always been outdoorsy since being a young girl but hiking became a real obsession in 2019 when I started to go solo. I aim to inspire other women to learn the many benefits of exploring in the outdoors and I’m passionate about sharing my love for adventure with you!

Feel free to check out the website: Peak Outdoor Community (https://www.peakoutdoorcommunity.com/) and follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @peakoutdoorcommunity (https://www.instagram.com/peakoutdoorcommunity)

Meeting Information

Meeting Point: Grindleford Station CafeUpper Padley, Grindleford, Hope Valley S32 2JA Google Maps (https://maps.app.goo.gl/u2KRPrM6FWW432J89) There is parking along Station Road for £2.20 all day using RingGo app.

We will meet at 9.45 am to leave at 10am.

I'm always happy to help arrange car sharing where possible. Please get in touch if you'd like adding to the group chat.

What to bring:

Hiking boots or shoes with good grip (it gets very muddy on the tops!)

Snacks/lunch to sustain you for up to 6 hours

Rucksack

Water (at least 1L)

Waterproofs

Warm layers

Sun hat/sun cream

Hat and gloves

A small first aid kit with any personal medications

Walking poles, sit mat, hot drink (optional extras)

Terrain:

A mixture of woodland paths, rocky sections, uneven ground and several steady climbs. Some areas can become muddy after prolonged rainfall, so good footwear is essential.

Toilets:

Public toilets are available at Grindleford Station Café (for paying customers) before the walk begins.

If you need to go whilst we're out walking, I'll happily point out discreet 'wild wee' spots!

Safety:

The aim of every Peak Outdoor Community walk is to create a welcoming, relaxed and enjoyable experience. We walk at a comfortable pace with plenty of opportunities to stop, chat, take photographs and learn about the landscape.

As with all outdoor activities, there are inherent risks. Participants are responsible for ensuring they are fit enough for the walk and should let us know about any relevant medical conditions before attending.

All participants must complete a Medical & Disclaimer Form at least 24 hours before the event.

All walks are led by qualified Mountain Leaders with Outdoor First Aid qualifications.

Dogs:

Well-behaved dogs are welcome, provided they stay on leads during the walk.

Refund Policy*:

Refunds are only available if Peak Outdoor Community cancels the event.

If you can no longer attend, you're welcome to transfer your ticket to someone else—please let us know beforehand.

Tickets cannot be transferred to another event unless this has been arranged.

And FINALLY:

Our walks go ahead in all seasons because some of the best adventures happen when we embrace the British weather!

In the event that the hike needs to be postponed for safety reasons (weather warnings, moor fires, etc), and you can't make the new date, you will be offered a voucher to use on a future event.

Please see our website for our full Terms & Conditions (https://www.peakoutdoorcommunity.com/tcs).

Description supplied by the event organiser.