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White Peak Way

White Peak Way

A fantastic circular walking holiday from Buxton exploring the White Peak area of the Peak District.

8 to 12 nights
97 miles
Moderate to Moderate / Demanding

From £775 per person

Discover the available tours

About this route

The full White Peak Way explores seven dales of the Peak District National Park while meandering over gritstone edges and along tranquil valleys. This circular walk journeys 90 miles, starting and ending in Buxton, and features a wealth of incredible scenery to savour.

Whether you're keen to take in far-reaching panoramas from the various ridges, or wander the cobbled streets of the many towns and villages along the way, the White Peak Way has plenty of excellent sights to keep all walkers engaged from start to finish.

Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays White Peak Way map
Circular trail beginning at Buxton
97 miles (155 km)
2nd January to 24th December

Holiday highlights

Visiting the majestic grounds of Chatsworth House, with attractive hamlets such as Edensor.

Exploring the mystical area of Stanton Moor, with traces of prehistoric man and eerie stone circles.

Experiencing classic Derbyshire: villages nestled within dales criss-crossed by drystone walls, host to pagan traditions such as Well Dressing.

Available tours

CodeTourDurationDifficultyPrice per person
WPW1 A circular trail beginning at Buxton 8 nights, 7 days walking Moderate / Demanding£775
WPW2 A circular trail beginning at Buxton 12 nights, 11 days walking Moderate£1160

White Peak Way 8 nights, 7 days walking

£NNN per person
  • Itinerary
  • What's included?
  • Extra nights?
  • Tour facts
  • Route profile
  • Travel info
  • Weather
Start

Travel to Buxton where your first night's accommodation has been booked

Day 1

Buxton to Castleton. 18.5 miles (29.5km)

Day 2

Castleton to Hathersage. 14 miles (22.5km)

Day 3

Hathersage to Bakewell. 13.5 miles (21.5km)

Day 4

Bakewell to Youlgreave. 11.5 miles (18.5km)

Day 5

Youlgreave to Alstonefield (T). 13 miles (21km)

Day 6

Alstonefield (T) to Hartington. 14 miles (22.5km)

Day 7

Hartington to Buxton. 12 miles (19km)

Finish

Depart from Buxton after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Traveller Supplement
£45.00 per person / per night
Single Supplement
£35.00 per person / per night


You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£50.00 per person / per night

What's included?

  • 8 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
  • Breakfast each day.
  • Door to door luggage transfer.
  • Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
  • An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
  • Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

Rest days provide the opportunity to explore some of the fascinating little towns along the trail. Whether you spend the day writing postcards or exploring interesting locations, an extra night is the perfect way to extend your holiday.

Castleton is a lovely little village and is a good choice for a rest day if you would like to visit the impressive show caves of Peak Cavern and Speedwell Cavern.

The attractive market town of Bakewell, famous for its delicious Bakewell Pudding, is a popular choice. The Old House Museum was built in the reign of Henry VIII and includes many items of interest. Haddon Hall, one of the finest medieval manor houses in England is just two miles south of the town and is well worth a visit. It is worth considering spending a day exploring the house and grounds of Chatsworth House, some four miles away.

The attractive village of Hartington is another possibility.

The splendid old spa town of Buxton is worth considering for an extra night at the start or the end of the trail. Amongst the many fine buildings is The Crescent, built in the 18th century by the Duke of Devonshire to rival its namesake in Bath; the Old Hall Hotel, which once played host to Mary Queen of Scots; the Opera House; the Devonshire Hospital, built in 1790 as stabling for the horses of gentry 'taking the waters', its magnificent 164ft dome was for many years the world's largest domed roof; and the Pump Room. Poole's Cavern, on the outskirts of the town is one of the finest show caves in the Peak District.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£50.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 96.5 miles (154.5 km)
Duration: 8 nights, 7 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 11.5 miles (18.5 km)
Maximum daily distance: 18.5 miles (29.5 km)
Code: WPW1 Grade: Moderate / Demanding
Season: 2nd January - 24th December
Start of holiday: Buxton
End of holiday: Buxton

Route Profile

White Peak Way Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major city and international airports are Manchester, East Midlands and Leeds Bradford.

By Rail - There is a rail station at Buxton.

By Bus - Various bus services run to and from Buxton.

From London - Trains run from London Euston station to Buxton.

Return To The Start - The White Peak Way is a circular tour beginning and ending in Buxton.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

  • MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
  • Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
  • Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.

Routes on this trail

White Peak Way - North section

White Peak Way - North section

4 to 7 nights
46 miles
Moderate+
From £390 per person
A walk from Buxton to Bakewell along the dramatic landscape of Edale and the Chatsworth estate.Find Out More
White Peak Way - South section

White Peak Way - South section

5 to 6 nights
51 miles
Moderate+
From £485 per person
A scenic walk from Bakewell to Buxton along the valleys and dales of the Peak District National Park.Find Out More
Explore more holidays on the White Peak Way trail

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Customer reviews from the White Peak Way

“Fabulous break and the logistics were all seamless - thanks! I will be back for another holiday - hopefully with friends in tow!”
Dr Sprague, UK
“It was very well organised (thank you). I enjoyed the variety of the walk. I felt that there was a good mixture of walking in the dales and gorges and walking on the hills. The towns and villages were picturesque but not overly quaint. The people were friendly.”
Mr Bakes, UK
“Thanks for organising it at such short notice, during the busy season”
Mr Deadman, Australia
“I loved seeing a new corner of the UK and I was very lucky with the weather. The route directions were excellent.”
Mr Nuquist, USA
“Excellent in terms of organisation, all accommodation more than satisfactory.”
Mr Attree, UK
“A really excellent walking holiday made even better by superb weather.”
Mr Howell, UK
“The beautiful (and at times challenging, thanks to the rain and mud) dales were a wonderful new experience to us.”
Mrs Locke, USA
“Wonderful landscape.”
Mrs Krause, Germany
"A Scramble through the Rockery" by Roger Pearce (2017) "A Scramble through the Rockery" by Roger Pearce (2017)
"Near Dovedale" by Roger Pearce (2017) "Near Dovedale" by Roger Pearce (2017)
"Great Ridge" by Pat Fergusson (2017) "Great Ridge" by Pat Fergusson (2017)
"High Peak Haymaking" by Pat Fergusson (2017) "High Peak Haymaking" by Pat Fergusson (2017)

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