A practical guide to the best gritstone edge peaks to bag in the Peak District, focusing on classic edges, skyline walks and defining viewpoints.
The Peak District may not be known for towering mountains, but it has one feature that defines it more than any summit ever could: gritstone edges.
These long, broken escarpments form the skyline of the Dark Peak. They provide height, exposure and views far beyond what their modest elevations suggest. For peak baggers, gritstone edges function as linear summits. You do not simply visit a point and turn back. You walk the edge, follow its curve, and experience the landscape unfolding step by step.
This guide focuses on the best gritstone edge peaks to bag in the Peak District. These are edges that deliver character, views and a strong sense of place, whether you are new to Peak District walking or returning to deepen your understanding of the landscape.
Gritstone edges are formed where hard gritstone layers meet softer rock beneath, creating steep escarpments that resist erosion. Over time, this process produces cliffs, tors and broken edges that run for hundreds or even thousands of metres.
Unlike rounded hills or plateaus, edges feel exposed and elevated. Even when the ground behind them is relatively gentle, the drop on one side creates a sense of height and drama. This is why gritstone edges often feel more serious than their contours suggest.
In peak bagging terms, an edge is less about reaching a summit and more about completing a defined line through the landscape.
Not every edge offers the same experience. The edges included here share several qualities:
This list prioritises quality and character over obscurity.
The most accessible and well-known gritstone edges, forming the dramatic eastern boundary of the Dark Peak.
Height: approximately 458m
Area: Eastern Edges
Why it is worth bagging: The most famous gritstone edge in the Peak District, with huge views and unmistakable character.
Typical time to walk the edge: 2 to 4 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain type: Edge path and rocky sections
Route style: Linear or circular
Stanage Edge is the reference point for gritstone walking. It offers immediate reward and a powerful introduction to Peak District edges.
Height: approximately 371m
Area: Eastern Edges
Why it is worth bagging: A long, open edge with sweeping views across the Derwent Valley.
Typical time to walk the edge: 3 to 4 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain type: Edge path
Route style: Linear or circular
Curbar Edge feels expansive and calm, especially when walked early or midweek.
Height: approximately 371m
Area: Eastern Edges
Why it is worth bagging: A flowing edge that combines gritstone with woodland and valley contrast.
Typical time to walk the edge: 3 to 4 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain type: Mixed edge and woodland paths
Route style: Circular
Froggatt Edge works particularly well as part of a longer linking walk with neighbouring edges.
Quieter edges with a stronger sense of space and distance.
Height: approximately 538m
Area: Central Dark Peak
Why it is worth bagging: A wild-feeling edge with distinctive rock formations and long views over reservoirs.
Typical time to walk the edge: 4 to 6 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain type: Rocky edge and moorland paths
Route style: Linear or circular
Derwent Edge feels more remote than the eastern edges and rewards steady, unhurried walking.
Height: approximately 424m
Area: Dark Peak
Why it is worth bagging: A short but dramatic edge with one of the best views in the Peak District.
Typical time to walk the edge: 2 to 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain type: Rocky edge
Route style: Out-and-back or circular
Bamford Edge is compact, intense and ideal for short days with big impact.
Compact gritstone edges that deliver strong character in a short distance.
Height: approximately 400m
Area: Eastern Edges
Why it is worth bagging: A quieter companion to Curbar and Froggatt, with wide, open views.
Typical time to walk the edge: 2 to 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain type: Edge path
Route style: Linear or circular
Baslow Edge is often overlooked but offers a peaceful and rewarding edge walk.
Height: approximately 395m
Area: Eastern Edges
Why it is worth bagging: Industrial history combined with classic gritstone walking.
Typical time to walk the edge: 2 to 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain type: Edge path and rocky ground
Route style: Circular
Millstone Edge adds cultural depth to an edge-focused day.
Gritstone edges are rarely technically difficult, but they should not be underestimated.
These walks reward steady pacing and attention rather than speed.
Edges are at their best when conditions allow you to enjoy their defining features.
Even in poor weather, edges can be rewarding, but judgement matters.
Edge walking is linear rather than summit-focused. You move along a skyline instead of climbing to a point. Navigation is simpler than on plateaus like Kinder Scout or Bleaklow, but exposure is greater than on most White Peak hills.
Edges work particularly well as a contrast to moorland days, offering clarity, views and a sense of progression.
Many gritstone edges link naturally.
Edge-first routes often feel more dramatic, while edge-last routes reward tired legs with views.
Track gritstone edge peaks, log linear routes and build a complete Peak District edge bagging record with Peaky Baggers.
Gritstone edges are the Peak District’s defining peaks. They do not rely on height to impress. Walk them end to end, in changing light and weather, and the landscape begins to make sense. Bag these edges thoughtfully and you will understand why the Peak District feels so distinctive, even without big mountains.
Photo by Tom Wheatley on Unsplash
