May 27, 2025

The Best Circular Hikes in the Peak District for Peak Baggers

Maximise your Peak District peak bagging! Discover 7 incredible circular hikes that bag multiple summits, offer stunning views, and ensure no backtracking.

There’s nothing better than a circular hike that ticks all the boxes — summits, scenery, and that satisfying loop where every step takes you somewhere new.

In the Peak District, circular walks are a dream for peak baggers. You can rack up multiple tops in one go, avoid doubling back on yourself, and soak up ever-changing views along the way. Whether you’re chasing trig points, Wainwright-style hills, or just love a good ridge walk — these loops will get your legs moving and your summit list growing.

Here are 7 of the best circular hikes in the Peak District for walkers who love a challenge with a side of views.

1. Kinder Scout Horseshoe (via Grindsbrook and Jacobs Ladder)

  • Peaks Bagged: Kinder Scout plateau (636m), Grindslow Knoll, Edale Rocks

  • Distance & Time: ~13km | 5–6 hours

  • Difficulty: Moderate–challenging

  • Route Highlights: Dramatic edges, peat bog wilderness, waterfall scrambles and ridge views — this is the classic Peak District loop.

  • Top Tip: Start early and go anti-clockwise (up Grindsbrook, down Jacobs Ladder) for the best views and a gradual warm-up.


2. The Great Ridge Loop (Lose Hill – Mam Tor – Back Tor – Hollins Cross)

  • Peaks Bagged: Lose Hill (476m), Back Tor, Mam Tor (517m)

  • Distance & Time: ~10km | 3–4 hours

  • Difficulty: Moderate

  • Route Highlights: Iconic and Insta-friendly — a rolling ridge that’s perfect for newer peak baggers. Easy to follow, endlessly photogenic.

  • Top Tip: Park at Hope or Castleton and make a loop via Edale Road or Cave Dale to avoid retracing the ridge.


3. Stanage Edge Circular

  • Peaks Bagged: High Neb (458m), Stanage trig, White Path Moss

  • Distance & Time: ~12km | 4–5 hours

  • Difficulty: Easy–moderate

  • Route Highlights: Long gritstone escarpments, climbers clinging to crags, and panoramic views over the Hope Valley. It’s wild and rugged — without needing to climb anything.

  • Top Tip: Bring a flask — the summit trig point has bench-worthy views.


4. Bleaklow & Higher Shelf Stones Loop (from Snake Pass)

  • Peaks Bagged: Bleaklow Head (633m), Higher Shelf Stones (621m)

  • Distance & Time: ~13km | 5 hours

  • Difficulty: Moderate (navigation skills essential)

  • Route Highlights: Remote, bleak and beautiful. You’ll pass the B-29 Superfortress crash site, and bag two of the Dark Peak’s quietest summits.

  • Top Tip: This area is notorious for mist and bog — take a map and compass, not just an app.


5. Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill Circular

  • Peaks Bagged: Chrome Hill (425m), Parkhouse Hill (360m)

  • Distance & Time: ~7km | 2.5–3 hours

  • Difficulty: Moderate (short but steep in parts)

  • Route Highlights: Also known as the Dragon’s Back, this sharp limestone ridge looks like it belongs in Wales or the Alps. Short hike, huge vibes.

  • Top Tip: Avoid Parkhouse Hill if it’s icy — the descent can be tricky in the wet.


6. Shutlingsloe & Wildboarclough Circular

  • Peaks Bagged: Shutlingsloe (506m)

  • Distance & Time: ~8km | 3 hours

  • Difficulty: Moderate

  • Route Highlights: Known as the “Matterhorn of Cheshire,” Shutlingsloe is a standout pointy peak on the park’s western edge. Great views, woodland, and a surprisingly quiet trail.

  • Top Tip: Combine with a pub stop at The Crag Inn or bring lunch for the summit.


7. Derwent Edge Circular via Lost Lad and Back Tor

  • Peaks Bagged: Lost Lad, Back Tor (538m), Dovestone Tor

  • Distance & Time: ~14km | 4.5–5.5 hours

  • Difficulty: Moderate

  • Route Highlights: Weathered rock formations, wide views across Ladybower, and some of the most photogenic trig points in the Peaks.

  • Top Tip: Best in golden hour or early morning — it feels like another world when the mist hangs over the reservoir.


Why Circular Walks Are a Peak Bagger’s Dream

  • No backtracking = more variety

  • Perfect for multi-peak routes

  • Start and finish at the same car park = easy logistics

  • Many are lesser-known = quieter trails

  • Ideal for building stamina and linking new summits


Navigation Tips for Peak District Circular Walks

  • Use OS Maps OL1 (Dark Peak) or OL24 (White Peak) depending on location

  • Bleaklow and Kinder require map + compass — don’t rely on your phone

  • Pack layers, water, snacks, and a headtorch — weather can change fast

  • Track your routes and summit ticks with the Peaky Baggers app — perfect for building your peak list and seeing what’s nearby


🏁 Final Thoughts

Circular routes in the Peak District are pure walking gold — more efficient, more scenic, and far more satisfying than out-and-backs. Whether you’re working through every trig or just love a good summit sandwich, these loops will get you to the top and back without missing a beat.

Photo credit: Rob Bates

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