Short Walks Around Hartington and Hulme End

Not every walk needs boots, sandwiches and an Ordnance Survey map.

Sometimes you simply want to stretch your legs, find somewhere for a coffee or enjoy the evening sunshine before heading back to your pitch.

Fortunately, there are plenty of options nearby.

Hartington Village

Hartington is approximately 1.7 miles from Hartington Hills and makes a lovely destination for a shorter outing.

The village is everything you might hope for from the Peak District: beautiful stone buildings, a duck pond, traditional pubs, cafés, independent shops and, of course, the famous Hartington cheese shop.

It's an ideal walk if you'd like to combine a little countryside with lunch, coffee or an afternoon wander around the village.

Once you're there, you can simply enjoy Hartington itself or use the village as the starting point for a longer route into Beresford Dale and Wolfscote Dale.

Just remember that if you buy rather more cheese than you intended, you do have to carry it back.

Hulme End and the River Manifold

In the opposite direction, Hulme End is around 0.7 miles from Hartington Hills.

It's our nearest village and the starting point of the Manifold Track, making it one of the most useful places to know during your stay.

The River Manifold runs through the valley, and the surrounding landscape is wonderfully peaceful.

Hulme End is also home to The Manifold Inn, which means a walk in this direction can very conveniently end with a drink or something to eat.

You can read more about our nearest village in our Hulme End guide.

Morning and Evening Walking Options

Some of our favourite walks aren't really "walks" at all.

They're the half-hour wander before breakfast when the countryside is still quiet, or the evening stroll after dinner when the light begins to soften across the hills.

If you've spent the day sightseeing, you don't necessarily need another five-mile route.

Head towards Hulme End, explore one of the nearby footpaths or simply take a gentle walk through the surrounding countryside before returning to the campsite.

The White Peak is particularly beautiful in the early morning and evening, and you'll often find the paths considerably quieter than during the middle of the day.

Sometimes those unplanned little walks become the ones you remember most.

Beresford Dale and Wolfscote Dale

If you're only going to do one proper walk around Hartington, Beresford Dale and Wolfscote Dale should be very high on the list.

Following the River Dove through classic limestone scenery, this is the White Peak at its best.

Route Options

Hartington makes an excellent starting point.

From the village, footpaths lead south towards Beresford Dale, where the River Dove winds through woodland and open countryside.

Continue further and you'll enter Wolfscote Dale, where the landscape becomes increasingly dramatic, with limestone cliffs rising above the river.

There are several ways to turn this into a circular walk by using surrounding footpaths and lanes, so you can adapt the distance depending on how much of a day's walk you want.

For a shorter outing, explore Beresford Dale before returning towards Hartington.

For a longer day, continue through Wolfscote Dale and create a wider loop through the surrounding countryside.

Terrain and Difficulty

Much of the route follows established paths, but don't expect perfectly flat, surfaced walking.

You'll encounter uneven ground, limestone, mud and potentially slippery sections, particularly after rain.

Good walking boots or sturdy walking shoes are recommended.

The riverside paths can become wet and muddy during unsettled weather, so check conditions before setting off and don't assume that a route that's easy in July will feel quite the same after several days of November rain.

That's part of walking in the Peak District.

Who the Walk Suits

Beresford Dale works well for many walkers, including families with older children and dogs accustomed to countryside walks.

Extending through Wolfscote Dale makes the outing longer and more demanding, so consider the fitness and experience of everyone in your group.

Dogs should be kept under close control, particularly around livestock, and you'll encounter gates and potentially stiles along the way.

For keen photographers, nature lovers and anyone wanting a classic White Peak walk, it's difficult to beat.

Walking in the Manifold Valley

While Hartington gives you the River Dove and its limestone dales, Hulme End opens up an entirely different walking area.

The Manifold Valley is quieter than some of the Peak District's headline destinations, and that's one of the reasons we love it.

Manifold Track

The Manifold Track begins at Hulme End and follows the route of the former Leek and Manifold Light Railway towards Waterhouses.

The full trail is around eight miles long, but there's absolutely no requirement to walk all of it.

Because it's surfaced and largely traffic-free, it's ideal for anyone looking for relatively easy walking without worrying too much about mud, stiles or difficult terrain.

It's particularly good for:

• Families
• Dog walkers
• Cyclists
• Gentle walking days
• Anyone wanting an easier route after tackling something more challenging the day before

You can simply walk as far as you fancy and turn around.

Alternatively, use the track as part of a longer circular route through the surrounding countryside.

Ecton Hill

For something a little more adventurous, Ecton Hill rises above the Manifold Valley and offers a fascinating combination of scenery and local history.

The hill has a long association with copper mining, most famously through the Duke of Devonshire's Ecton Mine.

Walking in this area gives you elevated views across the valley and a very different perspective from the relatively level Manifold Track below.

Routes involving Ecton Hill include steeper climbs and more uneven terrain, so we'd recommend proper walking footwear and a map or navigation app.

The effort is worth it when you reach the higher ground.

Longer Route Options

One of the advantages of the Manifold Valley is how easily you can combine different paths.

You might begin on the Manifold Track before climbing onto the surrounding hills, or create a longer circular walk incorporating Ecton, Wetton or other nearby villages.

Experienced walkers can link the valley with the wider network of public rights of way across the Staffordshire and Derbyshire White Peak.

This is where carrying an OS map becomes particularly useful.

Rather than simply following one signposted trail, you can create a route that suits exactly how far you want to walk.

Have a browse through our Things to Do pages for more ideas while planning your stay.

Longer Walks for Experienced Walkers

If your idea of a holiday involves getting up early, filling a backpack and disappearing into the countryside until teatime, you're in the right place.

The network of footpaths around Hartington allows experienced walkers to create some fantastic longer routes.

Three Dales Routes

The limestone dales around Hartington can be combined into longer circular walks.

Beresford Dale and Wolfscote Dale are obvious starting points, but more ambitious routes can incorporate neighbouring valleys, higher farmland and surrounding villages.

A longer "Three Dales" style walk is a brilliant way to experience the changing character of the White Peak in a single day.

One moment you're following a river beneath limestone cliffs; the next you're climbing through open fields with far-reaching countryside views.

The exact distance will depend on the combination of paths you choose, so plan the route before leaving rather than relying on signs once you're out.

Limestone Way Connections

Hartington also sits on the route of the Limestone Way, one of the Peak District's best-known long-distance walking trails.

The full route stretches far beyond anything most of us would attempt before lunch, but you don't need to walk the whole thing.

Its presence around Hartington gives you another useful option for creating longer walks and linking villages and footpaths across the White Peak.

You can follow a section before looping back using the wider rights-of-way network, giving you the feeling of a long-distance trail without having to disappear for several days.

Navigation and Preparation

For longer walks, preparation becomes much more important.

Take an appropriate Ordnance Survey map or reliable walking app and download your route before leaving in case mobile signal becomes unreliable.

Check the weather forecast and make sure everyone in your group is comfortable with the planned distance and terrain.

Carry:

• Waterproofs
• Extra warm layer
• Food
• Plenty of water
• First-aid essentials
• Fully charged phone
• Portable charger
• Map or navigation device

And give yourself more daylight than you think you'll need.

Peak District miles have a habit of taking rather longer than expected when hills, mud, stiles and an unexpected pub stop are involved.

Practical Advice for Walking from a Campsite

The great advantage of walking directly from your campsite is simplicity.

No driving. No finding a car park. No trying to remember where you left the car eight hours later.

But a little preparation still helps.

Weather and Footwear

Peak District weather is famously changeable.

A sunny morning at the campsite doesn't guarantee a dry afternoon several miles away.

Bring a waterproof jacket even when the forecast looks promising, and wear footwear appropriate for your route.

Traffic-free trails such as the Manifold Track are generally straightforward underfoot, while dale and field routes can become muddy and slippery.

If your boots are wet when you get back, don't worry.

That's usually a sign you've had a proper Peak District day out.

Dogs and Livestock

Dogs are very welcome in the Peak District countryside, but remember that much of the landscape is working farmland.

Keep dogs under close control around sheep, cattle and other livestock and follow any signs asking you to use a lead.

During ground-nesting bird season, additional restrictions may apply in sensitive areas.

Always clean up after your dog and take waste bags with you until you find an appropriate bin.

Food and Water

Even on relatively short walks, take water.

For longer routes, bring enough food and drink to keep everyone going, particularly if you're walking with children.

One of the joys of walking around Hartington is that many routes can incorporate a pub, café or village stop.

Hartington has several places to eat and drink, while The Manifold Inn at Hulme End is conveniently close to Hartington Hills.

Just don't rely on somewhere being open without checking first, particularly outside the main holiday season.

Returning to Hartington Hills

Perhaps the best part of walking directly from Hartington Hills is the end of the day.

There's no drive back to the campsite.

You simply walk home.

Take off your muddy boots, have a hot shower and settle back into your pitch while somebody else starts the barbecue.

Our Facilities include hot showers, washing and laundry facilities and everything you need to make returning from a long day's walking considerably more comfortable.

And if you're staying on one of our Touring pitches, your caravan, motorhome or tent will be waiting exactly where you left it.

Hartington Hills is tucked between two wonderful walking areas: Hartington and the Dove Valley in one direction, and Hulme End and the Manifold Valley in the other.

That means you don't have to spend every day driving around the Peak District looking for somewhere beautiful to walk.

Some of the best routes are already on your doorstep.

So pack your boots, bring a waterproof—whatever the forecast says—and leave the car on its pitch.

The hardest part might simply be deciding which direction to walk first.