Buxton Hill Walks

Looking for some low impact exercise? Do you struggle with how you're feeling? Need someone to just listen and not try to 'fix' things? Come to Buxton Hill Walks our Friendly, supportive walks in the Peak District and walk and talk with us.

Buxton Hill Walks are our Themed, guided, Friendly and Supportive Walks in and around the Peak District. These walks are led by Gez a fully trained walk leader and run in partnership with Zink in Buxton.

Sometimes we all need someone to talk to – someone that’s not our therapist or our doctor or our family member – but someone who is impartial and isn’t going to try and give advice. We are here for you.

Derbyshire Mind’s Walk-and-Talk groups are supportive community groups that create space for us to get together, get some fresh air, meet some new people, in a friendly and inclusive group. But, most importantly, they provide a valuable space to talk and be listened to by our compassionate Peer Support Volunteers who are trained to listen and empathise with your situation, but not try to ‘fix’.

Come join us for a gentle walk and, if you want a chat around the hills of the Peak District. The walk might help you think things through, and we are really good at listening.

Register Here to book your place on a Buxton Hills Walk

When and Where?

The group will meet twice a month on a Friday and Saturday each month. The Friday walks will end at Zink in Buxton and the walk includes a free lunch for participants. Walks will start from different locations dependent on the route, so please ensure you know where we are starting for each walk. It is important to remember that these are “hill walks” and so the ground may be steep at times, with uneven terrain often a feature, so please ensure you wear good suitable footwear for these walks, as well as bringing appropriate clothing too. Remember, it’s The Peaks, so the weather can change quite quickly sometimes!

Dates and locations for the next few walks are listed below:

 

Friday 7 August and Saturday 22 August

Due to the closure of the A54 Cat and Fiddle road over the coming months, we have organised a new start point and alternate route for our August walks. They are a similar length and we will still be visiting both Cheeks Hill and Three Shires Head.

All details are below. A lift is available from The Zink Project, in central Buxton, with Gez. Spaces are limited, please email directly to reserve a spot: walk@zink.org.uk

Start point: Outside The New Inn, Flash Village https://maps.app.goo.gl/LNioRypG5qe56RDK8

Parking: There are a couple of parking options in the village itself. The Village Hall has a small car park (£4) charge and further along the road, The Old School House also operates a small car park £5. Cash required for both.

It is possible to park on Brown Lane itself before you get to the main part of the village. Once you are in the village, there is no parking. Please park considerately – Flash can be a busy spor, especially at the weekend.

Public transport: Bus services are limited. Aimee’s Bus Travel runs a service from Buxton, number 108. Check website for timings https://aimeestravel.com/bus-timetables/108-leek-to-buxton/.

Toilets: There are no toilets on this route. On returning to the village, it’s possible to use the facilities in The New Inn, if you buy something.

Route: Starting the route from Flash shortens it slightly. It is now six miles in total. However, there is a lot more ‘up and down’ with the total elevation now being 475m.

Terrain: We will still cross open moorland, which can be boggy especially after rain. Lots of uneven terrain and a couple of steep ascents/descents. Moderate to challenging.

What to bring:

  • Rucksack
  • Sturdy boots/shoes
  • Snacks/any food you may need for the duration of the walk
  • Water
  • Waterproofs and warm layers
  • Small first aid kit with any personal medication if required

If you have any questions, or if you need to cancel your booking, you can contact Gez on 07454 819653 or email walk@zink.org.uk

Friday 11 September

Friday’s walk starts from the Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire centre, at the start of the Monsal Trail, just off the A6. With maps at the ready, we will try out our navigational skills heading up to Blackwell village, back down to the Monsal Trail where we will pause at Miller’s Dale for a biscuit break. We will head back via the secret stepping stones. Yes, there are two sets at Chee Dale!

We will ‘learn as we go’ looking at map features, description and direction as a group. This is designed to be a fun introduction to navigation. However, if you would rather just enjoy the walk without map-gazing, please feel free to do that 🙂

If you have 1:25 OS map of the area, please do bring it along with you. Maps will be provided, but you may have to share.

Afterwards we will head back to the Zink Eco Cafe where lunch will be on offer.

The Monsal Trail can be accessed from Buxton centre by public transport. Alternatively, a return lift is available from Zink with Gez, walk leader. Spaces are limited, please email Gez directly to reserve a spot: walk@zink.org.uk

Itinerary:

  • Start 945am at for briefing at Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire, walk to start at 10am.
  • Finish approx 1300pm.
  • Return to Zink for a complimentary lunch.

Details:

  • This route starts and ends at Blackwell Mill https://maps.app.goo.gl/iYhLi79oSGJjeekV9
  • The number 65 bus runs from Buxton to this location on a regular basis: https://www.highpeakbuses.com
  • Distance: approx 4.5 miles/7.3km
  • Elevation: approx 805ft/250m.
  • Level of difficulty: Moderate.
  • Weather: please check forecasts the night before the walk for the most accurate information.
  • Terrain: The Monsal trail is flat and easy under foot. We will be ascending to Blackwell village which is a moderate climb on rough ground. Plenty of field crossings and rough tracks. On the return leg we will follow the river path which can be boggy/muddy at times. We will also cross a section on stepping stones – this will include slippy wet rock and wet toes are a possibility!
  • Safety: this walk is led by a qualified Hill and Moorland Leader.
  • A toilet is available at the Miller’s car park, at the half way point of the walk.
  • Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a short lead for the duration of this walk.

What to bring:

  • Rucksack
  • Sturdy boots/shoes
  • Snacks/any food you may need for the duration of the walk
  • Water
  • Waterproofs and warm layers
  • Small first aid kit with any personal medication if required
  • If you have any questions, or if you need to cancel your booking, you can contact Gez on 07454 819653 or email walk@zink.org.uk

 

Saturday 19 September

Saturday’s walk starts from the Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire centre, at the start of the Monsal Trail, just off the A6. With maps at the ready, we will try out our navigational skills heading up to Blackwell village, back down to the Monsal Trail where we will pause at Miller’s Dale for a biscuit break. We will head back via the secret stepping stones. Yes, there are two sets at Chee Dale!

We will ‘learn as we go’ looking at map features, description and direction as a group. This is designed to be a fun introduction to navigation. However, if you would rather just enjoy the walk without map-gazing, please feel free to do that 🙂

If you have 1:25 OS map of the area, please do bring it along with you. Maps will be provided, but you may have to share.

We will break at Miller’s Dale for a picnic lunch/snack. Treats will be provided.

The Monsal Trail can be accessed from Buxton centre by public transport. Alternatively, a return lift is available from Zink with Gez, walk leader. Spaces are limited, please email Gez directly to reserve a spot: walk@zink.org.uk

Itinerary:

  • Start 945am at for briefing at Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire, walk to start at 10am.
  • Finish approx 1300pm.

 Details:

  • This route starts and ends at Blackwell Mill https://maps.app.goo.gl/iYhLi79oSGJjeekV9
  • The number 65 bus runs from Buxton to this location on a regular basis: https://www.highpeakbuses.com
  • Distance: approx 4.5 miles/7.3km
  • Elevation: approx 805ft/250m.
  • Level of difficulty: Moderate.
  • Weather: please check forecasts the night before the walk for the most accurate information.
  • Terrain: The Monsal trail is flat and easy under foot. We will be ascending to Blackwell village which is a moderate climb on rough ground. Plenty of field crossings and rough tracks. On the return leg we will follow the river path which can be boggy/muddy at times. We will also cross a section on stepping stones – this will include slippy wet rock and wet toes are a possibility!
  • Safety: this walk is led by a qualified Hill and Moorland Leader.
  • A toilet is available at the Miller’s car park, at the half way point of the walk.
  • Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a short lead for the duration of this walk.

 What to bring:

  • Rucksack
  • Sturdy boots/shoes
  • Snacks/any food you may need for the duration of the walk
  • Water
  • Waterproofs and warm layers
  • Small first aid kit with any personal medication if required
  • If you have any questions, or if you need to cancel your booking, you can contact Gez on 07454 819653 or email walk@zink.org.uk

 

Friday 9th and Saturday 17th October: Fungi finding in the Goyt Valley ~ Information coming

 

If you have any questions, or if you need to cancel your booking, you can contact Gez on 07454 819653 or email walk@zink.org.uk

 

Click here to keep in the loop with our What’s on Calendar

 

We meet whatever the weather, you can rely on us to be there for you. If it is raining, we just pop on a raincoat. If it is sunny, we just pop on some sun cream!

If the weather is extreme however, such as thick ice or snow for instance, then we will try to move the group to our ‘Plan B café’ location for safety reasons. We will inform you by posting this on our social media pages and by contacting everyone that is registered to that walk location.

How to Book a Place on an Upcoming Buxton Hill Walks:

If you are thinking of joining us on a Buxton Hill Walk you will need to register for a place and complete the Emergency Contact Details Form. You must complete this form in order to be able to attend the walk. This is so that we have your contact details and those of a person we can contact in the event there is an issue while on the walk.

These walks are slightly different to our MindSpace Walks in that we need people to register for safety reasons. We also have a maximum number of walkers we can take on these walks as they are for people who have a reasonable level of fitness and must have decent footwear and suitable clothing such as waterproof coat, etc.

If you turn up on the day without having first registered you may not be able to go on the walk.

You can find all of our upcoming walks and groups, including MindSpace as well as these Buxton Hill Walks on our Activities Calendar page.

Activity Calendar

What is MindSpace? and how does this work with the Buxton Hill Walks?

MindSpace community walk-and-talk groups are informal community groups that take place in local parks. They are perfectly unstructured so that they can flex to suit whatever the group needs or wants on the walk that week. Sometimes we will just walk and talk, sometimes we might stop for a coffee in the local café, sometimes the conversation will be centred around a particular topic that someone has raised.

We now have this our Buxton Hill Walks in partnership with Zink in Buxton. The Buxton Hill Walks are led by Gez and  are supported by our fantastic Derbyshire Mind volunteers who are friendly, inclusive, welcoming and really great listeners. We listen without judgement and without trying to ‘fix’ or give advice. You can rely on us to be here every other Friday, same time same place, no matter the weather, and ready to listen to whatever you are feeling or having trouble with.

Could you be a Volunteer MindSpace group leader?

Do you have a local park near you that would be fab as a MindSpace meet up location? Could you lead one of our friendly and informal MindSpace groups? Would you love to be part of our Derbyshire Mind Volunteers Network?

We are always looking to expand our MindSpace community network and we are always looking out for reliable and friendly local people who are passionate about supporting their community.

As a valued Derbyshire Mind volunteer, we would provide you with all the necessary training and support to help make a real difference to people in your local community experiencing mental health challenges.

Volunteer MindSpace Expressions of Interest:

If this sounds like something you are interested in please contact us at community@derbyshiremind.org.uk detailing what park you would be interested in supporting a group at, and what days and times you could do. We will then hold your details on file and be in touch in due course to discuss your kind offer!

From time to time we also advertise for volunteer walk leaders as we are setting up a new walk. If we have any roles currently available they will be advertised here:

Paid and Volunteering Opportunities Page