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.

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 27 March – Meet at Zink at 9.45am for a 10.00am start.
Burbage Edge Loop – 5.5 miles
Theme: Welcome to Buxton Hill Walks
An introductory walk and local loop! A chance to meet Gez, learn more about hillwalking and bag our first trig point of the season.

Friday 17 and Saturday 25 April
Grin Low Woods and Solomon’s Temple – 5 miles
Theme: Spring flora – a wander through the woods taking time to explore the flowers, fungi and trees at Grin Low.

Friday 15 and Saturday 23 May
High Edge – 7 miles
Starts at Grin Low car park
Theme: History – WW2 at High Edge
A walk from Grin Low to High Edge, a limestone outcrop featuring two WW2 bunkers, used to guard RAF Harpur Hill.

Friday 5 and Saturday 13 June
Woo Dale and Cowdale
6 miles
Starting from Fairfield
Theme: Geology – the formation of limestone dales and the dolomite of Woo Dale.

Saturday 18 July

Saturday’s walk starts from the Cat and Fiddle, heading across moorland to Three Shires Head. From here we will head out onto Axe Edge Moor and summit Cheeks Hill, an Ethel and the Staffordshire ‘county top’. The theme of this month’s walk is landscape history, and we will learn about the beginnings of the Peak District National Park and how our Ethels got their name!

Weather permitting, we will break at Three Shires Head for a picnic lunch/snack. Treats will be provided.

The Cat and Fiddle 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 9.45am at The Cat and Fiddle for briefing, walk to start at 10.00am.
Finish approx 14.00pm.

Details:

This route starts and ends at The Cat and Fiddle: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1wJvkPWcmTmg9Rnr7
The number 58 bus runs from Buxton to this location on a regular basis: https://www.highpeakbuses.com
Distance: approx 7 miles/11.5km
Elevation: approx 1125ft/350m.
Level of difficulty: Moderate to challenging.
Weather: please check forecasts the night before the walk for the most accurate information.
Terrain: open moorland which can be rough underfoot, one steep/rocky descent, plenty of ups and downs.
Safety: this walk is led by a qualified Hill and Moorland Leader.
A toilet is available at the Derbyshire Bridge car park, on the return leg 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 24 July

This local route starts at The Zink Project and takes us to up through Corbar Woods to Corbar Cross, with another ascent to reach the moorland area of Combs Moss. We will then follow the edge path round, crossing groughs and descending via Light Wood. The theme of this walk is peatland conservation; we will learn more about the works done on Combs Moss to re-wet the bog!

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

Itinerary:

Start 9.45am at Zink for briefing, walk to start at 10.00am.
Finish approx 13.30pm.
Return to Zink for a complimentary lunch.

Details:

This route will follow local roads to Corbar Woods up to Combs Moss, descending via Light Wood and returning to The Zink Project.
Distance: approx 4.5 miles/7.5km
Elevation: approx 810ft/240m.
Level of difficulty: Moderate.
Weather: please check forecasts the night before the walk for the most accurate information.
Terrain: Pavement, some uneven ground and possible muddy parts in wooded areas. Some steep and short rocky climbs. Open moorland may have boggy sections and very uneven ground. A short steep descent on rough ground into Light Wood.
PLEASE NOTE: there are two stiles to climb over which are unusually high, perhaps waist height, and will require some clambering!
Safety: this walks is led by a qualified Hill and Moorland Leader.
A toilet is available at The Zink Project.
Dogs are NOT allowed as we are accessing Combs Moss where they are prohibited.

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 7 August

Friday’s walk starts from the Cat and Fiddle, heading across moorland to Three Shires Head. From here we will head out onto Axe Edge Moor and summit Cheeks Hill, an Ethel and the Staffordshire ‘county top’. The theme of this month’s walk is landscape history, and we will learn about the beginnings of the Peak District National Park and how our Ethels got their name!

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

Itinerary:

Start 9.45am at The Cat and Fiddle for briefing, walk to start at 10.00am.
Finish approx 14.00pm.
Return to Zink for a complimentary lunch.

Details:

This route starts and ends at The Cat and Fiddle: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1wJvkPWcmTmg9Rnr7
The number 58 bus runs from Buxton to this location on a regular basis: https://www.highpeakbuses.com
Distance: approx 7 miles/11.5km
Elevation: approx 1125ft/350m.
Level of difficulty: Moderate to challenging.
Weather: please check forecasts the night before the walk for the most accurate information.
Terrain: open moorland which can be rough underfoot, one steep/rocky descent, plenty of ups and downs.
Safety: this walk is led by a qualified Hill and Moorland Leader.
A toilet is available at the Derbyshire Bridge car park, on the return leg 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 22 August

Three Shires Head returning via Axe Edge Moor

Starting from Cat and Fiddle

Theme: Landscape history – how the Peak District became the first national park (including bagging an Ethel!)

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 rain coat. 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