Full round
16 Reserves
120km / 75mi
2700m / 9000ft
The ultimate discovery journey of the Wild Peak
The ultimate Wild Peak challenge. A journey connecting 16 nature reserves around the Peak District and taking in many landmarks along the way. This is a serious challenge which could be attempted in a single go or equally walked over multiple days.
The route conveniently passes through several towns and villages which will enable you to stock up on supplies as you go around including; Bakewell, Eyam, Hope, Heatherdene car park (water and toilets), Crowden (water, toilets and campsite), Glossop, New Mills, Whaley Bridge and Buxton.
Please note on this round there is a long stretch between Ladybower and Crowden which crosses the exposed plateaux of Bleaklow approximately 23km, that you must be fully prepared for.
There’s an excellent write up from Chris Andrade who’s completed the round available to read here: https://run-ultra.com/news/wild-peak-round-120km-ultra-report/
Route highlights
Some of the places you can look forward to passing on the full Wild Peak round
Recommended route
As long as all 16 reserves are visited and you start / finish from the Inov8 Shop, Kings Street, Bakewell, you are free to choose your own route. We have provided a route below as an illustration to show how you might link them.
The waypoints
This is the list of the nature reserves which can be visited in any order, starting and finishing at the Inov8 store in Bakewell.
Important: Please note that the physical Wild Peak round way markers for the full round will not be in place until the end of March. If attempting the full round before this date please use the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust entrance reserve signs as the way points. Way markers are in place for all reserves that are part of the half round plus Lightwood.
| Nature reserves | Grid Ref. | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Start/Finish – Inov8 Bakewell | SK21726 68460 | Inov8 Shop, Kings Street, Bakewell. |
| Overdale | SK18354 80616 | Just inside the reserve by a stone stile |
| Hadfields Quarry | SK16166 82382 | Just inside the reserve entrance |
| Thornhill Carrs | SK19715 84870 | Northern end of the reserve adjacent to Thornhill Trail |
| Ladybower Wood | SK20570 86668 | Just inside the reserve entrance |
| Brockholes Wood | SK07047 99748 | Just inside the reserve entrance |
| Long Clough | SK 03149 92528 | By the reserve entrance |
| Broadhurst Edge Wood | SJ99761 87415 | By the reserve gate off Pole Lane |
| Watford Lodge | SK00565 86512 | Just inside the reserve entrance |
| Hillbridge and Park Wood | SK 01086 78742 | South entrance next to footpath |
| Lightwood | SK05430 74906 | Just inside the reserve entrance |
| Cowdale | SK08209 72051 | Just inside the reserve entrance from Cowdale hamlet |
| Deep Dale and Topley Pike | SK10455 72068 | Within the reserve at footpath crossings |
| Chee Dale | SK12790 73468 | Within the reserve close to a footbridge over the river Wye |
| Miller’s Dale | SK14324 73275 | Alongside the Monsal trail, outside the reserve entrance |
| Priestcliffe Lees | SK15124 73020 | Up steps from the Monsal trail just inside reserve by existing panel |
| Cramside Wood | SK16751 72707 | To the side of the footpath track |