84 miles, 6 days, 51 pubs…

The latest addition to The Inn Way series, Mark Reid charts a circular route through the heart of the Peak District from the wilds of Kinder Scout to the dramatic gritstone edges, Chatsworth Park, mystical Stanton Moor, Lathkill Dale and Monsal Dale, the Plague village of Eyam, Castleton and its caverns, Mam Tor and Edale. This 84 mile walk is divided into six ‘day stages’ and passes 51 pubs along the way. Complete with a foreword by the Duke of Devonshire CBE.

Mark's Top Tips

• Long Stay parking is limited at Hayfield, so please use public transport. Hayfield is easily accessible using public transport with train stations at nearby Glossop or New Mills. If you arrive by car, then enquire at the Information Centre at Hayfield (Sett Valley Trail) about where to park your car. Hotels, B&B’s etc usually allow you to leave your car with them (if you stay with them at the start and end of your walk) – always ‘phone to check.
• All Overnight Stops have a selection of shops, B&Bs and pubs. There are bank cash-points along the route at Hathersage and Tideswell as well as Outdoor Shops at Hathersage and Castleton.
• When booking B&B, make sure you ask how far they are (walking distance!) from the ‘Overnight Stop’ town or village as many postal addresses include the nearest town, which may be several miles away!
• Please note that the Snake Pass Inn closes all day Monday and Tuesday (lunch-stop on Stage One). The Snake Pass Inn is 6.5 miles from Hayfield. The next pub is the Yorkshire Bridge Inn a further 7.5 miles away. Call to check opening times or take a packed lunch with you. The Yorkshire Bridge Inn is open all day.
• Classic pubs along the route include the Snake Pass Inn, Scotsmans Pack at Hatehrsage, Grouse Inn at Froggatt Edge, Devonshire Arms at Beeley, Flying Childers at Stanton in Peak, George Hotel at Youlgrave, Red Lion at Litton, Three Stags Heads at Wardlow Mires, Bulls Head at Foolow, George at Castleton and the Old Nag’s Head at Edale. In fact, almost all of the pubs along the route are great!
• It is worth employing the services of a Baggage Courier to take your bags to the next Overnight Stop. This will take the strain out of your walk by allowing you to carry a day-rucksack rather than a fully-laden rucksack. You will then be able to walk at a faster pace and won’t be so tired in the evening.
• Why not spend an extra night at Baslow for a ‘rest day’, from where you can catch a bus to either Chatsworth House or Bakewell.
• Visit as many of the 51 pubs along the route as possible, fill out the Log Book at the back of the book and claim your FREE Inn Way Certificate.