A Visit to Stanage Edge
Stanage Edge is the ultimate Peak District experience. This stunning gritstone escarpment runs for nearly four miles north of Hathersage, rising to 458 metres at High Neb with breathtaking views across the Hope Valley. A mecca for climbers with over 2,000 routes, it is equally popular with hikers, runners and paragliders. The wild Dark Peak plateau is dotted with abandoned millstones and softened by blooming heather in warmer months. Accessible and family friendly, a visit to Stanage Edge pairs perfectly with a trip to the pretty village of Hathersage. Visitors are reminded to respect this precious landscape by taking litter home, never lighting fires, and keeping dogs on leads between March and July to protect rare wildlife and livestock.
Stanage Edge is a stunning gritstone escarpment north of the pretty Peak District village of Hathersage. It runs for almost four miles roughly north to south, from Moscar Moor to Burbage, rising to 458 metres (1,503 feet) at High Neb, its highest point.
Stanage Edge is the absolute epitome of the Dark Peak. Its gritstone plateau is a wild, unforgiving place offering unsurpassed views of the Hope Valley, and in warmer months its slopes are softened by blooming purple heathers and bright bracken. Here and there are abandoned millstones, harking back to the industrial past of this area.
Stanage Edge is a mecca for climbing enthusiasts, described by UK Climbing as the “longest, finest outcrop of the best, most unique rock Britain has to offer.” It has over 2,000 routes over its gritstone edifice, representing all styles, and offering sound rocks with little looseness or vegetation. It’s also very popular with hikers and runners, and is a popular launching point for para-gliders.
Despite its height and imposing presence, it’s quite accessible for most, and a visit to this incredible landscape is a great place to spend a day, possibly combined with a trip to the nearby village of Hathersage before or after.
Please remember to treat this precious spot with respect!
Take all your litter home, never light fires or barbecues, and keep your dog on a lead between 1 March and 31 July. Stanage Edge is populated with rare birdlife and wildlife, as well as livestock. In the warmer months it’s not unusual to see adders here, and your dog should be kept under close control to avoid being bitten as well as to avoid disturbing the wildlife.
How Do I Get to Stanage Edge?
Stanage Edge is located north of the village of Hathersage, which is on the A6187 from Sheffield. Follow School Lane from the centre of the village as it winds through the hills and brings you out underneath Stanage Edge. The easiest car park to find is at Hook’s Car, from where a number of well-laid paths will lead you up on to the Edge.
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If the wild beauty and panoramic views of Stanage Edge took your breath away, the Peak District has several more spectacular edges to explore. The lovely village of Hathersage is nearby with its independent shops, cafes and excellent walking routes. Edale offers stunning views of Kinder Scout and the surrounding hills, while Froggatt Edge provides equally stunning walking with wide vistas over the Derwent Valley. The Roaches is another impressive gritstone ridge rising to 505m, and the Dragon’s Back Walk offers exhilarating ridge walking with panoramic views. Discover more routes at our Walking Trails Gudie.
