Burbage Loop via Higger Tor (5 miles)
A classic Burbage Valley circuit starting and ending at National Trust Longshaw. This loop takes in the region’s finest gritstone tors—Higger Tor and the ancient hillfort of Carl Wark—before returning across the estate. Perfect for exploring the Burbage Valley, with refreshments at Longshaw Tea Room or the Fox House Inn.
⚠️ Please note: This route has been created and shared by an Outdoor Active community member. It has not been checked or verified by Let’s Go Peak District. Please read the full walk description carefully, check weather and ground conditions before setting out, and look to community reviews and comments on Outdoor Active for up-to-date feedback. Always follow the Countryside Code.
View Full Route on Outdoor Active ↗Tors, Hillforts, and Valley Views
If you want a walk that captures the raw, rugged essence of the Peak District’s eastern moors, the Burbage Loop delivers in spades. This is a route that feels ancient, you’ll tread paths used by Iron Age settlers, walk ridges carved by ice, and gaze across a valley that has inspired climbers and walkers for generations.
Starting and ending at the National Trust Longshaw Estate, this circular walk is wonderfully convenient. There is ample parking (NT members free), a welcoming tea room for pre- or post-walk refreshments, and easy access straight onto the moors. The beauty of this loop is its variety—from ancient fortifications to windswept tors, from open moorland tracks to the sheltered parkland of the estate.
From Longshaw to Carl Wark
Setting out from the Longshaw Estate, the walk heads north-west across the estate’s parkland before climbing up onto the moor. This initial section is a gentle warm-up, with the distinctive profile of Carl Wark already visible on the horizon.
Soon, you reach Carl Wark, one of the most enigmatic archaeological sites in the Peak District. This is an Iron Age hillfort, its stone ramparts still clearly visible despite being over 2,000 years old. Its defensive walls follow the contours of the hill, creating a fortress that would have been nearly impregnable in its day. Walk along the ramparts and imagine the ancient Britons who once stood here, watching for invaders from the east. The views from Carl Wark are spectacular, looking across the Burbage Valley towards Higger Tor.
Higger Tor
From Carl Wark, the route descends and climbs towards Higger Tor. This prominent gritstone outcrop stands proud above the valley, its distinctive summit block a magnet for walkers and climbers alike. The scramble to the top is short but satisfying, and the 360-degree views are among the best in the Peak District.
From the summit, you can see the full sweep of the Burbage Valley, the distant chimneys of Sheffield, and the dark, brooding shape of Carl Wark now behind you. It is a place to pause, catch your breath, and appreciate just how wild this corner of the Peak District remains.
Upper and Lower Burbage
Rather than following the busier Sheffield Country Walk path, this route instead takes the moorland track that runs through the valley. This is a quieter, more atmospheric alternative, weaving through Upper and Lower Burbage.
The track through Upper Burbage offers expansive views across the valley, with the gritstone edges rising on either side. Here, the ground is peatier, the views more expansive, and you feel truly immersed in the moorland landscape. As you continue into Lower Burbage, the valley narrows slightly, and the character of the walk changes—the sound of the Burbage Brook becomes more prominent, and the landscape feels more intimate.
(For those wanting a quicker or easier route, the Sheffield Country Walk path provides a good alternative, but the moorland track is the one that rewards the explorer.)
Return to Longshaw
From Lower Burbage, the path gradually climbs back towards the Longshaw Estate, bringing you full circle. This return section is a gentler finish—open meadows, winding streams, and mature trees providing a soft contrast to the bare gritstone of the edges.
The Longshaw Tea Room is a welcome sight at the end of the walk, serving hot drinks, cakes, and light lunches in a cosy setting. Alternatively, if you fancy a pint instead, the Fox House Inn is just a short stroll from the car park, a historic coaching inn with roaring log fires and hearty pub food, the perfect reward after a day on the moors.
Why This Route?
This walk offers the best of Burbage without the crowds. By using the moorland track rather than the Sheffield Country Walk, you avoid the busiest sections while still hitting all the highlights, Carl Wark, Higger Tor, and the dramatic sweep of Upper and Lower Burbage. Starting and ending at Longshaw makes it incredibly convenient, with parking, toilets, and refreshments all on hand. It is a loop that feels complete, varied, and thoroughly satisfying.
ℹ️ Tourist Information
- Castleton Visitor Centre 7.5 miles
🥾 Nearby Walks
🍺 Local Pubs
- The Maynard 1.4 miles
- The Peacock at Owler Bar 2.1 miles
- The Scotsman’s Pack 2.3 miles
☕ Cafes & Tearooms
- Colemans Deli 2.4 miles
- Cintra’s in Hathersage 2.4 miles
- Village Green Cafe, Eyam 3.6 miles
🏨 Places to Stay
- The Maynard 1.4 miles
- Pond View Cottage & Into The Peaks Shepherds Huts 2.1 miles
- The Scotsman’s Pack 2.3 miles
- The George 2.5 miles
🏛️ Attractions
- Chatsworth House 6.2 miles
- Peveril Castle 7.4 miles
- Peak Cavern 7.5 miles
- Eyam Brewery – Craft Beer Inspired by the Peak District 7.5 miles
🎪 Coming Up
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Actual travel distances may vary.
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