Buxton and Curlew Country 2025

SUMMARY

Date:  Thursday April 10th to Wednesday April 16th 2025

Arrive on Thursday by 16.00 to settle in and perhaps have a short orientation walk before your holiday briefing at 18.00 followed by an evening meal together at the hotel.

Guide: Alison Carr our local guide

Walking Grade: 2 Goat as we expect to do some longer Spring walks – long but with little ascent and descent. This could vary depending on the weather. Walks can be done from the door of the hotel. This is the week before National Curlew Day and we will go out searching to see these lovely birds.

Highlights: The time of year to see curlews.The view from Shining Tor across three english counties, visiting the cosy pub at Flash,the highest pub in England and walking the Three Shires Head with all its ancient packhorse bridge.

Base: The Lee Wood Hotel a 4 star in Buxton with its own fitness suite. You can even book a massage to help those tired legs at the end of a day! (booking in advance recommended)

The hotel was originally built in 1830 by the then Duke of Devonshire and transformed into a hotel in 1860 when the railways arrived in Buxton and the town was beginning to prosper as a Victorian spa town where people would come to enjoy the therapeutic properties of its thermal spring waters. The hotel has been family run since its beginning and is now managed by Nicola and Owen Longden.

 There is a train station in Buxton with many connecting services making it an accessible destination. If you are driving there is free parking at the hotel.

Price: £1,600 per person for this all inclusive week in an ensuite solo occupancy room.

If you bring a friend/partner and share a room the price is £1300 per person.

Includes:

• Bed & Breakfast
• All evening meals in the hotel
• Packed Lunches on 6 days
• 6 guided walks to discover the area with Alison your local guide.
• Local transport required for walks

Not included:

• Travel to Buxton
• Drinks from the bar
• Anything not mentioned above

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DETAILS

This area known as the Staffordshire Moorlands is an area often bypassed as people walk in the more well known parts of the Peak District National Park.These moorlands offer so much, from lush river valleys along the Dane and the Goyt, to the evocative moorland plateaus and views across the three counties of Cheshire,  Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

At the centre of our week is the spa town of Buxton, and England’s highest small market town. The natural warm waters of Buxton have been revered since Roman times.  You can try the wonderful Buxton Water for yourselves from St Ann’s Well where the water emerges at a steady 27 degrees celsius.

This is a great location for a short break – perhaps a warm up for summer. It is a chance to get outside with the days being longer and we hope to see some beautiful spring flowers and the local birdlife including Curlews.The hotel is centrally located and the perfect base for a walking holiday. This holiday has all meals included so there is no need to venture out in the evenings. Our guide has planned walks to help you discover this area often overlooked in favour of the Peak District. We like to walk in more hidden places and learn about new areas.

There are also many places to visit nearby such as Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall, Hardwick Hall as well as the market town of Bakewell home to the famous pudding. If you have a few more days to spare you could stay on to explore further.

ITINERARY

Itinerary subject to change depending on the weather. Our guide will brief you before each walk.

Day 1 Thursday  Arrival. 

Settle in to your hotel and meet in reception at 16.00. No scheduled walk but an option of a short orientation of the town. The briefing with Alison will be at 18.00 followed by an evening meal together in the hotel restaurant.

Day 2 Friday – Crabs Moss – 8miles/ 12km with 330m ascent
Views across Buxton and beyond.

Day 3 Saturday 9 miles/15 km with 470m ascent
A longer walk to Three Shires Head where the counties meet at an intersection of streams, returning via the village of Flash, which claims to have the highest pub in England. We will get local transport back from Flash Village.

Day 4 Sunday Shining Tor – approx 11 miles/17km ascent 402m
Striking out in a different direction from Buxton, towards the Goyt Valley, we will ascend the gentle slopes of Cats Tor and Shining Tor to enjoy far-reaching views before returning via Errwood reservoir. Local transport will be used.

Day 5 Monday – Solomon’s Temple 4 miles/6.5 km 230m ascent

A fee afternoon  to explore Buxton a little more.

Day 6 Tuesday – the finale Hayfield ‘Mass Trespass’ Walk 8.7miles/13km 600m ascent.

You follow in the footsteps of the 1932 walkers who trespassed en masse to secure access rights in the Peak District for everyone to enjoy forever. You can walk in the moorland landscape and enjoy what they fought hard for.

Day 7 Wednesday – depart after breakfast. 

There will be an option to have a morning walk of 2.5 miles and 160m ascent to reach Curbar Cross with views back to Solomon’s Temple across town.