Alport Castles from the Derwent

Alport Dale, Hope Woodlands · Derbyshire · 14.9 mi · Hard · Dog-friendly

Up from the Derwent onto Alport Moor for a view of the Castles, the largest landslip in Britain. 14.9 miles and 1011m of climbing, the biggest day here.

Peak District
Alport Castles
Bleaklow
Derwent
long day

Distance 14.9 mi

Ascent1011 m

DifficultyHard

Estimated Time7 hrs

Dog AccessDog-friendly

Getting there

Grid reference: SK 1735 8893
Postcode: S33 0AQ

Fairholmes, below Derwent dam. Pay and display.

Open on OS Maps Directions to the start

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Route Map

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3D Route

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Map and navigation

The line on the map is the GPX from the day, so it is the route as actually walked. You will not find numbered directions telling you to bear left at the third gate.

That is on purpose. This is not about telling you where to go. It is about sharing a route that works with a dog, and getting you out to explore it yourself.

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For your four legged companion

What this route is like with a dog, at a glance.

Some waterStreams or pools to drink from
Open Access landOn Access land dogs must be on a lead no longer than 2m from 1 March to 31 July, for ground-nesting birds
Rough underfootUneven, rocky or boggy going

Route notes

The day

September 2025. 14.9 miles round with 1011m of climbing, 5h56 on the move.

A bit of light drizzle but nothing that lasted, 8 to 12°C, wind gusting to 19mph.

Walking with

Just me and Ember.

The route

The biggest climbing day in the collection. 1011m, and the only one here over a thousand.

Up from the Derwent valley and north west onto Alport Moor, topping out at 506m around SK 128 932, then out towards the Snake Road and back round. The low point is 220m on the return.

The reason to come this way is Alport Castles, off to the west above Alport Dale. At over half a mile long it is reckoned to be the largest landslip in Britain. What happened is that weak Carboniferous shales gave way beneath the harder Millstone Grit on top, and the grit came down in blocks. The biggest of them, The Tower, stands isolated on the valley side and from a distance looks uncannily like a motte and bailey castle. Hence the name.

You do not have to go down to them. The view from the moor above is the one worth having.

Below in the dale is Alport Castles Farm, where a Love Feast has been held in the barn for at least 250 years. John Wesley preached there in the 18th century, and every July the congregation still share fruitcake and water from a two-handled loving cup.

The climbing is front-loaded and then stings: 337m in the second fifth getting onto the plateau, then 194m in the last after four hours of moor.

This is remote ground. On Alport Moor and Bleaklow the path disappears into peat and the next landmark is a long way off. Worth a map and the confidence to use it.

For your four legged companion

Access land, so the 1 March to 31 July lead rule applies whether or not there is stock, and there are sheep on the lower ground.

Water on the moor is peaty and slow moving. The valley has plenty. In between, not much.

Peat groughs, tussock and bog. This is the hardest going of any walk here for a dog and the least forgiving if something goes wrong. The ground above the Castles is broken and steep, so keep your dog close there.