Whinstone Lee Tor walk - Derwent Edge walk

Route: Whinstone Lee Tor

Area: Peak District, High Peak

Date of walk: 3rd March 2026

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 5.4 miles

Ascent: 1,000 feet

Weather: Sunny

Today was our wedding anniversary and we chose to celebrate it with a return to the Peak District, which we’ve not visited for five years. On the way to our base in Edale we stopped of for what would be our first walk in the ‘High Peak’ area, known for its dramatic gritstone moors. We parked in a lay-by beside the busy A57 near the shore of Ladybower Reservoir. The reservoir was created between 1935 and 1943, and the villages of Derwent and Ashopton disappeared under its waters. There are plenty of spaces in the lay-by but some long awaited sun had brought out the crowds and there was only one space left, which we were fortunate to bag. I’d recommend arriving early. An alternative starting point for the walk would be Cutthroat Bridge, where there is also some roadside parking

We walked beside Ladybower Reservoir for a few yards before crossing the road and walking up a track to Ashopton (confusingly the non-existent village is still named on the OS maps, but its name is preserved by a house and sawmill). We followed a sign to Cutthroat Bridge and passed through Ladybower Wood Nature Reserve, managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. This brought us out onto moorland above Ladybower Brook. We followed the path above the brook, passing by Cutthroat Bridge. Points have to be deducted from this section of the walk on account of traffic noise from the A57 lower down on our right, and a series of telegraph poles adjacent to the path

Just before Moscar House we turned left to join a path leading onto Derwent Moors. It was a relief to leave the traffic noise and the telegraph poles behind us. We headed west across Derwent Moors, passing by a number of grouse butts along the way. On reaching a cairn we made a short there and back diversion to admire the view over Ladybower Reservoir and the upper Derwent Valley. This was the highest point of the walk and from here we started the gentle descent, passing by Hurkling Stones, before arriving at Whinstone Lee Tor. There were more marvellous views from here. Eventually we arrived in woodland above Ladybower Reservoir, following a path which brought us back to the Ashopton sawmill. From here we retraced our steps back to the start of a very enjoyable walk

Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)