Route: Rushup Edge and Lord’s Seat
Area: Peak District, High Peak
Date of walk: 4th March 2026
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.6 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Sun and cloudless blue skies throughout
From our base in the Vale of Edale we made the short drive to the small village of Barber Booth. A public car park lies just to the west of the village and makes a convenient starting point (charges apply). We walked back along the lane for a short distance and climbed a stile on the right to follow a path towards Manor House Farm. We climbed uphill gently to join an old track known as Chapel Gate, serenaded by the plaintive calls of curlews along the way. There were lovely views back to the upper reaches of the Vale of Edale as we continued uphill onto open moorland, where the sound of skylarks continued the musical accompaniment
At a junction we turned left to start the walk along Rushup Edge. This was across moorland at first but gradually narrowed as we approached Lord’s Seat. Lord’s Seat itself forms a small grassy mound and is a Bronze Age round barrow. It has been fenced off to prevent erosion but this doesn’t obscure the spectacular view which can be enjoyed from the summit area, the highest point on Rushup Edge at 550 m (1,804 ft). Click here for a panorama
There followed a wonderful section as we continued along the narrow ridge, with views of Mam Tor ahead. We descended to a col at the foot of the path up to Mam Tor and, after walking down the road for a few yards, crossed over to join a footpath which headed north down into the Vale of Edale. The path was deeply rutted in place but it was an easy descent. Beyond the house at Greenlands we changed direction to head west, crossing Harden Clough, and then walking through a succession of fields in the Vale of Edale. Eventually we arrived at the lane into Barber Booth which we crossed to return to the car park. It had been an enjoyable walk throughout, with the undoubted highlight being the superlative view from Lord’s Seat and the ridge leading to Mam Tor
We’ll be back tomorrow to climb Mam Tor and continue along the ridge to its end at Lose Hill, see my next 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)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
From the public car park outside Barber Booth we walk back along the lane towards the village. Before reaching it we cross this stile. Rushup Edge lies ahead
Manor House Farm sits at the foot of Rushup Edge. Our path takes us to the right of the farm
Beyond Manor House Farm we head for a path on the far right of the picture
We continue gently uphill aiming for the nick in the hillside
Looking back over the Vale of Edale
Onwards and upwards...
One of the old signs which adorn the Peak District footpaths
Looking back to Barber Booth and Edale
The end of the climbing as we arrive on the ridge
We arrive at a junction, here looking towards Chapel-on-le-Frith. Our path lies the other way
The initial section is over moorland and it takes a while for the 'edge' to appear
A parallel path lies to the right, but we carry on here
A thrilling moment as we approach Lord's Seat, the highest point on Rushup Edge, and look along the long ridge culminating in Lose Hill
The Vale of Edale from Lord's Seat. Our start point Barber Booth is below, and we can also pick out Rowlands Farm, lower right of picture, where we're staying this week. I can highly recommend it as a base for anyone looking to stay in the Edale area
Lord's Seat, which is a small grassy mound and is a 4,500 year old Bronze Age burial barrow, standing at 550 m (1,804 feet) above sea level
A wonderful section of the walk as we follow the path along Rushup Edge (which is unfrequented, unlike the path up Mam Tor and beyond)
Mam Tor ahead
Looking back to Lord's Seat
Mam Tor again...
Rushup Edge ends here at Mam Nick, the road below Mam Tor, but we will be back tomorrow to climb the hill and The Great Ridge which continues beyond it
We descend to Mam Nick and, after following the road for a few yards, leave it here to follow the path on the left, signed for Edale
Edale below
Broadlee Bank Tor and Edale
We descend through mixed woodland near Greenlands
We arrive on the valley floor and head west across a succession of fields...
We cross one of three cloughs (small ravines), involving ups and downs
We arrive back at the road into Barber Booth. The village lies to the right, but we carry on ahead back to the car park to end a wonderful walk
