The Best Peak District Walks With A Proper Pub At The End
- Jen Bell I Editor I Good Life List Peak District
- Apr 20
- 7 min read
There’s something so satisfying about a good walk that ends in a proper pub, isn't there?
Not just anywhere for a quick drink, but somewhere you actually want to stay - a fire going, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food on the menu, and the kind of place where a quick pint or glass of wine somehow turns into lunch.
These are the Peak District walks we come back to - easy to follow, beautiful, and all finishing somewhere worth the effort.
Quick picks
Best easy walk: Monsal Trail → The Crispin
Best for views: Baslow Edge → The Prince of Wales
Best proper hike: Edale → Kinder Scout → The Old Nags Head
Best hidden gem: Foolow → Eyam → The Bull’s Head
Best all-rounder: Hope → Lose Hill → The Woodroffe Arms
Monsal Trail → The Crispin, Great Longstone
This is one of the easiest and most reliable walks in the Peak District. Start at Monsal Head or Hassop Station and follow the Monsal Trail - a former railway line that runs through the heart of the White Peak. You’ll pass through tunnels, across viaducts, and along wide, open stretches with views down into the limestone dales below. It’s flat, easy underfoot, and you can walk as far or as little as you like before looping off towards Great Longstone.
The Crispin is exactly what you want at the end - a proper, traditional pub that hasn’t tried to be anything else. Open fires, jugs hanging from the ceiling, and the kind of slightly quirky charm that makes it feel instantly welcoming (including some fairly hilarious postcards in the ladies’ loo). It’s dog-friendly, great with kids, and always has a nice buzz.
The menu at The Crispin leans classic and generous - think beer battered cod with chips and mushy peas, a proper mixed grill, or pie of the week, alongside starters like chilli and garlic butter king prawns and mussels or creamy stilton mushrooms on sourdough. Local beers are well represented, and the wine is decent if you’re staying a while.
Distance: 3–6 miles
Why we love it: easy walking with a proper pub that gets everything right
Tip: Start early or go midweek - this is one of the busiest routes in the Peaks, especially in good weather.
Edale → Kinder Scout → The Old Nags Head
If you want something that feels like a proper hike, this is it. Start in Edale and climb up onto Kinder Scout via Jacob’s Ladder or Grindsbrook Clough - both routes are rewarding, with the landscape shifting from farmland to open moorland as you gain height. At the top, it feels vast and exposed, with peat bogs, gritstone edges, and that real sense of space you only get here.
Back in the village, The Old Nags Head is the perfect finish - a real walker’s pub and a local favourite, especially after a long day out. It’s famously the start (or end) of the Pennine Way, and still has that slightly chaotic, brilliant atmosphere of muddy boots, good beer, and people swapping stories at the bar.
The food is exactly what you want here - hearty, generous, and properly satisfying. The homemade pies (chicken and mushroom or steak and ale) with chunky chips or mash are always a good call, and classics like 10oz gammon, egg and chips hit the spot. The pick-and-mix sausages are a standout - choose from options like Pride of Peak (pork, garlic and herb) or stag sausage (venison and herb), pair it with your mash (cheddar, garlic, wholegrain mustard), and top it off with a rich gravy. You can even add a giant Yorkshire pudding if you're feeling extra ravenous after all that walking.
Distance: 6–8+ miles
Why we love it: a proper hike with a proper pub (and seriously good comfort food) at the end
Tip: Check the weather before you go - Kinder can feel very exposed at the top, even on mild days.
Foolow → Eyam → The Bull’s Head, Foolow
This is one of those walks that feels easy, but gives you a lot back. Start in Foolow and follow a gentle loop out towards Eyam, passing through open countryside, quiet lanes, and classic limestone scenery before dropping into one of the most fascinating villages in the Peak District.
We always enjoy walking through Eyam - it’s a beautiful village, but also a really moving one. Many of the houses have plaques detailing the people who lived there (and often died there) during the plague. Eyam is known as the ‘plague village’, as the community chose to quarantine themselves to protect surrounding areas, and you can still feel that history as you walk through.
From there, the route loops back out through fields and into Foolow, where the duck pond and stone cross make for a lovely finish.
The Bull’s Head is exactly where you want to land. It’s a proper village pub - low beams, stone floors, and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, with a nice mix of walkers and locals. It feels traditional, but the food is a step above what you might expect.
Start with something like wild mushrooms with confit garlic and thyme cream or smoked ham hock terrine with celeriac remoulade, then go for IPA battered haddock with triple cooked chips, herb crusted salmon with fennel ragù, or a really good pie of the day with creamed potatoes and red cabbage. If you’ve got room, the warm Bakewell pudding with custard or sticky ginger pudding with toffee sauce is well worth it. A pint of local ale or a good glass of red and you’re set.
Distance: ~4.3 miles
Why we love it: easy, fascinating, and a brilliant pub to finish
Tip: This one is perfect midweek - much quieter, and you’ll get more of that peaceful village feel in Eyam.
Hope → Lose Hill → The Woodroffe Arms
A great middle-ground walk - not too easy, not too demanding, and one of the most rewarding for the effort. Start in Hope and climb up Lose Hill, where the path steadily rises before opening out into one of the best ridge views in the Peak District. From the top, you can see right across the Hope Valley towards Mam Tor and the Great Ridge - it’s one of those spots where you’ll naturally stop for a while before heading back down.
The Woodroffe Arms is right back in the village and a great place to land. It has that relaxed, slightly buzzy feel of somewhere that works equally well for walkers, locals, and people just popping in for dinner - warm lighting, stone and wood interiors, and a proper sense of place without feeling overly polished.
The food is exactly what you want after a walk - generous, comforting, and well done. Dishes like the Peak District pork belly with sage and apple mash and cider mustard cream is a standout, alongside classics like steak and kidney pudding with Henderson’s Relish gravy, beer battered haddock and chips, or a really good sausage and mash. If you want something lighter, the wraps and tacos are surprisingly good, and there’s always a solid burger option. A pint, a glass of red, or something cold in the beer garden if the weather’s kind, and you’re sorted.
Distance: 4–7 miles
Why we love it: big views followed by a relaxed, hugely satisfying pub finish
Tip: Sunset from Lose Hill is incredible — just allow enough time to get back down safely.
Baslow Edge → The Prince of Wales, Baslow
This is one of those walks that feels expansive without being overly demanding. Start in Baslow and climb up onto Baslow Edge, where the path steadily opens out to reveal wide, sweeping views across the Chatsworth Estate and beyond. It’s a steady ascent, but once you’re up there, it feels properly elevated - gritstone edges, open moorland, and that classic Peak District mix of rugged and beautiful. You can extend along towards Curbar Edge for a longer route, or loop back down through woodland for something shorter and softer.
The Prince of Wales is a brilliant finish - a proper village pub, but with a noticeable step up in quality. Inside, it’s warm and traditional with low beams and fires in winter, while the terrace and gallery dining room make the most of the views in warmer months. There’s even an open kitchen, which adds a bit of theatre if you’re sitting nearby.
The food at The Prince of Wales reflects that slightly elevated feel. Starters like crispy black garlic chicken wings or spinach and mushroom pappardelle with truffle and pecorino are a strong start, followed by mains such as grass-fed Derbyshire beef burger with Dovedale Blue mayonnaise, 21-day aged steaks, or pan-seared chicken with fondant potato and mustard sauce. Desserts like the pear tarte tatin with salted caramel ice cream are well worth saving space for. There’s also a great range of local ales, wines, and gins, and the whole place has that easy balance of relaxed but well done. It’s no surprise it’s picked up awards and a second AA Rosette.
Distance: 4–7 miles
Why we love it: big views with a pub that really does deliver at the end
Tip: Parking in Baslow fills up quickly on weekends - go early or use quieter spots on the edge of the village.
Hartington → Beresford Dale → The Devonshire Arms, Hartington
This is one of the loveliest, slightly underrated walks in the Peak District - easy going, but properly scenic. Start in Hartington and follow the path down into Beresford Dale, where the landscape quickly shifts into a narrow limestone valley with steep sides, clear water, and those classic stepping stones that wind through the river.
It’s a gentle, meandering route, with a really peaceful feel - especially early in the day or midweek - and you can extend further into Wolfscote Dale if you want to go a bit longer. It’s one of those walks that feels subtly beautiful rather than dramatic, and very easy to enjoy.
Back in Hartington, The Devonshire Arms is exactly what you want waiting at the end. Right in the heart of the village, it has that warm, welcoming feel of a proper country pub - relaxed, friendly, and always with a nice mix of walkers, families, and locals coming and going. It’s dog-friendly too, with water bowls, treats, and an easy-going atmosphere.
The food is all about classic, comforting pub dishes, done well. Think beer-battered fish and chips, Cumberland sausage with herby mash and gravy, or a really good cottage pie, alongside lighter options like wraps and sandwiches if you’re not too hungry. The steak sandwich with onions and mustard mayo is a great post-walk choice, and if you’ve got room, something like the sticky toffee pudding or apple crumble tart is always worth it. There’s also a solid kids’ menu and plenty of sharers if you’re stopping for a drink first.
Distance: 3–5 miles
Why we love it: gentle, scenic walking with a really welcoming village pub at the end
Tip: Great option after rain - the valley stays surprisingly accessible compared to higher routes
