From the National Trust car park at Longshaw head down to the popular Padley Gorge, passing the beautiful views at Surprise View and clamber on the rocks at Mother Cap and Owler Tor. Nice gentle walk with plenty of interest!
Distance – 7 km
Food – at the Longshaw car park there are drinks and snacks (season dependent) and the walk takes you past the new National Trust cafe.
Toilets – toilets at the National Trust cafe
Parking – National Trust Car Park (free to NT members), it does get busy so get there early or alternatively the car park on the A6187 under Mother Cap.
Note- make sure you have maps (this route is not a replacement for a map/gps), suitable clothing, food, water and first aid kit. Always be prepared for changes in the weather and circumstances.
The Route
From the car park head towards the National Trust cafe, just after going over the bridge on the left there are some fairy doors in tree trunks the kids like to see and open!
At the cafe stock up on picnic snacks, a toilet stop and then carry on towards Padley Gorge. With the cafe behind you and the hills in front, head left in front of the hall and through a gate then take the path to the right alongside the rhododendron bushes-the kids love to climb through these!
Head through another gate and along an open path with views of Burbage Edge to your right. The path winds round past a large pond where there are always different ducks to see! Off to the left here there are dens to build and a huge fallen tree the kids love to climb on.
Continue along the path as it heads down the road past a small bothy on the right that now houses information on the area. Cross the road and at this point there will usually be an ice cream van! Everyone knows about the ice cream van! Just over the road go through the wall and head down to the stream. This area is Padley Gorge and on sunny days (and also often not so sunny days!) it’s more like paddling gorge!
If you bear down to the left staying on this side of the stream you will come to the nice wooden bridge to cross. Cross the bridge and then bear left, check out the water falls through the rocks. The path follows the stream with the stream on your left. Go through a gate and carry on following the path.
I love this path section with the moss covered rocks and twisted tree trunks alongside. Carry on along the path until the path becomes wider and there is a stone wall running up to the right hand side with a small path to the right of it. Follow this path as it heads up hill to a gate and onto moorland
Head gently uphill keeping the rocks of Owler Tor on your right (we come over these on the return of the loop) until you come to the road and a carpark opposite. (If Longshaw carpark is full this is another option). Head through the left hand end of the car park on a well marked path that heads up along what is the edge of the hill with a fence to your left. If you look to your left there is the “Surprise View”, for not a huge climb it’s a great reward!
Carry on upward with the fence to your left and as you get nearer to some large rocks to your right there is a path that veers off to the right to the rocks. Take this path to Mother Cap and enjoy exploring the different rocks!
Slowly meander back towards the carpark direction down the hill exploring the rocks as you go. Look out for our favourite rock that we think looks like a tortoise!
There are a number of paths that all head towards the car park so you can’t go wrong, just make sure you head in that direction. Once you reach the carpark you will see Owler Tot ahead (that you passed earlier!). Cross the road and explore these rocks and hidey holes.
If you can drag the kids away….. you are now heading back towards the stream at Padley Gorge. with the rocks behind you bear slightly left towards the river rather than the trees, don’t worry as there are lots of little paths that all wind down to the stream.
Maybe have some time playing by the stream, cross the stream-there should be a wider bridge and walk up to the ice cream van.
(You can also bear left before crossing the stream keeping it on your right and follow the path round and it eventually takes you round to the Longshaw car park.)
After crossing the road carry on the way you came past the bothy, pond and more trees to climb through, back past the National Trust cafe to the car park.
Just A Normal Mum 
Looks like a nice walk to do with children
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