Derwent Edge

The walk up Derwent Edge rewards you with proper gritstone drama - a high, exposed ridge that runs for miles with the kind of views that make you understand why people move to the Peak District. It's wild up there, properly exposed, and on a clear day you can see across to Kinder Scout and beyond. The rocky outcrops along the edge are what draw most people, especially photographers chasing that golden hour light when the stone turns amber.

You're looking at a decent hike rather than a stroll. Most people tackle it from Fairholmes or the Snake Pass car parks - allow four to five hours if you want to take the full ridge walk without rushing. It's free, obviously, being open moorland. The path can be boggy lower down and properly rocky higher up, so decent boots aren't optional. Spring through autumn is best; winter sees snow and ice here regularly enough to catch people out.

This works brilliantly as part of a walking holiday based out of Hope Valley. You could base yourself at one of the nearby campsites - Castleton Caravan and Motorhome Club is closest at under five miles - and have Derwent Edge as your headline walk, then use other days for softer terrain like the reservoirs or gentler valleys. The ridge isn't for families with young children or anyone nervous with heights, but for experienced walkers seeking proper Peak District challenge, it's the real thing. Not Instagram-pretty in the postcard sense, but genuinely striking.