About

STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS WALKING FESTIVAL 2024

The White Peak Challenge walk has been devised by Mark Reid as a beautiful route through the stunning valleys of the Manifold Valley (Staffordshire) and Dovedale (Derbyshire/Staffordshire border) in the White Peak of the Peak District, so named because of the gleaming white and grey rocks of the underlying limestone.  Starting and finishing in the lovely village of Hartington, the route takes in the very best of the Manifold Valley, with its famous caves and limestone tors, before reaching the beautiful village of Ilam. Our route then follows the River Dove northwards through stunning Dovedale, with ancient woodland and towering limestone crags, back to Hartington.  The route follows good paths and tracks all the way, including the old railway trackbed of the Leek and Manifold Light Railway through the Manifold Valley, and well-made paths through Dovedale. The walk passes through lots of ancient woodland, alongside sparkling rivers and across fields and pastureland. There are some ‘ups and downs’, with a short but quite steep optional detour up to Thor’s Cave. 

21 miles

Strenuous

The White Peak Challenge is a long distance walk that requires a good level of fitness.