A unique feature of the walk is the sheer variety of views encompassing a range of Derbyshire habitats. It gives you a flavour of both the Dark and White Peaks, viewed from the Curbar Edge.

During winter, you can expect to see morning mist clinging in the valleys as you look from above the low-lying clouds.  This time of year is good for getting clear views of sunrise and sunset.

There are a variety of things to see at the moors; red deer are a special favourite with visitors.  The millstone grit (remnants of discarded round millstones) also draw lots of people to the site - in particular climbers looking for a challenging surface.  The heather moorlands are another attraction and bring colour to the landscape.

A particular highlight is White Edge, which is a great spot to get away from it all and soak up your surroundings in quiet solitude.

If you're looking for a place to stop for a beverage and a sit down, Grouse Inn makes a really good halfway point.

Bring some binoculars to get the best out of the views and wildlife on display; especially useful for deer-spotting at a distance.

Route and directions

Start: Curbar Gap car park Grid ref: SK262747. Map: OS Explorer Map, the Peak District (OL24)

1. From Curbar Gap car park, head east through a gate on a vehicle track.

2. As the track forks, take the right fork towards Sandyford Brook and cross the brook over a bridge, with the drystone walled fields on your left.

3. Climb the steep bank, following the wall on your left to the top of the bank and the corner of the wall.

4. At the corner of the wall, a well-trodden path leads you north along White Edge.

5. A deviation to the trig point on the right provides a great place to spot red deer across the expanse of Big Moor, with the redundant Barbrook Reservoir in the background.

6. Continue for some distance along White Edge to the hole in the wall. Turning left, a redundant drystone wall leads from here through fields down to the Grouse Inn.

7. Have a stop at the Grouse, but don't dally too long, as we are only half-way round. The next section leads you across the fields, behind the National Trust car park at Haywood.

8. From Haywood car park, head south across a small brook and carefully cross the main road to a gate opposite that leads to Froggatt Edge.

9. A wooded track leads to another gate, preceded by another brook. As the woodland opens out, with views across to the limestone of the White Peak, a small stone circle can be found on the left.

10. Follow the track along the full length of Froggatt and Curbar Edges. Once famous for millstones, now known as great places to rock climb.

11. At the end of Curbar Edge, a small gate leads back to the car park at Curbar Gap.

Distance, terrain and accessibility

Allow three hours for this six-mile (10km) walk. There are one or two steep sections and the paths can be narrow and stony in places.

Dogs welcome. Please keep on lead from 1 March to 31 July, and under close control at other times. No dog bins, so please take dog litter home.

Contact: Easternmoors.org.uk

Getting there and local facilities

By foot: The nearby villages of Calver and Curbar are within walking distance. This involves some steep walking up to Curbar Gap. A more gentle approach is possible from the village of Baslow to the south, along Bar Road and Baslow Edge

By bike: The route from Baslow is a bridleway and is accessible by mountain bikes for cyclists who would rather not use the roads

By bus: 214 from Sheffield to Calver; 66 from Chesterfield to Baslow and Calver; 170 from Bakewell to Baslow and 175 from Bakewell to Calver

By train: The nearest station is at Grindleford, within three miles of Curbar Gap. There are also stations at Sheffield and Chesterfield

By car: From the M1 junction 29, follow the A617 to Chesterfield, then take the A619 to Baslow and turn north on the A623. Turn right at the Bridge Inn at Calver and then turn first right again through Curbar village. The car park is at the top of the hill. Car parking is free for National Trust and RSPB members. The nearest facilities can be found at Baslow and Calver.