Above: I’ve marked the main parking places on this map. Simply click any of them to get Google directions.
There are a number of places to park in the Goyt Valley. But some are limited to just a few spaces. The four largest car parks are highlighted on the above map. (Click to enlarge.)
Getting to the Goyt Valley
Parking is free throughout the valley. Public transport: the valley isn’t easy to reach without a car – see Public transport for buses, trains and walks from Buxton and Whaley Bridge. Toilets: the only ones are at Derbyshire Bridge car park, locked outside normal hours.
Postcode for sat-navs: SK17 6GJ (This is Errwood Sailing Club, between Errwood & Fernilee Reservoirs)
Road closure: the road along Errwood Reservoir to Errwood Hall car park is closed between 11am and 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays, 1 May to 30 September. At those times, use the main car park across the dam.
Lying just a few miles north-west of Buxton, the Goyt Valley is one of the most beautiful areas of the Peak District National Park. The most popular route into the valley is from the A5004, Long Hill Road, between Buxton and Whaley Bridge. A narrow, picturesque road leads down to the two reservoirs. There are parking spaces at the foot of the slope, which is the best spot to walk beside Fernilee Reservoir on the right.
Main car park
Or you can cross the dam wall between the reservoirs, to the largest car park on the opposite side. This is a good starting point for walks through woodland on the western side of Fernilee, or to head further up the old Roman road known as The Street, which leads up to some wonderful walks across open moorland.
Errwood Hall car park
Many of the walks featured here start from Errwood Hall car park, which lies a short distance further alongside Errwood Reservoir, to the left after crossing the dam. From here, it’s just a short stroll up the slope to the ruins of the hall. (See the road closure note above.)
Fernilee car park
There’s also parking at the northern end of Fernilee Reservoir, which is an ideal spot for walking around the reservoir, or to head further north towards Taxal (see walk 6). Follow the sign to Fernilee from further north along the A5004 Buxton to Whaley Bridge road, down the narrow track.
Derbyshire Bridge car park
Another route for accessing the Goyt Valley is from the Buxton to Macclesfield Road, following the sign to a small car park at Derbyshire Bridge*. Walk 11 starts from here. A single track road leads from here to Errwood Hall car park, but traffic is one-way only – and from the other direction. (*The turning is easy to miss. If you do, there’s another close to the Cat & Fiddle Inn, which leads directly to the car park.)
Pym Chair car park
A small car park high on the western edge of the valley, at the top of The Street – handy for walks along the ridge to Shining Tor or Windgather Rocks.
The small car park below the ruins of Errwood Hall is a perfect starting point for many of the walks featured here. But the road to it is usually closed between 11am and 4pm on Sundays, and bank holidays from May 1st to September 30th (below).
