South Peak Loop Riding Holiday
Discover the beauty of the southern Peak District with your horse on a fully guided, point to point riding holiday. Designed for riders who crave adventure, scenery, and unforgettable experiences, this holiday offers the perfect balance of comfort, exploration, and exceptional riding
Ride through some of the most iconic landscapes in England, including breathtaking views of Chatsworth House, the historic Monsal Trail, and the stunning limestone scenery of the Manifold Valley.
Ride with experienced guide Ellen, whose calm, well-trained horses and expert route planning ensure a smooth and enjoyable holiday. All routes have been carefully researched and checked, and with gates opened for you along the way, you can relax and focus on the ride.
Horses should be fit for seven consecutive days of riding.
12th-18th September 2026
Just 6 Places Available £975/person
Here’s the Itinerary:
Day 1 - 12/09/26 Carsington Water (approx 12.5 miles)
Departing from Lee’s Meadow Farm Caravan and Camping, wave goodbye to your transport, you’ll see it again at the end of the holiday. After travelling a short distance down the High Peak Trail from the start of the Pennine Bridleway, today’s route takes us down on little lanes through pretty villages and onto the Carsington Water Circular route. A lunch stop will be made here, before we head out into the surrounding countryside, over Madge Hill and past Wigber Low, where there are some lovely canter opportunities. The last leg of today’s trip takes us through Tissington Ford, just a short way from our overnight stop.
Tonight’s accommodation is B+B on a shared dormitory basis. An evening meal and breakfast will be provided on site. Horses will be corralled/sectioned in two adjoining stone walled paddocks.
Day 2 - 13/09/26 The Magical Manifold Valley (approx 12.5 miles)
Leaving the accommodation, it’s a short hop onto the Tissington Trail to begin today’s ride. Dropping down from the trail on small lanes, we cross the border into Staffordshire and follow the course of the river Dove. Pausing in Milldale, our lunch stop will be by the river and Viator’s bridge. The afternoon leg sees us descending into the Manifold Valley, passing beneath Thor’s cave and by Wetton Mill, following the trail to our overnight stop.
Tonight’s accommodation is at an Inn with hotel style rooms. Breakfast is included, and an evening meal can be purchased on site. Horses will be corralled in the large field at the rear which belongs to the premises.
Day 3 - 14/09/26 The Borderlands (approx 13 miles)
Departing from the Manifold Valley on little lanes, we head towards picturesque Beresford Dale and Wolfscote Dale. There is an opportunity for the horses to have a splash, as we cross back into Derbyshire, and head into Hartington village centre. A stop will be made to pick up a sandwich here, before we continueon our way towards Pilsbury Castle, finding a picnic location along the way. Keeping the river to our left, the border with Staffordshire, we pass along the Pilsbury valley. This was an area of strategic importance in times gone by, and the remains of the motte and bailey castle boast commanding views both ways down the valley. Nowadays it offers up some lovely canters to us horse riders. Ascending from the valley, there are commanding views across to Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill, locally known as the Dragon’s Back.
Tonight’s accommodation is camping, toilet and shower facilities are available on site. There is a pub a half hour walk from the campsite via footpaths where an evening meal could be sourced, or there are local takeaways who will deliver to site. Breakfast supplies can be purchased from the on site shop. Horses will be corralled in a secure field within the attached farm complex.
Day 4 - 15/09/26 The Monsal Trail (approx 13 miles)
Heading out on today’s ride, our route shortly drops us onto the Monsal Trail. Passing through numerous long, lit tunnels along the way, this is a trail on another scale. Other reminders of the industrial history of this area become clear as we pass the mill complexes at Cressbrook and Litton. Making a stop at Miller’s Dale refreshment rooms to pick up lunch, we will again pause for a picnic further along the route. During the afternoon, we branch off the trail, and make our way up onto Longstone Edge to enjoy the view, and some cantering, before we head into pretty Longstone village for our overnight stop.
Tonight’s accommodation is hotel rooms, shared dormitory style. Breakfast can be purchased on site, and an evening meal can be found at the nearby pub, 5 minutes walk away. Horses will be corralled in a secure field located across the road from the hotel.
Day 5 - 16/09/26 the Estates (approx 13.5 miles)
Dropping down onto the Monsal Trail, we cross straight over the iconic viaduct to begin today’s ride. The trail takes us into Bakewell, where we head off onto small lanes in the direction of the Chatsworth Estate. Our lunch stop will be taken in the quirky estate village of Edensor, before we cross the parkland, stopping of course for photos with Chatsworth House in the background. There are some super canter opportunities across the parkland, and as we make our way into the Haddon Estate. The best views of Haddon Hall come later in the route as we take to lanes once more to climb over the hill into Stanton. After passing the Stanton Estate, we eventually drop down to our overnight stopping point.
Tonight’s accommodation is a shared self catering home, in a mixture of twin and single rooms. Limited swimming pool and sauna access is included. Meals are not available on site here, but we will facilitate sourcing an evening meal and breakfast supplies. Horses will be corralled in a secure field on site.
Day 6 - 17/09/26 the Dales (approx 10.5 miles)
Today’s route takes us initially up to Haddon fields, before scrambling down an ancient packhorse track. Crossing over the river Lathkill via a delightful bridge over a weir, from here it’s a short hop into Youlgreave, where we will detour to pick up some lunch. Following little lanes we head next for Long Dale, and Gratton Dale. The former offers up superb canters, and the latter, peace and tranquility and the chance to be at one with nature. Taking once again to lanes, we travel through Elton village, before picking up the limestone way to bring us to our overnight stop in Winster.
Tonight’s accommodation is guest rooms at a pub, on a shared/dormitory style basis. An evening meal can be purchased at the pub, and breakfast can be bought at the attached cafe. Horses will be corralled in a secure field near to the pub.
Day 7 - 18/09/26 Over the Moors and Home(approx 7 miles)
From Winster, using gated lanes, we head up and over Bonsall Moor. Expansive views can be enjoyed, including across to Minninglow neolithic burial ground. The final leg of our journey takes us up some fabulous grassland bridleways where the horses can have a few uphill blasts. As we reach the summit, we look down to see Carsington reservoir once more with a fabulous view worthy of a photo. Passing by the Carsington Pasture turbines we rejoin the High Peak Trail at the top of the Hopton Incline. From here it’s a short stretch to rejoin our outward bound path, back to Lee’s Meadow.
Arriving back around lunchtime, here is where we say goodbye after a week long epic adventure!
Arrivals on Friday 11/09/26 are possible with an additional night camping, or staying in your transport, at Lee’s Meadow Farm Caravan and Camping. This site only offers basic toilet facilities, and electric hook up by prior request. With a variety of paddocks available, there is usually room to accommodate horses without corralling or sectioning. There is a small additional charge for this.
Points to note about this holiday:
Deposit payments of £325 secure your place. If you require trailer storage for the week, the additional cost of £50 is payable with the deposit. An additional night camping at Lee’s Meadow prior to set off is charged at an additional £25, if required, and this is also due at the time of booking. The balance is due 6 weeks prior to the holiday commencing. Beyond this point, the full cost becomes non-refundable, unless the place can be filled. Deposits are partially refundable, subject to individual accommodation provider’s terms.
You do not have to transport any of your luggage between overnight stops. We will pick everything up in the morning, and it will be taken to the next stop over ready for our arrival.
Horses will need to be corralled at most stop overs with your own equipment, including a water bucket. Water will be available/provided at all locations.
Horse grazing areas must be poo picked at all locations. Tools can be provided.
For the camping stop, you will require your own tent and bedding.
Some locations include meals as notified, but there will be some occasions where meals will have to be purchased at additional cost.
Both you and your horse will need a reasonable level of fitness. Going will be hilly, and there will be some rocky and uneven sections, both up and down hill. Pace will not be excessive, but there will be sections where we can make progress at trot or canter.
It would be beneficial to be able to dismount/remount without the use of a proper mounting block, as each full day ride will be split into am and pm with a lunch stop en route. There are some descents which it can be advisable to dismount for, and lead down.
There will be sections of roadwork, this will be on small lanes wherever possible.
There will be a number of tunnels on the Monsal Trail, and the High Peak Trail. Most of these are lit, with one exception.
Grassland bridleway sections may contain livestock.
There will be water crossings, some of which cannot be avoided.
Expect to meet walkers, cyclists, dog walkers, off road wheelchairs/trampers across the entire route.
Some sections may be shared with off road 4x4 vehicles or motorcycles.
The published South Peak Loop has been followed as faithfully as possible, but there are some deviations to facilitate connections to accommodation stop over locations, or avoid sections of busy road. Some small additions have been made to include locations which are particularly worthy of a visit.