Walk through the gate at the back of the car park taking the path to Mother Cap, a distinctive rock feature with views over the Hope Valley. Continue uphill to the rocks on the skyline, Over Owler Tor. From here follow the path that leads to the gate in the fence that overlooks Millstone Edge. Taking care, go through the gate and carefully look over the edge to see the steepness of the crags of Millstone Edge; then retreat back to the gate. Follow the path, beside the fence, north east along the line of the edge. When the fence turns left, downhill just by a small valley, follow the path alongside the fence as it descends. Take the second gate on the left, through the fence, and follow the path until it reaches some old disused buildings. Just after the building take the path sharp left that starts to climb up through a wood. Follow this track uphill, through the wood, and then around the bottom of the crags. The path is below the edge and the edge is often hidden with trees. It is well worth wandering off left to one or two of the bays to see the full splender of Millstone Edge. The bay with the "keyhole" is particularly spectacular. Some of the most difficult Peak District rock climbing routes are at Millstone, and you can see why! Continue following the path towards the road. Just before the final descent to the road, take the path uphill slightly to reach one of two benches. These benches overlook Surprise View and have great views especially south down the Derwent Valley. Continue along the path and get to the road, cross safely to the pavement on the other side of the road. Walk downhill to reach the public footpath that goes south along via Lawrencefield. (2.5kms. 80m. 1hrs. 0min.)

Cross over the wall at the gate, and then follow the wide path that runs along the bottom of Lawrencefield Edge. Again, as at Millstone, the path is a distance away from the edge and it is worth walking over to the edge itself. There is a "pool" at the bottom of one of the higher parts of Lawrencefield Edge. Continue along the path through the Lawrencefield birch woodland to a gate at the end of Lawrencefield. Through the gate is Bole Hill Wood. Follow the paths downhill towards Grindleford Station. By another disused building a "paved" track comes in from the right. (1.5kms. 0m. 0hrs. 30min.)

Take the path, leftwards as it climbs along the direction of the river through Padley wood. In autumn this is particularly impressive with the colourful oak trees. Towards the top of the wood the path takes you nearer to the river then out of the forest views open out to Higgar Tor with Stanage beyond. Walk up the grass to the bridge over the stream. On the left is a path that goes past Owler Tor and to the road. Owler Tor is much more impressive than from the roadside, and worth a detour. All that is left is to walk over to the road and cross it to get to the car park. (1.5kms. 140m. 0hrs. 50min.)

27th October 2025 Started out early with the countryside covered in autumn mist. Nobody about as I walked inder Millstone and stopped for coffee at Lawrencefield. The walk down through Bole Hill Wood and onto Padley Gorge. Great autumn colours whilst walking through the wood spoilt slightly by the rain. Padley Gorge is very busy especially as it was half-term at local schools.

15th April 2025 A shortened route today but still worth it for a couple of hours out in nature. Started at Surprise View car park and walked along the bottom of Lawrencefield onto Padley Gorge and back view Owler Tor. Great view up and down the valley from the start at Surprise View.

14th November 2024 For a change I walked this route clockwise rather than anti-clockwise which is described here. Autumn was nearly over but the walk down Padley Gorge was spectacular, covered in brown leaves. It was a morning walk and the sun was not shining on the rocks, the route is much better in the evening. But the walk under the rocks of Lawrencefield and Millstone was enjoyable. No rock climbers to see.

29th May 2024 Followed the path from the car park, up Mother Cap, onto Millstone and Lawrencefield edges and down to Bole Hill with no other walkers. Once at Padley Gorge it was very busy - the problem of going walking in school holidays. A dull but dry day however the paths were quite muddy reflecting the recent rain.

18th October 2023 A great walk for a fine autumn day. The size (height) of the crags at Millstione and Lawrencefiled never fails to impress. They are quarried rock, and not natural but nevertheless impressive. Great colours in Bole Hill wood. this is a popular area but on this midweek morning there were few people about.