Waterhouses is a village located in the south of the Staffordshire Peak District, offering a diverse landscape for outdoor activities. The region is characterized by limestone hills, lush woodlands, and the river valleys of the Manifold and Hamps. Its proximity to the Peak District National Park provides varied terrain, from accessible disused railway lines to more challenging footpaths, suitable for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, jogging, mountain biking, and more.
Waterhouses provides access to…
96
Routes
4.5
(213)
Average rating
2222
People visited

5.0
(2)
11
runners
15.4km
01:43
310m
310m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

35
runners
18.8km
02:16
200m
200m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

36
runners
26.9km
03:12
240m
240m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
30
runners
24.4km
02:56
540m
540m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.
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4.6
(31)
354
riders
32.0km
02:00
320m
320m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(5)
94
riders
18.2km
01:07
170m
170m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(5)
34
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

43
riders
11.6km
00:42
100m
100m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(10)
133
hikers
6.21km
01:42
100m
100m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(3)
30
hikers
2.84km
00:47
50m
50m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(4)
61
hikers
19.4km
05:10
210m
210m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(1)
63
hikers
3.72km
01:03
80m
80m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(13)
87
riders
35.2km
02:10
380m
380m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(4)
32
riders
30.2km
02:10
520m
520m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(11)
81
riders
22.9km
01:21
210m
210m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

16
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(8)
66
riders
39.9km
02:14
380m
380m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(6)
81
riders
48.3km
02:47
580m
580m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
18
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
riders
36.4km
02:03
390m
390m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
27
riders
20.6km
01:01
190m
190m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(2)
15
riders
43.6km
02:18
590m
590m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

14
riders
47.5km
02:33
560m
560m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.0
(1)
12
riders
27.9km
01:28
360m
360m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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Waterhouses offers a diverse range of outdoor activities including Hiking, Touring cycling, Jogging, Mountain biking, Gravel biking, and Road cycling. The region features limestone hills, woodlands, and river valleys, providing varied terrain for exploration. More than 60 routes are available on komoot for these sports.
The Manifold Way, also known as the Manifold Track, is an 8-mile (13 km) traffic-free path following a disused railway line. It passes through the scenic Manifold and Hamps Valleys, connecting Waterhouses to Hulmes End. Its surfaced and relatively level terrain makes it suitable for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders of various skill levels.
Yes, Waterhouses offers several easy hiking trails, often utilizing the relatively flat Manifold Way or exploring limestone dales and river valleys. A dedicated guide, Easy hikes around Waterhouses, provides options for less strenuous walks. These routes are generally accessible for families and beginners.
The Manifold Way is a primary cycling route, offering a traffic-free experience through the valleys. Routes like "The Manifold Way – The Manifold Way cycle trail loop from Cotton" (19.9 miles/32 km) are popular for touring cyclists. The Cycling around Waterhouses guide details various options for touring, road, and gravel biking.
The Manifold Way is particularly suitable for families due to its traffic-free and relatively flat surface. Many easy hiking and cycling routes in the area are designated as family-friendly. These routes often feature accessible paths through scenic dales and valleys.
While the Manifold Way is primarily for touring, the broader Peak District National Park surrounding Waterhouses offers varied terrain for mountain biking. The MTB Trails around Waterhouses guide provides specific routes. The region's hills and woodlands naturally lend themselves to mountain biking opportunities.
Popular hiking options include a 2.8-mile (4.5 km) waterfall loop near Waterhouses and routes exploring limestone dales. The Ilam Park to Wetton Circular Walk, at 9.5 miles (15.4 km), is a more challenging option. The Hiking around Waterhouses guide lists numerous footpaths and walking routes.
Thor's Cave is a natural cavern set in a limestone crag, offering views across the Manifold Valley. It is a popular landmark accessible via a stepped path from the Manifold Way. Routes like the "Thor's Cave loop from Waterhouses" (11.3 miles/18.2 km) incorporate a visit to the cave.
There are more than 60 routes available on komoot for Waterhouses, covering various sports. These routes have been shared by over 71,000 visitors. The average rating for routes in the area is 4.54 out of 5 stars based on more than 8,600 ratings.
Yes, komoot offers several guides for Waterhouses to help plan outdoor activities. These include guides for Hiking, Cycling, Running Trails, MTB Trails, Gravel biking, and Road Cycling.
The Waterhouses region is characterized by its limestone hills, lush woodlands, and river valleys, particularly those of the Manifold and Hamps rivers. Unique features include disappearing rivers that reappear in Ilam Country Park. The landscape is part of the Staffordshire Peak District, offering diverse natural beauty.
Waterhouses provides access to scenic paths suitable for jogging, especially along the traffic-free Manifold Way. This path offers a relatively level and accessible surface for runners. The Running Trails around Waterhouses guide features routes like the "Thor's Cave loop from Waterhouses" (11.6 miles/18.7 km).
For local community inquiries, the Waterhouses Parish Council can be contacted via their official website, waterhouses-pc.gov.uk, or by phone at 07584 128882. For broader tourist information pertaining to the Peak District National Park, the Peak District National Park Authority can be reached at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk or +44(0)1629 816200.

