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Peak District, Wales and Lake District loop from Manchester

A loop from Manchester to the Peak District, Pembrokeshire's sea cliffs, Snowdonia and the Lake District. For trad climbers, hill walkers and fell runners.

Fly into Manchester (MAN)Best May-Jun, Sep4 stops668 mi / 1,075 km15.1 h driving12 days suggestedLoop, back to the startUnited Kingdom
ClimbingHikingRunningMountain BikingSurfingKayaking

When: All four stops share May, June and September as good months; Pembrokeshire peaks May/Jun/Sep and the Peak District grit is best in spring and autumn (July-August is shoulder there).

Getting there: Fly into MAN; major rental companies at the airport. Some Pembrokeshire sea-cliff areas have seasonal bird-nesting restrictions; check the local guide.

Customize this trip

Route: OpenStreetMap road data (OSRM). Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Spots: OpenBeta and our guides.

Day by day · 11 nights, 12 days

  1. Start in Manchester (MAN): pick up the carDrive to Peak District: 22 mi / 35 km · 0 h 36 min
  2. 1

    Peak District

    Derbyshire, United Kingdom

    2 nights

    Gritstone edges, Pennine moorland, and the birthplace of British trad climbing

    Biggest draw
    • Stanage Edge · ClimbingIconic Peak District gritstone edge stretching 4km with thousands of trad routes and boulder problems.
    Also here
    • Pennine Way Ultra · Running
    • Peak District - Curbar Edge · Climbing
    Full Peak District guide →
    Drive to Pembrokeshire: 222 mi / 357 km · 5 h
  3. 2

    Pembrokeshire

    Wales, United Kingdom

    3 nights

    Sea cliff trad on Welsh limestone — tidal routes, crashing waves, adventure guaranteed

    Biggest draw
    • Pembroke Sea Cliffs · ClimbingDramatic Welsh limestone sea cliffs with tidal access and adventurous trad routes above crashing waves.
    Also here
    • Pembroke - Stackpole Head · Climbing
    Full Pembrokeshire guide →
    Drive to Snowdonia (Eryri): 141 mi / 227 km · 3 h 54 min
  4. 3

    Snowdonia (Eryri)

    Wales, United Kingdom

    3 nights

    Wales' mountain heartland: Yr Wyddfa, Tryfan and the Llanberis Pass crags, with trail centres, slate-quarry lakes and Welsh 3000s running.

    Biggest draw
    • Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) · 4.5/5 · HikingHighest mountain in Wales at 1,085 m, reached by six main paths; the Llanberis Path is the longest and gentlest, the Pyg Track from Pen-y-Pass is the popular scenic route. Weather can turn fast.
    Also here
    • Crib Goch · 4.5/5 · Hiking
    • Tryfan · 4.5/5 · Hiking
    • Dinas Cromlech · 4.5/5 · Climbing
    Full Snowdonia (Eryri) guide →
    Drive to Lake District: 183 mi / 295 km · 3 h 42 min
  5. 4

    Lake District

    Cumbria, United Kingdom

    3 nights

    The birthplace of British fell running — England's wildest ridges and crags

    Biggest draw
    • Bob Graham Round · RunningThe ultimate Lake District fell running challenge covers 66 miles and 42 summits in under 24 hours from Keswick.
    Also here
    • Lakeland 100 · Running
    • Lake District Lakeland Trails · Running
    • Lake District Catbells Lakeland Walk V2 · Hiking
    Full Lake District guide →
    Drive back to Manchester: 99 mi / 159 km · 2 h
  6. Back in Manchester: drop the car and fly home.
Plan it

WHEN, HOW FAR, WHAT TO BRING

When to go

Best: May-Jun, Sep. All four stops share May, June and September as good months; Pembrokeshire peaks May/Jun/Sep and the Peak District grit is best in spring and autumn (July-August is shoulder there).

All 4 stops are in peak or shoulder season in Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct.

Number = stops in peak or shoulder season that month. Darker = more stops at peak.

  • Peak District: peak Apr-May, Sep-Oct, avoid Jan-Feb, Dec
  • Pembrokeshire: peak May-Jun, Sep, avoid Jan-Feb, Dec
  • Snowdonia (Eryri): peak May-Sep, avoid Jan-Mar, Nov-Dec
  • Lake District: peak May-Sep, avoid Jan-Feb, Nov-Dec

Driving split

15.1 h on the road over 5 drives: about 3 h per drive on average, 668 mi (1,075 km) in total.

Longest day: Peak District to Pembrokeshire, 5 h.

No single drive is over 6 hours.

Drive times are free-flow estimates from OpenStreetMap roads, without stops, traffic or border queues.

Sports and gear

  • Climbing · every stopBring: harness, shoes, helmet, rope and quickdraws (or rent locally).
  • Hiking · every stopBring: boots, layers, map or offline maps, water.
  • Running · Peak District, Snowdonia (Eryri), Lake DistrictBring: trail shoes, hydration vest, headlamp for long days.
  • Mountain Biking · Peak District, Snowdonia (Eryri), Lake DistrictBring: helmet, gloves, pads; check the bike-park pass and bike rental.
  • Kayaking · Pembrokeshire, Snowdonia (Eryri), Lake DistrictBring: PFD, helmet, dry layers; many rivers need a guide or permit.
  • Surfing · PembrokeshireBring: board (or rent), wetsuit for the water temperature, leash.
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