Buxton Blue Lagoon Walk: Harpur Hill Circular to Hoffman Quarry
A blue quarry, a hilltop pillbox and big skies above BuxtonLast updated: October 2026
This Buxton Blue Lagoon walk is a short circular from Harpur Hill, just outside Buxton, and it packs a lot into about four miles: the line of the old Cromford and High Peak Railway, an exposed hilltop at High End with a concrete pillbox, views across to the Dragon’s Back, and the strikingly blue water of Hoffman Quarry, better known as the Buxton Blue Lagoon.
I walked it on a Thursday afternoon with my wife and our dog. Here’s the route, the photo spots and what to watch out for.
⚠ Warning: do not swim, and keep dogs away from the water
The water in Hoffman Quarry is toxic. It’s highly alkaline, with a pH of around 11.3, close to bleach, because of the old quarry workings. Do not swim or paddle in it, and keep your dog on a lead and away from the water’s edge. Don’t let dogs drink it or go in.
Harpur Hill circular walk at a glance
| Start | Harpur Hill, near Buxton, Derbyshire |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 4 miles, circular |
| Time | Half a day with photography |
| Highlights | Cromford and High Peak Railway line, High End, the hilltop pillbox, Hoffman Quarry |
| Photography | Long exposures of the clouds, the blue quarry from above, timelapses on the hilltop |
| Dogs | On a lead in lambing season |
| Route | AllTrails: Harpur Hill, High End and Hoffman Quarry circular. My GPX is on Patreon |
Harpur Hill circular walk route map
The start: through the industrial estate
The walk starts by going through an industrial estate, so the backdrop is a bit grimy to begin with: rubble and rubbish, as they are. Not the opening scene you’d put on a postcard. Parking is a bit sketchy here, so watch where you leave the car.
At the top by the fence it gets a bit confusing. One sign says authorised persons only, but another marks a public footpath, so you’re entitled to be there. Just stick to the footpath.
High End and the pillbox
Further on it was blowing a gale, which the Peak District likes to do whenever I get the filters out, with big views back across the hills, including a hill further on that looked like a fantastic spot for another day.
On the very top there’s a little concrete outpost. It looks like an old wartime pillbox, tiny inside, with three openings and an entrance. You can see why they put it there: anyone coming would be visible for miles and miles. Mind the edges up here.
Long exposures with the Dragon’s Back behind
With the Dragon’s Back in the background and the wind blasting across, it was perfect for long exposures of moving clouds. I put the Lee filters on, but even the 10-stop only gave me 4 seconds in the bright light. For cloud movement you want somewhere between 30 seconds and 2 minutes, so on a sunny day you may need to stack filters.
See my Lee Filters LEE100 review for the kit.
Hoffman Quarry: the Buxton Blue Lagoon
Then we found it. You see the photos online and assume they’ve been edited, but the water really is that blue. For once the internet wasn’t exaggerating. The view from above is the best by far.
⚠ It looks inviting. Stay out.
The water in Hoffman Quarry is toxic. That bright blue colour isn’t natural: it comes from the old quarry workings. Do not swim or paddle in it, and keep your dog on a lead and away from the water’s edge. Don’t let dogs drink it or go in.
It was dead quiet, with nobody else up there on a Thursday afternoon. I set up a long exposure and a couple of timelapses.
Is Hoffman Quarry the Buxton Blue Lagoon?
Yes. Hoffman Quarry is the lake most people know as the Buxton Blue Lagoon, or the Harpur Hill Blue Lagoon. It’s a flooded former limestone quarry, and photos of it regularly go viral because the water looks like somewhere in the Mediterranean.
The colour comes from light scattering off tiny particles of calcium carbonate in the water, a leftover from the quarrying. The same chemistry makes the water highly alkaline, at around pH 11.3, which is close to bleach. It can irritate skin and eyes, upset your stomach and harm dogs. The council has even dyed it black in the past to stop people swimming.
So enjoy it from the path and the hilltop. It’s a stunning thing to photograph, but it isn’t somewhere to swim, paddle or let a dog cool off.
Is the Buxton Blue Lagoon walk worth it?
Yes. This Harpur Hill circular walk is half a day out, about four miles, with industrial heritage, a hilltop with huge views and a quarry that genuinely looks unreal. If you’re in Buxton or passing through Derbyshire, it’s well worth a look, just as long as you stay out of the water.
Tips for the walk
- Park considerately. The start is through an industrial estate.
- Stick to the public footpath where the signs get confusing.
- Do not swim in the quarry. The water is toxic.
- Keep dogs on a lead and away from the water. Don’t let them drink it or go in. Lambing season means leads on in the fields too.
- Bring a strong ND filter, or two to stack, for long exposures in bright light.
- Load the route onto your phone or GPS watch.
Harpur Hill and Hoffman Quarry walk FAQ
How long is the Harpur Hill to Hoffman Quarry walk?
About four miles in a circle. Allow half a day if you’re taking photos.
Where does the walk start?
At Harpur Hill, just outside Buxton. The route starts through an industrial estate, so park considerately.
Can you swim in Hoffman Quarry?
No. The water is toxic: it’s highly alkaline, at around pH 11.3, close to bleach. Don’t swim or paddle, and keep dogs away from the water.
Is it a good walk for photography?
Yes. You get long exposures of the clouds from the hilltop, views to the Dragon’s Back, and the blue quarry from above.
Is Hoffman Quarry the Buxton Blue Lagoon?
Yes. Hoffman Quarry at Harpur Hill is the lake known as the Buxton Blue Lagoon.
Why is the Blue Lagoon in Buxton so blue?
Light scatters off tiny particles of calcium carbonate left in the water from quarrying. That same chemistry makes the water highly alkaline and unsafe to swim in.
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