How to Find the Stanage Edge Pride and Prejudice Filming Location (Keira Knightly Rock) in 2024!

I have been wanting to visit the Stanage Edge Pride and Prejudice filming location, also known as the Keira Knightley Rock, for as long as I can remember.

As a huge Jane Austen fan, I’ve watched almost all of the period drama reproductions. Ever since the Pride and Prejudice movie came out in 2005, I have watched it maybe a hundred times over. It’s one of my all-time favourite movies. 

One of my favourite scenes has to be at the very beginning of the movie where we see Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet standing, as if on top of the world, over the Peaks. 

Her dress is flowing in the wind and there’s this gorgeous piano music by Dario Marianelli playing and the moment is truly breathtaking. 

So, on my latest visit to the Peak District, I just knew I had to find this filming location and have my main character moment on top of the world.

Here’s a complete Stanage Edge Pride and Prejudice guide and how to find the famous Keira Knightley rock filming location so you can recreate your own Elizabeth Bennet moment! 

Stanage Edge history

Stanage Edge is a gritstone escarpment in the Peak District National Park. It’s four miles long and its highest point is High Neb which is 1,503 feet or 458 metres above sea level! 

It’s thought to have over 4,000 years of recorded history and human settlers. The name ‘Stanage’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon word meaning ‘stone edge’ and it has many literary connections too. 

There is a cave here called Robin Hood’s Cave. If you didn’t know Robin Hood was a legendary outlaw who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. 

Although Hollywood and Disney Cartoons centre all the events in Nottingham and Sherwood Forest, the legend of Robin Hood started as medieval ballads from the 14th-century. 

Robin is thought to be a Yorkshireman from Loxley and his friend Little John was from Hathersage. He is buried in the churchyard there and I have a post on how to find Little John’s grave here. 

There is a legend that Robin Hood hid out in this very cave with his Merry Men at Stanage Edge but this has never been proved. 

Charlotte Brontë stayed with her friend in Hathersage in 1845 and visited the Elizabethan North Lees Hall of the Eyre Family.

She also walked to Stanage Edge which was owned by them while she was here. It’s strongly believed that this visit inspired her famous novel, Jane Eyre. 

Today, Stanage Edge is one of the most famous places in all of the Peak District due to its spectacular location! It’s extremely popular with walkers and rock climbers alike.  

However, this gorgeous location grew even more famous when the Pride and Prejudice movie starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen was filmed here in 2005!

Pride and Prejudice in the Peak District 

Did you know that there is a huge Pride and Prejudice Peak District connection? 

Jane Austen stayed in Bakewell at the Rutland Arms and her visit to Chatsworth House inspired her to write Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley in her classic novel. 

Also, Austen mentions places in the Derbyshire Peaks where Lizzie visits with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. 

Although that was many centuries ago, fans still love to visit the Peak District today due to the connection and the many Pride and Prejudice filming locations that can be found here.

The 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen was filmed here. 

You’ll recognise many locations in the film like Chatsworth House as Darcy’s Pemberley! Also, they transformed Haddon Hall to play the inside of the Lambton Inn. 

You may recognise locations from the 1995 BBC TV series like Ramshaw Rocks, Longnor Village, and National Trust’s Lyme Park which featured as Pemberley.

But, there is one location that I have been wanting to visit for years and that’s the place where Elizabeth Bennet stands on top of the world with her dress flowing in the wind. 

That famous filming location from the movie was the spectacular and dramatic Stanage Edge! 

Related post – How to Visit Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley aka Chatsworth House

What is the Stanage Edge Pride and Prejudice connection?

If you think back to the Pride and Prejudice movie at the very beginning, we see Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet standing on a rocky outcrop in the Peaks.

She’s standing, as if on top of the world, with her amazing linen dress flowing in the wind and you have the dramatic music by Dario Marianelli playing. 

These scenes were all filmed at Stanage Edge in the Peak District. Is it any wonder why they chose this spectacular location?! It’s completely unspoiled, dramatic, and breathtaking! 

This is honestly one of my favourite scenes in one of my favourite films and I’ve been wanting to visit and stand where Lizzie stood ever since! 

There’s something about this scene that’s just so moving and it takes my breath away every single time. 

So, I knew I had to seek out the Stanage Edge Pride and Prejudice filming location on my visit and I’m going to help you do the same. 

Click here to watch the video of Elizabeth Bennet on top of the world!

How to find the Stanage Edge Pride and Prejudice Filming location or Keira Knightley rock

Stanage Edge is a huge gritstone escarpment that stretches for miles along the moor. So, it’s not the easiest to find this particular ledge from Pride and Prejudice out of all the others here.

On my visit, I saved a photo still of this scene from the film and just kept walking along the moor until I found the exact location! It’s on the northern edge of the Stanage Plantation.

I’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to and I’ll do my best to direct you to the iconic filming location below. 

It’s not an exact science because there is barely anything to go on. No signs, trees, curiously shaped rocks, or anything really! But, I believe this is the easiest way to guide you there…

Here is how to find the Keira Knightley rock or Stanage Edge Pride and Prejudice filming location in the Peak District! 

1. Firstly park in Hook’s Carr Car Park

The closest place to park to access Stanage Edge is Hook’s Carr Car Park which is directly in front of the cliff. 

From this car park, you can see Stanage Edge from the bottom and it’s a short and steep walk up onto the moor. 

In theory, Hollin’s Bank Car Park is actually the closest place to park for the Pride and Prejudice ledge. I could see it at the bottom when I was standing there. 

But, you have to pay for parking (£5 all day, cash only) and then walk up to Stanage Edge from Hollin’s Bank Car Park is a LOT steeper!

I think it’s far better to park up directly in front of Stanage Edge at Hook’s Carr Car Park as it’s cheaper parking and an easier incline up onto the moor. 

The Stanage Edge parking postcode is S32 1BR and here is a Google Map pin to help you locate it here. Parking is also FREE but you pay by donation in the honesty box at the start of the walk. 

2. Climb up the ridge to Stanage Edge

Once you’ve parked up, you can follow the well-beaten path up the hill which will lead you onto the moor.

I will warn you that, although this walk is short, it is very steep especially nearer the end. There are a few trails but I took the steepest incline which was the shortest path to the top and required a bit of a scramble at the end. 

The good news is that it only takes around 10 minutes from Hook’s Carr Car Park to walk up to Stanage Edge which is excellent! 

In those few minutes, you’ll be standing over 1,000 feet above sea level and get some incredible views of Stanage Edge and the countryside of the Peak District. 

3. Walk down the edge until you see a country wall 

Once you’ve made it to Stanage Edge, head left and keep heading all the way down the rocky moor on the beaten pathway beside it.

Along the way, don’t forget to visit the secret Robin Hood’s Cave! It’s a bit of a hidden gem on the cliff face that you can explore. 

If you wanted directions to find it, click here to read my complete guide on how to find Robin Hood’s Cave here.

But, if you were just interested in the Stanage Edge Pride and Prejudice filming location keep heading on until you reach a stone wall.

It’s very rustic and the only one you’ll see on the path along the way. It has a gap in it that allows you to walk through. 

4. Walk through this wall and onwards to find the Stanage Edge Pride and Prejudice Filming Location

Once you’ve walked through this wall, it’s just a short walk to the iconic ledge that Elizabeth Bennet stood on in Pride and Prejudice.

Keep walking along the gritstone outcrop until you see a stone ledge that almost looks like it’s dipping down. 

It’s quite distinctive as it’s a lot taller than the rest of the gritstone so you’ll easily spot it. This is THE Keira Knightley ledge that featured in Pride and Prejudice!

How to get your Elizabeth Bennet moment on Stanage Edge at the Keira Knightley rock

Now, all that’s left is to have your Elizabeth Bennet moment that you’ve been waiting for by standing on the Keira Knightley rock. 

I’d been waiting to do this since the movie came out, so I was incredibly starstruck to stand in the same place as Lizzie!

Although these photos do make this ledge look incredibly scary, it’s actually very sturdy. The top of it is also a lot larger and sturdy than the photos make it look. You won’t be balancing on top of a tiny rock so don’t worry. 

Once you arrive, you can easily stand on the edge safely with lots of room around you to manoeuvre. But, I would always advise to not to stand too close to the edges as it can be extremely dangerous. 

My top photography tips

The best photo opportunities of you on this ledge can be found by another person photographing you a little further down Stanage Edge.

That way you can get some photos similar to the scenes we see of Keira on the ledge in the Pride and Prejudice movie! 

Obviously, we don’t all have drones or high-end cameras that can film us like in the movies. But, your phone or camera will do. Just stand on the Keira Knightley rock and let someone else take your Elizabeth Bennet photo! 

I actually took all the photos in this post of me with a tripod! It sounds good in theory but my Bluetooth shutter kept losing signal as my camera was so far away. 

Plus, I had to film me walking over to the ledge and climbing up onto the gritstone which resulted in some pretty awkward behind-the-scenes footage that you won’t see haha.

I would definitely have a friend on hand that can capture a video or photo of you as it’s so much easier! 

Another one of my top tips for photography at Stanage Edge would be to get here early as possible on a weekday as this area can get very busy. I was very lucky that I visited without many people in my photos. 

I got to Stanage Edge around 8 am and I was here at the ledge around 9 am after my visit to Robin Hood’s Cave. By 10 am, lots of people started arriving like school groups, hikers, and rock climbers who were sitting on the gritstone edge. The early bird always catches the worm!

Want to explore more places on Stanage Edge?

After you’ve had your Stanage Edge Pride and Prejudice moment on the Keira Knightley rock, there is plenty more to see here. Stanage Edge goes on for four miles and you can make your visit as short or as long as you’d like! 

Here are a few more things to look out for and visit on Stanage Edge and beyond:

• Robin Hood’s Cave – This is a secret cave that is located in the cliff face! It’s fun to visit and explore but a bit of a scramble to get inside. I have a whole post on how to find the secret cave here. 

• High Neb – This is the highest point of Stanage Edge located at 458 metres or 1,503 feet above sea level. You can visit this summit after and it has a marker. 

• Bamford Edge – If you wanted to extend your walk, you can head over to Bamford Edge a couple of miles away. Or, you can drive to it down the road. It’s another rocky outcrop that has an iconic ledge for photos and some unobstructed views of Ladybower Reservoir. Here’s my walking guide for Bamford Edge.

• Hathersage – Many people start this walk from Hathersage which is a 6 mile circuit. Charlotte Brontë visited North Lees Hall and visited Stanage Edge which inspired Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre. Also, Robin Hood’s Little John was from Hathersage and you can visit his grave in Hathersage Churchyard. 

Want to find more Pride and Prejudice locations in the Peak District? 

You may be pleased to know that there are plenty of locations that you can visit in the Peak District if you’re a Pride and Prejudice fan! 

In the TV series, you can visit Longnor village that featured as the Lambton Inn, and the dramatic Ramshaw Rocks which is only 10 minutes down the road from the village in Leek. 

Also, if you wanted to visit Pemberley and the famous reflection pool of Mr. Darcy from the BBC TV series then you can head up to the National Trust Lyme Park and House in Cheshire. 

Sudbury Hall was also featured in the TV series which was used as the location where Elizabeth Bennet saw Mr. Darcy’s painting. 

In the film, you can visit the amazing Chatsworth House which featured as Pemberley. You can even see the famous Mr. Darcy bust on display in their gift shop. 

Jane Austen stayed in the Rutland Arms in Bakewell. Her visit to Chatsworth House inspired her to write Pemberley. 

Haddon Hall is another historic property that was transformed into the Lambton Inn for the movie production. 

Read more of my Peak District guides

An easy Solomon’s Temple walk in Buxton

The best things to do in Milldale

How to visit Bamford Edge

How to find and cross Dovedale Stepping Stones

Why you need to visit Peakshole Water in Castleton 

How to find Robin Hood’s Cave in Stanage Edge 

How to visit Little John’s Grave in Hathersage

Visiting Malfoy Manor in real life! 

Why you must visit Monsal Head Viewpoint 

Longnor Pride and Prejudice Location 

An easy way to find & visit Thor’s Cave 

Best things to do in Ashford in the Water

Things to do in Alstonefield

Chee Dale Stepping Stones walk

Why you must visit Scrivener’s Books in Buxton

Things to do in Eyam Plague Village

Save this Keira Knightley Rock, Stanage Edge Pride and Prejudice guide for later!