DERBYSHIRE

Below is a selection of some our favourite walks in/around Derbyshire. Click on image for more information - or keep scrolling to browse.

*DISCLAIMER: NOT ALL CAR PARKS, TOILET BLOCKS AND CAFES WILL BE OPEN CURRENTLY DUE TO COVID REGULATIONS*

  1. LOCKO PARK, OAKWOOD

Flat paved 'road' so suitable for bikes, pushchairs etc - however it's not the longest, and when you get to the end it's up a grassy hill to a sty in the woods. Lovely for a short family walk/picnic to feed the ducks and play a bit of frisbee though.

Parking is on the side of a national speed limit country road kind of thing - so please take care and park responsibly.

OPEN IN MAPS

2. KEDELSTON HALL

As with most National Trust sites, there are fee's to park/enter the area however, this is all free for members. At time of Writing, this was £8 per adult.

There are several walking routes that you can take at the Hall, so you can make your walk as long as you like. the walks are a combination, of woodland and lake side walks. We completed the 'Long walk' which is just over 3miles long. The path was well established and maintained throughout. There are benches quite regular along the path as well, some of which are situated so you can take in the views of the surrounding country side. 

At the hall it's self, there is a gift shop, public toilets, stable courtyard and a restaurant. It's a beautiful building, although you are not allowed to go inside of it. 

Now, one thing to point out is the ground in bad weather. On the day we visited, the weather on the days leading up was typically British... Wet. This meant that the ground was quite soft underfoot. The main paths were brilliant, but the main field was a wash out and unfortunately you have to cross this if you take the 'Short Walk'. As we were walking in, there were a few upset children walking out with their brand new white Nike trainers they got for Christmas, which were no longer white anymore. Also the carpark is grassed with a rubber grid laid over the top to mark out the bays and aid with grip, but the mud was that thick due to the bad weather, a few cars needed a helping push to get them free and on the move again. 

Overall, really enjoyable day out for a dog walk and a Coffee. We are planning to return so we can do the walks around the grounds in front of the property and follow the lake down. 

3. DERBYSHIRE, AMBER VALLEY, FOUR LANES, DAVID HILL CIRCULAR (7KM)

Lovely, relatively easy circular with gorgeous views. 

A few tricky/broken styles across the route and close to main roads so advise keeping dogs on leads.

A full step by step guide can be found here

We parked at a long stay car park in Alfreton £1.30 for 4 hours - cards accepted. 

Public toilets are signed, however never seem to be open, so the best bet is the big Tesco in the town. 

4. DERBYSHIRE, CROMFORD TO BLACK ROCK CIRCULAR (10KM)

We Used google maps to get us to Cromford, and parked in a Pay and Display car park (cards accepted) just by Cromford Mills. The parking meter was actually broken, so we just had a note stating this in our window. We would of paid for 4-hours - however our walk took us 4.75 hours. 

We did the trail backwards so we could use the public toilets by Tor Cafe first. These toilets were 20p but the machine was not accepting my coins! (I had to hold it all the way to Black Rocks) Due to doing the walk backwards, it also meant that we tackled a mighty steep hill in the first 20-mins. This was little hard going and a shock to the system as we'd not been out walking for a while - however soon settles off and the views open up and it feels worth it in the end! 

The route took us over some fields, round the quarry, through some cute houses, a play park, and a church cemetery. You can then see Black Rock in front of you before you start to descend. 

We opted to walk up to the cafe, use the facilities and have lunch on one of the benches. There is parking here if you didn't want to do a walk and it's £1.60 for 2 hours, £3.00 for 4 hours and  £4.80 for all day - take cash as cards were not accepted. It was a little ‘busy’ on the top - app 4-5 various families all ready there and a few more arriving as were were leaving. Still spacious enough to get that ‘solo’ Instagram worthy shot though. Just be careful climbing about it can get quite slippy/uneven. 

From here, you can join the 'High Peak Trial' back to Cromford, or a few miles in the other direction towards Carsington Water. We decided to follow a separate trail up through the treeline and then descend again through the trees, where there were some baby bulls. This then meets the High Peak trial again on the other side, and follows the old rail line back down to the canal. Keep a look out for the information signs about the ‘run away carts’ and the old smashed up one that you can see in the ‘catch-pit’. 

Once you reach the canal there's another chance for toilets and a coffee, but as we were only 1m from the car park we continued on. Plus there are more toilets and an ice cream van at the last car park, just past the rugby pitch.  We used to have a lot of Caravan 'rallies' on this field behind the carpark, so it sure was a trip down memory lane and I obviously had to go visit my old 'castle den'. 

It was overall an absolutely gorgeous walk. 
We recommend decent boots and also take plenty of layers as it can get quite breezy when in the open. On our walk, we experienced a fall year of seasons, including sun, rain, snow and hail. British weather at it's finest. 

5. CRESWELL CRAGS

A beautiful yet educational day out for all the family! There's a cafe, toilets, kids play park and a nice flat paved walk round the water with gorgeous cave views and educational signs along the way all free!


There is also a museum (£3 for adults and under 16's go free) and a gift shop. Private or group cave tours are also an option at £30 per private group (plus £10 per additional person over 2 people) and £10 per person for group tours.


Car parking is £4 for 3 hours parking or £6 for all day.


We were there for just under 2hours as we didn't go into the museum due to dogs not being allowed.

If you've never been we highly recommend it!


More info can be found on their website here


OPEN IN MAPS

6. A circular walk from Beech Croft Farm Campsite to the Chee Dale stepping stones, Monsal Trail and back to camp. 

Highly recommend if in this area as it was almost like an enchanted forest with birds chirping, the river flowing, and the sun breaking through the rustling leaves.


It took us apx 2hours, and we set off at 7pm. It was completely un planned - (which is not like me at all!) So I was in sandals, and Dave in Vans trainers. We took no maps, no food – just water for the dog, and we only had one phone with 40% battery.


The route was relativity easy (for Dave) to navigate/follow using OS maps, and the path down by the river is a bit uneven underfoot, so not really suitable for people unsteady on their feet - but we were fine in sandals and trainers. The stepping stones were also surprisingly sturdy, flat and of a decent size (easier than both Dovedale in Derbyshire Peak District and Rydal Cave in the Lake District if you've been to either of those before).


Due to us setting off at 7pm it was very quiet - just us on the walkways – but I do believe this route is quite a popular one so bear this in mind when planning to visit.


By the time we had navigated our way across the various farmers fields full of sheep we got a gorgeous sunset and we arrived back at camp with 8% battery - but I did limit the amount of pics/videos we took though incase we needed to use the maps more - because lets face it - the maps was much more important in this case. please note, I do not recommend doing a 'big' walk in an unknown area if you do not have a phone, battery charger or printed/paper maps! Luckily for us Dave sort of knew the way from prior research.


Car parks nearby on Google maps:

  • Chee Dale Layby
  • Wyedale Car Park - Peak District NP
  • Millers Dale Car Park - Peak District NP


*disclaimer as we were camped close by, we walked so can not review or comment on what these parking facilities are like - if there were loos - nor any potential cost*


We camped at: Beech Croft Farm Campsite - review here.

and plan on returning to try out the local Bike here at: Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire Monsal Trail


OPEN IN MAPS

Amusment arcades, fish and chip shops, ghost walks, cable cars

Visitor centre, gift shop, education centre, boat/kayak/windsurf/bike hire



boats, paddling pool, play park

Library, play area, concrete football pitch, grass football pitch, cafe, toilets