Carsington Water, Wirksworth, National Stone Centre (13 Miles, Moderate)

After the dry spells of last year it'll be good to see Carsington Water full up again.

But first we'll see the delights of the National Stone Centre near Wirksworth, with its impressive Millennium Wall, demonstrating multiple exhilarating styles of dry stone techniques.

Then it's out along the High Peak trail, passing the Hopton Tunnel and Winding Station, before veering off through Carsington village and circumnavigating the water park, checking out the various sculptures and monuments dotted about the reservoir's edge.

From there we head back to the start via Stoney Wood, popping into one of Wirksworth's lovely pubs for post-hike refreshments.

A decent distance this one. Probably closer to 14 miles with a spot of meandering, although the hills are all small.

Café and toilets available at the start and lunch spot.

Meeting point

9:45am at the café in the National Stone Centre near Bolehill for a 10am start.

Arrive early if you want a cuppa before the walk.

Parking

You can either park on a nearby street and walk 5 mins to the start point.

Alternatively you can park in the National Stone centre carpark, either paying £5 in the shop or registering on this website: https://secure.mipermit.com/nationalstonecentre/Account/PayAndStayManagement.aspx

Public Transport

The Sixes (6.1) Derby/Matlock bus that stops at Wirksworth has services that arrive in plenty of time for the hike.

Dogs

Well behaved dogs are welcome on the hike and in the pub afterwards.

What to bring...

Please bring a packed lunch, water and appropriate clothing/footwear for the weather.

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DISCLAIMER

• All Macclesfield Marauder walks are free of charge. You only need to organise your own travel, food and drink expenses.
• It's your own responsibility to remain safe outdoors. This group does not employ professional organisers nor first aiders.
• Walks are usually between 10 and 15 miles and vary in difficulty, with a good level of hiking experience required for the harder walks.
• We usually stop for a packed lunch and pop in to a country pub for a post or mid-hike drink.
• If you're on the waitlist, please wait to be moved to the going list before attending the event. But note, a lot of people tend to drop off the night before an event, so if you're near the top of the waitlist then it's likely you'll be automatically moved onto the going list.

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section!

Here's a guide to the difficult rating:

• Easy - Short distance, less than ten miles and mostly flat. Suitable for anyone capable of a brisk stroll.

• Moderately Easy - Shortish distance, around ten miles, some gentle hills. For those who walk regularly but don't have too much hiking experience.

• Moderate - Between ten and twelve miles, a few decent hills with potentially steep sections. For those with some hiking experience.

• Moderately Challenging - Longer distance, twelve miles or over with lots of hills. Suitable for hikers who enjoy being out for most of the day.

• Challenging - Around fifteen miles or more, with hills, mountains and maybe the odd scramble. For experienced hikers who like pushing themselves.

• Hard - Long distance, sometimes over twenty miles, with mountains and difficult terrain. Only suitable for fit, experienced hikers.

IMPORTANT
Please bear in mind this is a free of charge, self-guided trip with a hobby group. It is not organised by a business nor any entity with commercial purposes. Any trip details, travel advice, route planning, instructions and other content in our group merely represent our shared personal knowledge, research and suggestions as outdoor enthusiasts. As this is not a business, there is no "product", "service" or "package" and also no "tour guide", "operator" or "walk leader". Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Even if some of us are very experienced walking outdoors, nobody assumes responsibility for any kind of injury, damage or loss that may happen. Our experienced members volunteer their time and effort to shape a pleasant and quality adventure for everyone. By participating you acknowledge and agree with this disclaimer.