The Derbyshire Walkers

This scenic walk starts by the River Gardens and heads off alongside the River Derwent before joining rolling hills..
Our route takes a diversion and climbs Firestone Hill around 627ft taking in scenic views around us..
Our routes continues through woodland and farmland to the pretty Hamlet of Hazelwood with its pretty cottages.
It continues over pastures and woodland to Farnah Green where we visit the Bluebell Inn for a drink before heading back to the Riverside Gardens where we started our scenic walk.

Catching up stops and breaks as always
along the way

Walking boots essential
Check the weather and dress accordingly

Bring a picnic lunch and enough water and snacks to keep you going

Doggies are always welcome on our walks

This varied walk is one not to miss, with beautiful scenic Woodland Tracks and Pastures along this route.

Our scenic walk starts from the Village of Rowsley which is positioned at the point where the River Wye meets the River Derwent.
The rivers attract anglers from all over the world, being home to wild rainbow trout, brown trout and grayling.
The Peacock Pub is Grade II-listed and dates from 1652, originally built as a manor house. The Grouse and Claret was built after the arrival of the railway in 1849, at which time it was the Station Hotel.

Our walk climbs up through Rowsleymoor Woods along a twisting woodland path.
We emerge onto green pastures with far reaching views of the Chatsworth Estate.

Our route continues to the picturesque Market Town of Bakewell, famous for its Bakewell pudding. It lies on the banks of the River Wye with its medieval five-arched bridge, one of the oldest in the country.
An opportunity for lunch in the park and a toilet stop..

Leaving Bakewell, our route follows the River Wye and heads through woodland joining a track at the end of Coombs lane.
The route passes farmland and open pastures to joining tracks on the edge of scenic woodland.
The route emerges onto open pastures and the main road which takes us back into Rowsley.

A pleasant undulating walk..

Toilet facilities in Bakewell and Rowsley Shopping Outlet

Bring a picnic lunch snacks and enough water for the walk, as always breaks along the way
Plenty of opportunities for snacks in Bakewell

Walking boots are advised, as always, check the weather and dress accordingly

Look forward to sharing another DW adventure with you 🐕🚶‍♀️🚶🏘👨‍🦯🦮

This is a walk not to miss, varied terrain and spectacular views, through pretty villages, stunning moorland views beautiful woodland and meadows characterful Halls and Manor House.

It starts from the pretty Village of Hathersage with its beautiful stone buildings and cottages.
Our chosen route leaves the village heading towards the River Derwent and joins a lane taking us to Highlow Hall.

Highlow has battlemented façade and two-storey porch with a romantic appearance. It is reputedly haunted and was once the home of the Eyre family through the marriage of one of two sisters.
Nicholas Eyre was betrothed to the elder sister, but in true fairytale style he shifted his attentions to the younger sister. On finding out that her intended husband had become her intended brother-in-law, the heartbroken girl fled, never to be heard of again.
That is apart from the occasional spectral visitation on the stairs of the Hall when she cursed Nicholas for his adulterous deed.
The sister is also said to have foretold the downfall of the Eyre empire, which followed soon after.
The ‘white lady of Highlow’ is still said to appear from time to time, crossing the courtyard and ascending the oak staircase with a rustle of skirts and petticoats..

Leaving Highlow Hall, our route brings us to Robin Hood’s Stoop, an old boundary stone which was perhaps originally part of a medieval wayside cross.
Robin Hood’s stoop reputedly marks the spot where Robin Hood fired an arrow over to St Michael’s church in Hathersage, 2 km across the valley, the magnificent views from here with the gritstone edges and Hathersage village below are breath taking.
Our route continues shortly to Offerton Hall, Grade II listed and originally built in the reign of Henry IV by Nicholas Eyre of Highlow Hall for one of his sons. The family dominated this part of the Peak District, being in their ascendancy until the 16th century and still with substantial land ownership into the 18th century.
The present building dates from 1658, although a house is thought to have stood on this site as far back as the 12th century. It is a classic north Derbyshire manor house with twin projecting gables and mullioned windows.
The soot-blackened chimney stack is said to have a massive girth of forty feet.

Leaving the grandeur behind, we gradually ascend Offerton Moor and Smelting Hill, a
prehistoric area with beautiful moorland and rare beautiful forms of wildlife.
It is sometimes possible to see Marlins Harriers and Hawks preying for their next meal flying above the moor.
From Smelting Hill there are wondrous views down onto the Hope Valley and across to the summits of Win Hill and Lose Hill with Kinder and Bleaklow in the distance away to the north.
Our route joins Abney Moor, a quiet gritstone moor 362m above sea-level on the south side of the Hope Valley. There are also panoramic views of the Castleton Ridge and the area features historical traces of old lead mining.

The path joins the edge of Shatton Moor which rises over 1300 feet to the southeast of the Hope Valley and is marked by a prominent communications mast.
As we walk around the Moor, there are ever changing views of the surrounding areas of the National Park including Ladybower Reservoir and the Eastern Moors.

Our route arrives at the secluded Hamlet of
Shatton near Brough.
The origin of the name Shatton means 'Farmstead in the Nook of Land Between Streams,' it sits beside the confluence of the River Derwent and Noe.
An Ancient route and historic paved ford connects to Brough, potentially following an old saltway or Roman road.
The area around Shatton has historical associations with figures linked to Charlotte Brontë's writings and Jane Eyre.

Our route brings us on the Thornhill Trail to Bamford Mill, crossing the River Derwent with water cascading over rocks via large stepping stones and over a wooden bridge into the pretty Bamford Village. This charming village is situated on the banks of the River Derwent with quaint cottages well-kept gardens and the dramatic heights of Bamford Edge towering above it.

Our chosen route back to Hathersage goes through woodland and meadows.
On the way we divert our route to visit Thorpe Farm who happen to make their own icecream and have a small cafe there! Thought some of you would enjoy the visit..

Hope Valley Ice Cream is made in their dairy at Thorpe Farm, it's run by the Marsden Family, who have been dairy farmers for generations. They started milking cows at Thorpe Farm over 300 years ago, and hope to be milking cows in the Hope Valley for the next 300 years..
They welcome visitors to the farm to see the pigs donkeys and baby calves.
Dogs are welcome on the farm but on a lead.
After exploring the farm, you can reward yourself with their special ice cream! Or a latte or hot chocolate, which comes directly from Moo to Mug where the frothing pasteurises the raw milk. They also sell toasties and a selection of cakes.

After our farm adventure, we rejoin our route through scenic meadows and lanes back into the Village of Hathersage.

A moderate walk with undulating paths across moorland meadows through woodland and villages

Toilets at the start in Hathersage

Bring a packed lunch, snacks to keep you going and enough water for the walk

Catching up points and plenty of breaks along the way as always
Picnic lunch stop in a suitable spot

Walking boots are essential as always check the weather and dress accordingly

Pub at the end in Hathersage 🍻

Looking forward to sharing our next adventure..🚶‍♂️🦮🌻🌸🌤🚶‍♀️🦮

This is a walk not to miss, varied terrain through pretty villages, scenic dales and across limestone pastures.

It starts in the Village of Monyash with pretty stone cottages clustered around the Village Green and along quiet lanes. It's situated at the head of the stunning Lathkill Dale.

The route leaves Monyash and heads across pastures to join the Limestone Way, it takes us to the Village of Flagg.
Flagg is a small farming Village and is reputed to be situated on the Site of a Viking Settlement.
The eery Flagg Hall is thought to date back to the 16th Century, it's believed the most noted resident of Flagg Hall is the 'haunted skull'. Legend has it that should it be removed or buried, great misfortune will fall upon the Owners of the Hall.

Leaving Flagg, the route continues across pastures and farmland to the Village of Chelmorton, a classic white peak limestone village. It is described as the 'Mountain Village', being the highest Village in Derbyshire and possibly the highest Parish in the whole of England, the Parish Church standing at 1,209 ft above sea level.
We leave the Village and and climb up Chelmorton Low hill for the views, it's about 446 metres above sea level.

After descending Chelmorton Low, our route continues to the remains of Five Wells Chambered Tomb, a Neolithic chambered tomb from 4500BC to 2000BC between the villages of Chelmorton and Taddington on Taddington Moor.
The tomb is a protected scheduled ancient monument. Three stones mark the main chamber, which has been dramatically reduced, a second less well-preserved chamber is to the west. The burial mound is over 20 metres in diameter and was first excavated by the local archaeologist Thomas Bateman in 1846. The chambers have paved floors. Bateman discovered the remains of at least twelve human skeletons. Subsequent excavations found further human remains, pottery and flint tools in the chambers and passages and a separate cist within the mound.

Our route continues to the limestone Village of Taddington. Just like its neighbour, it's one of the highest villages in Derbyshire, standing at 1,100 ft above sea level. There are many pretty stone cottages all the way along it.
This hill village shows evidence of early Celtic farming, (narrow terraces of land preferred by early hill farmers).
Taddington's landscape is dominated by rocky limestone outcrops and surrounded by wild moorland.

The route carries on over pastures and through woodland to the beautiful Deep Dale, a Nature Reserve and a place of natural beauty. It's a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
It's an area of grassland and spectacular limestone scenery rising to 325 metres above sea level at its highest point. There's an abundance of plant life depending on the time of year.

Leaving this spectacular dale, the route returns to Monyash with a pleasant walk over farmland and pastures.

A fairly moderate walk with a short steepish climb combined with pleasant walking through villages

A few tree toilets along the way..

Bring a packed lunch, snacks and water to keep you going, lunch time weather dependent

Catching up points and breaks as always

Walking boots essential as well as
warm layers and waterproofs, walking poles are helpful on muddy descents
As always check the weather and dress accordingly

Our four-legged friends are always welcome 🐕🐕‍🦺🦮

Pub at the end in Monyash 🍻

Here's to our next adventure..
👩‍🦯🐕🧑‍🦯🐄🐑