The Duffield Frith Frolic

From the car park walk towards Duffield Church and in 50 yards locate the footbridge on your right over the railway and cross this. Once over the other side turn left as indicated by the footpath sign along an enclosed alley to very shortly reach a wooden stile which we cross over into a field.

Here as indicated, proceed half left across the field for 200 yards reaching the field edge via a wooden railway sleeper and then crossing over a wooden stile into the next field. Continue ahead in the same direction towards the A6 and houses in front on you for a further 200 yards reaching and crossing over another wooden stile to emerge on to the footpath of the aforementioned A6. Cross this road with very great care to a squeezer stile to the right of a public footpath sign. Take this path between houses until its conclusion at another squeezer stile. Cross the field in front of you very slightly left to the end of a hedge 100 yards ahead of you. Follow the left hand side of this hedge for 250 yards until reaching a field corner at a wooden stile. Cross this and then head in the same direction across the field in front of you slightly up hill for 280 yards to reach a wooden stile in a field corner.

Once over, follow the left hand field edge for 30 yards and then strike half left across the field in front of you and in 250 yards reach a cross track and signpost. Here turn left, keeping the field boundary on your right, aiming for a telegraph pole in front of you 80 yards away. Bear right just in front of the aforementioned telegraph pole for another 90 yards to reach a wooden stile in a field corner at the bottom of a cottage garden (1 mile) . Cross over and turn right as way marked, following the right hand field edge up hill passing the farm cottage on the right and then continuing for ¼ mile, doglegging left and right still up hill, to a wooden stile in the right hand field corner. (A strongly recommended detour however which only adds a minute or so is to turn half left towards the highest point to reach a Topograph and stunning views of the Derwent Valley).

Once over the stile a clear track with houses on your left and a wood to the right leads to a wooden squeezer stile after 250 yards. Once through continue ahead on a wide green track between hedges for a further 250 yards until reaching the end of a cul-de-sac. Here locate the public footpath sign approximately 50 yards in front of you and then as indicated follow the enclosed alleyway until it shortly ends at an impressive arched holly bush between two

1 squeezer stiles which spill out on to another cul-de-sac (Coach Drive) between stunning houses. Follow Coach Drive to the main road and a public footpath sign on our right. We now turn right along the road for nearly ½ mile enjoying looking at the residences of Quarndon and passing Quarndon Cricket Club on our left. Just before our road turns left (2 miles) ignore a public footpath sign on our right then follow the sharp left hand turn in the road, at the end of which locate a public footpath sign on our right to the left of cottage number 80 and squeeze to the right of a metal farm gate into a field. Follow the right hand field edge for 150 yards and then pass through a double wooden squeezer stile at the end. Continue ahead following the right hand field edge for a further 150 yards to pass through another wooden squeezer stile at a public footpath sign (ignore the footpath over on the right). Our route is now diagonally left across the large field in front of us for 300 yards to a metal farm gate and signpost . (At the time of writing, however, this field is cropped so it may be prudent to take the footpath I just told you to ignore and then immediately turn left and follow the left hand field edge for 150 yards, passing over a stile to the left of a metal gate and then continuing to the road. At the road turn left and in 130 yards meet the signpost by the metal farm gate which brings us back to our strictly correct route).

Cross the road, turn left and continue for a further 100 yards to meet a public footpath sign on the right by a wooden step stile. As indicated by the footpath sign cross the stile and follow the left hand field edge downhill to its conclusion after 200 yards at a tree. From here continue ahead for a further 50 yards to meet a wooden stile along the field edge which we cross. We then continue in the same direction across the next field for 125 yards to meet a final wooden stile by a footpath sign at the corner of a minor road. This road is called Woodfall Lane and we now turn right and follow this for just over 1 mile (3 miles) ignoring two footpaths on the right and three on our left. When finally the wooded Gun Hills hove clearly into view on the right (4 miles) as the road bends left, locate a public footpath sign on the right and leave the road for a double wooden step stile into a field. Once over bear half left across the field in front of us for 150 yards until locating a field gap. From here a 75 yard walk up hill in the same direction brings us to a double wooden stile which we cross over into Gunhills Lane. Once over turn right for ¼ mile (ignoring the footpath on the right) and after passing Gunhills Farm on our left locate a public footpath sign also on our left and climb the wooden steps over a wooden stile into the field above. Once over, keep ahead downhill for 250 yards to meet a wooden step stile in a hedge at the end of the field. Descend this into the field below and follow the left hand field edge for 50 yards to locate another wooden stile to

2 the left of a metal gate which we cross over. Now turn right and head downhill for 1/3 mile keeping well to the right of a string of pylons before picking up the right hand field edge much lower down, which brings us out onto a road via a wooden step stile. (Just over to our left is an ancient Baptist Chapel which is worth a short detour if you have time).

Cross the road to a public footpath sign and wooden step stile in front of us and cross this into a field corner. 30 yards ahead cross a wooden footbridge (5 miles) and then turn half left for 150 yards aiming for the second pylon ahead of us to a wooden stile just to the left of a metal farm gate. Once over continue up hill in the same direction heading for the centre post of the power lines in front of you 200 yards away. Once passed this, aim for a garden shed 100 yards away and locate a wooden step stile on its right at the field edge.

Cross over on to an enclosed path which soon brings us to another wooden step stile which we cross and then a short descent brings us to a road and the village of Windley via a stone squeezer stile.

Turn right at the road up hill and in 125 yards meet a public footpath sign on our right by the drive of The Hollies. Climb the stile via some stone steps. Once over, follow the right hand field boundary for 100 yards to reach and cross a wooden stile into the next field. Here turn half left heading just to the left of the second wooden pylon to locate two redundant stone gateposts 250 yards away. Pass to the left of these and keep ahead across the next field for 100 yards and then locate a wooden step stile in the field corner. Once over walk forward for 10 yards following the left hand field boundary and then turn half left under power lines for 100 yards to meet and cross a wooden stile into the next field. Keep ahead across the next field for 100 yards to meet a redundant stone squeezer stile to the right of a metal farm gate. This appears to have been our original route but now instead of going through the stone squeezer stile, go through the metal farm gate on its left and follow the right hand field boundary through two fields for 300 yards to meet a wooden stile to the right of a metal farm gate. Cross over this and head down hill heading for the wooden fence stile to the left of a metal gate in front of the farm building in view. Once through, keep ahead down hill on a farm track to shortly meet a main farm track which we keep ahead on passing Postern farmhouse on our right. Keep on the farm track for a further 350 yards (6 miles) and then locate a metal farm gate on our right (there are two metal farm gates opposite on our left). Once through turn half left for 100 yards towards the field edge in front of us and locate a

3 wooden stile to the left of a metal farm gate. Cross over this, having passed over a brook to get to it and walk to the left hand field edge 30 yards in front of us. With the buildings of Turnditch in front of us turn half left for a further 250 yards to the field corner to meet a stone squeezer stile which is entered via a wooden step stile by a public footpath sign. Here turn right along a wide tarmaced track (the end of the farm track which we were on five minutes ago) and proceed to the road 100 yards away.

Now turn right for 150 yards and after crossing a brook locate the public footpath sign on our left across the road and pass through a stone squeezer stile to the left of a metal farm gate. Once through bear half right across the field towards the railway line which is reached after 200 yards via a wooden step stile. Cross the railway line with care as there are plans to re- open this on a private basis, noting the old Turnditch Station just away to our right. Upon reaching the other side, cross another wooden stile and then cross a tarmaced track 10 yards ahead of us to meet and pass through a wide wooden squeezer stile into a field. The route is now slightly left of ahead up hill across this field for 300 yards. After 150 yards you should catch sight of a wooden footpath sign ahead which will aim you towards your target – the gap in the hedge next to it. (Shottle Hall in the distance behind it also makes a good reference point).

Having squeezed through the hedge we are now on the B5023 road which we turn left on for 200 yards. (Take care this road can be busy). Upon locating a marker post with three waymarking discs follow the one half left marked Amber Valley route ways number 15. Two trees point the general direction, aim for the field corner in front of you and upon reaching it head for the farm buildings keeping the hedge on your right for a further 100 yards until coming to a marker post (7 miles) . Keep straight ahead as indicated with the farm house on your left walking alongside a barn building on the right. 50 yards later a waymarking post indicates that we keep straight ahead following a left hand field edge for 150 yards to reach the field corner. At a field gap a post on the right with an Amber Valley waymarking disc on it shows that we are still on route 15 and that we should proceed straight ahead across the next field for 200 yards aiming for the electricity pole with a transformer on it. Upon reaching this you will find a wooden stile in the field edge in front of you. Once over as indicated by the waymarking disc turn half left across the field in front of you for 300 yards to reach a field corner with a wooden stile to the right of a double metal farm gate.

4 Once over, turn right and there is now a welcome quiet spell of road walking for approximately 1 ½ miles. Ignore all footpaths right and left and also ignore Jebb Lane (8 miles) on our left after 2/3rds mile. (There are terrific views towards the left along the whole length of this road).

After Jebb Lane keep ahead for another 2/3rds mile at the end of which our road bears round to the right and you soon come to the buildings of Lawn Farm (9 miles) . Just before the farm buildings are reached you will notice two footpath signs; one on the right and one on the left, we take the left hand route over a wooden stile where we keep ahead for 30 yards to another wooden stile and also cross this. Head across the next field for 100 yards towards a tree at the field’s edge and locate a stone step stile to its right. Once over follow the left hand field edge up hill for 300 yards to reach a gap at the field corner. Our route is now to follow this left hand field edge through another four fields for 1/3 mile crossing over a stile and through two redundant gateways on the way and then reaching the road via a metal farm gate next to a wooden footpath sign.

At the road turn left towards the pylons clearly in view on Alport Height, ignore the right hand turns of Palerow Lane and Peat Lane in quick succession and take the third road turn off in ¼ mile time after passing through the hamlet of Spout (10 miles) . You should now be in Alport Lane and our highest point of the day is just in front of us at Alport Stone visible on the horizon 250 yards away. We, however, walk on a further 250 yards and at a road junction sign turn right on a footpath turning almost back on ourselves to reach Alport Stone after 100 yards. (Just before the stone is reached we come across an ancient stone guidepost with the destinations of Ashbourne and Derby clearly visible).

After inspecting the Alport stone retrace your steps to the road and turn right. In 80 yards pass the turn off for the National Trust car park at Alport Heights and then a further 80 yards later keep ahead at the crossroads with Back Lane.

Continue along Alport Lane for just over 1/3 mile ignoring footpaths on the right and left until reaching the junction with Knob Lane. Here locate a footpath sign on your right and pass through a stone squeezer stile into the field in front of you. Cross the field diagonally right for 75 yards to reach and cross a wooden stile into the next field.

5 With a stone wall on our right, continue ahead for 100 yards and then pass through a stone squeezer stile at the end of the field. Once through this, head for the gate in the centre of the field 150 yards ahead of you and pass through a stone squeezer stile to its right. Once through, the farm track leads you in 50 yards through another squeezer stile to the left of a metal gate to Bent Lane. Cross Bent Lane to the public footpath sign opposite and enter a field via a stone squeezer stile to the left of a metal gate. Proceed down the left hand side of the field for 60 yards to pass through another stone squeezer stile to the left of a metal gate (11 miles) immediately followed by a wooden stile. Keep along the left hand field edge of the next field for 150 yards before locating and crossing a wooden stile and then a stream and passing through a stone squeezer stile on the other side.

As indicated by the footpath sign, turn half right towards the wood in front of us for 50 yards to pass through another stone squeezer stile and meet a farm track in a further 25 yards. Here locate the footpath through the woods via a stone squeezer stile and proceed half left as indicated by direction arrows on fir trees starting 20 yards inside the wood. After 125 yards we reach a stone squeezer stile at a corner of the wood by a footpath sign and spill out on to a road. Here turn right and in 250 yards locate a footpath on your left. (Be careful this is on a blind right hand bend). As indicated by a redundant stone squeezer stile and a public footpath sign proceed ahead to a wooden stile and cross over into a field. Following a drystone wall on our right, proceed down hill for 25 yards before turning right over a wooden stile and then passing through a stone squeezer stile in the stone wall and turning left to continue our journey downhill with the stone wall of course now on our left.

After 100 yards cross a stone step stile and shortly ignore a right hand turn off signposted The Bear Inn. Keep ahead through three fields aiming towards farm buildings 400 yards in front of you. Upon reaching the farm buildings pass through a stone squeezer stile to the left of a metal gate and continue on a track for 50 yards to pass through another stone squeezer stile to the left of a metal gate onto a road. Turn left along the road passing the entrance to Pendleton Cottage on our left then ignoring the road junction at Back Lane until reaching a T junction at Bury Hill 300 yards later.

Just before this, however, turn right (12 miles) on a broad gravel track for 100 yards and where this bears left keep ahead to shortly pass through a wooden farm gate. You are now on a beautiful green lane which is followed for almost ½ mile through Kennel Wood. The only

6 reason to pause along the way is another farm gate which we pass through. Eventually a cross track is reached. Here keep ahead for a further 100 yards to reach a wide gravel track where we turn left and shortly reach a road.

Here we join the Midshires Way for approximately 2 miles. Turn right along the road passing the entrance to All Saints Church Alderwasley on our left and then 50 yards later turn left into Alderwasley Park via the wooden step stile to the left of a wooden farm gate. As indicated by the public footpath sign continue along the broad track in front of you shortly passing the poignant First World War memorial on our left with far reaching views towards Crich Stand. Note the very high drystone walls in this vicinity, sure evidence that you have entered a deer park. Follow your track unerringly for just under ½ mile crossing a wooden stile to the right of a metal gate along the way (13 miles) until reaching the end of the huge drystone wall on your right at a path junction indicated by stone and wooden path markers. Immediately in front of you is an unusual carved wooden seat. (Just the spot for a rest). Here amongst pine trees turn half right on a vague green track for 200 yards, to be confronted by another high drystone wall. Here cross over the wooden stile to the right of a metal farm gate and proceed along a short enclosed lane into the next field and then continue ahead with a stone wall on our left for a further 160 yards to meet a metal farm gate by a wooden marker post. Pass through this into Shining Cliff Woods (note the story board on your left) and proceed ahead downhill through the woods for 25 yards to meet a junction of paths at a guidepost. Here bear left on a wide track for 100 yards to another path junction where there is a small clearing. Here turn right on a wide track for 1/3 mile to reach a road which is accessed via a wooden farm gate.

Cross the road and as indicated by the signpost to the right of the farm buildings of Netherpark Farm proceed through the double metal gate across the farmyard and through another metal gate and then across the next field for 100 yards to a stone squeezer stile to the left of a metal gate. Now aim for the gap in the wall in the next field 200 yards up hill in front of you and once through, continue ahead for a further 300 yards. (There is a row of power lines on your right). Upon reaching a metal farm gate near the top left hand corner of the field pass through the stone and wood squeezer stile on its right and then turn right initially on a farm track with a drystone wall to your left. The track peters out but in 250 yards the wall leads us via a squeeze to the left of a wooden farm gate onto a road (14 miles) .

7 Here turn right for 80 yards and then left at the road junction into Palerow Lane, shortly ignoring Sandyford Lane on the right and then 150 yards later locate a footpath on your left indicated by a footpath sign pointing half right across a field. Access this by climbing over a stone stile heading for and crossing the wooden bridge immediately in front of you. As indicated by the waymarking disc at the end of the bridge turn half right across the next field aiming for a redundant wooden squeezer stile after 200 yards just to the left of two prominent trees. When reached you should be able to see 100 yards half right a ramshackle stone squeezer stile which we pass through into the next field at a path junction. Once through, continue ahead half left for 20 yards to pass through another stone squeezer stile and then continue in the same direction for 150 yards to reach another stone squeezer stile to the left of a wooden guide post. Once through, continue in the same direction for 100 yards to come to another marker post and stone squeezer stile to the right of a metal gate. Once through this turn right for 20 yards to a wooden stile to the right of two metal farm gates. As indicated by the tall wooden marker post on your left our route is half left up hill for 200 yards until reaching a wooden squeezer stile to the right of a metal farm gate. Once through as indicated by the wooden marker post you should see your next objective which is a stone squeezer stile in the wall at the end of the field 100 yards in front of you. Pass through this continuing ahead, passing Crowtrees Farm on your right - a small brick structure covered by a manhole cover clearly indicates your way to the next stone squeezer stile 150 yards away (15 miles) . Once through this continue in the same direction to another 125 yards later to the left of a clump of holly bushes. Once through head for a marker post 50 yards in front of you by a holly bush at the end of a drystone wall at which point another 50 yards brings you to yet another stone squeezer stile and a nice view of the Derwent valley.

From here, we are now descending in the same direction through two fields and passing through a further two squeezer stiles, before reaching a large field with gorse bushes in it 200 yards later. Here keep ahead in the same direction (there are farm buildings and a road over to your left) before reaching in 300 yards a stone squeezer stile to the right of a metal farm gate. Once through from here you will see another road in front of you. Head downhill just to the left of this half right and in 200 yards locate a wooden stile in the drystone wall field boundary just in front of an electricity pole. Climb over this and then squeeze through a stone squeezer stile before heading half left for 150 yards to reach the road in a boggy field corner at a wooden stile and public footpath sign.

8 At the road turn left shortly ignoring a footpath on the right and then 100 yards later where our road turns sharply left turn right onto Longwalls Lane (16 miles) . This lane which starts initially as a wide tarmaced track is followed for 1 mile ignoring all turn offs right and left until reaching the A517 road (17 miles) .

(Almost since leaving Alport Stone you have been following an ancient trade route through Derbyshire known as The Portway, a route as old as time itself. For the next 2 ½ miles from Longwalls Lane to The Chevin ridge this route becomes far more obvious. Enjoy it and let your imagination run wild! A further exploration of The Portway, which can be traced from Sandiacre to Mam Tor, can be made on my Derbyshire Windmill Wander Challenge Walk).

On finally reaching the road, cross over with care and turn right. After 150 yards turn left by a public bridleway sign onto a narrow road. This immediately crosses a ford by a footbridge and then ascends for 1/3 of a mile before meeting a path junction 80 yards after the entrance to Lumb farm. Here turn left as waymarked through a stone squeezer stile to a small clearing currently used for storing bricks and tiles and then cross the wooden stile in front of you.

As waymarked turn half left up hill for 250 yards to reach a wooden stile. Cross over this and enter woodland. Keep ahead and in a further ¼ mile reach a stone step stile (18 miles) . Climb over this, turn left and then follow the left hand field edge for 100 yards. At the end of the field climb a wooden stile to the left of a metal farm gate, cross a driveway and then cross another wooden stile to the left of a metal farm gate. Continue ahead on a driveway for 130 yards to come out onto the road at Farnah Green by a public footpath sign.

Turn right up the road for 100 yards and then turn left at a restricted byway sign opposite Chevin Lodge. This bridleway is known as North Lane. After following it for 100 yards the surface becomes untarmaced and then turns right. We now follow North Lane for 1 mile, ignoring turn offs on the left and right, enjoying panoramic views of the Derwent Valley. Just after the ½ mile mark, note a large stone wall on your left hand side. This is in fact an old army rifle range (19 miles) .

½ mile later as we begin our slow descent back to Duffield beware of low flying golf balls over on the Chevin Golf Course to our right, keeping your eyes peeled for a Midshires Way marker post on the right indicating the footpath that we need to take. Proceed through a stone

9 squeezer stile to an enclosed path with a stone wall on our right as we pass through the golf course. 100 yards later at a public footpath sign cross a path used by golfers and begin a steep descent through trees to another public footpath sign 75 yards below you. Cross another golfers’ footpath and continue your descent for a further 100 yards to reach a T junction where we turn right for 10 yards and then left through a stile in a stone wall by a wooden marker post.

At this point Duffield, and indeed the city of Derby behind it, is spread out before you. After descending stone steps we turn half left, still on the golf course, passing the famous Court House Farm on our left and 300 yards later turn right down an enclosed track by a wooden farm gate. (Court House Farm was the administration centre for Duffield Ward).

After 150 yards our track bears left and then a similar distance later right to cross over a stream. Now turn left following the left hand field edge for 150 yards and cross a wooden stile on the right. Continue ahead in the next field still along the left hand field edge for a further 100 yards before crossing another wooden stile to the right of a metal footpath sign to a tarmac drive by the final fairway on the golf course. Turn right along the drive for 250 yards before locating a wooden footpath sign on our right which is situated just in front of the golf course club house.

Turn right as indicated on a tarmac path which soon meets a wider path and 100 yards later becomes a fully fledged road (20 miles) . Continue ahead along Chevin Road ignoring the footpath on the right after 250 yards and continuing on to the road’s conclusion at a T junction in front of Duffield cemetery. Turn left along the road by the cemetery, ignoring all roads and public footpaths until reaching Crown Street on your right after 1/3 of a mile. Turn right, shortly passing the Pattenmakers Arms on your right and then 50 yards further on turn left down Tamworth Street, which swings right after 80 yards over a tributary of the River Derwent and then left to shortly meet the main A6 road at Duffield.

Turn right along the main road and 150 yards later cross the main road via the pelican crossing and then keep ahead on the A6 ignoring a public footpath on the left after 100 yards and instead taking one 150 yards later after passing number 55 The Meadows. A public footpath sign points the way to a stone squeezer stile which we pass through and then follow

10 a left hand field edge passing through a small clump of fir trees and then in 350 yards reach a stone squeezer stile by a public footpath sign. Squeeze through this and under the arch of the road bridge in front of you enter another field (the railway is on your left and Duffield Church journey’s end is now clearly in view). Keep ahead along the left hand field edge for 100 yards and pass through a stone squeezer stile at the end on to an unmade road. Turn left towards the footbridge over the railway in front of you and cross by a wooden public footpath sign which of course we passed earlier (21 ½ miles) .

Congratulations you have just completed the Duffield Frith Frolic challenge!

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