Ambergate - & Whatstandwell - : Walks 5 To 8

1. Lea Green 10. Florence Nightingale Lea Green, dating back to the fifteenth century, was once a The Nightingales were an old established family in this part of . They built the farmhouse which has been added to and extended by subsequent woollen mill at Lea Bridge in the late eighteenth century. This was then taken over by the owners. Under John Marsden-Smedley it achieved the grand house Smedley family to consolidate their business. Established in 1784, the John Smedley status that can be seen today. After his death in 1960, the buildings is the oldest manufacturing factory in the world and is world renowned for its knitwear. and grounds were taken over by Derbyshire County Council to become a sports and environmental centre. The most famous member of the Nightingale family is Florence, who became a nurse and tended the wounded and dying on the battlefields of the Crimean War. Her house, Lea Hurst, can be seen in the distance on this walk. Cromford Lea Station 9. 1 Weaving up the Derwent Valley, for five and a half miles of its length, the Cromford Canal passes through stunning countryside. Sponsored by local

Cromford2 businessmen, including , the canal was engineered by Mills William Jessop, whose son Josias went on to engineer, amongst other

Cromford projects, the Cromford and High Peak Railway, now the . Wharf Cromford - Whatstandwell Whatstandwell Opened in 1794, the canal was effectively cut in two by the collapse of - Cromford Walk 8 the Butterley Tunnel near Ripley circa 1900. The top section of the Walk 7 4 Miles waterway to Cromford remained navigable into the 1940s. In 1974, 4 Miles Holloway Derbyshire County Council purchased five miles of the canal

High P from Cromford to , for a dual recreation and eak Trail conservation purpose.

2. Cromford 3 High Peak 10 8. Junction The inhabitants of Crich, like those in many of the limestone Historically, Cromford is a very important village. upland villages, made a living out of taking stone from the ground. It is classed as a birthplace Lead ore, or galena, was the initial extract to be followed to the of the . present day, by limestone quarrying. Grit or millstone, Arkwright's first is still was also quarried locally. standing and is open to the public. It is well worth a visit to find out 4 Crich Stand, a memorial to the dead of the Sherwood more about where it all began! Forester Regiment, stands at the top of the quarry first Longway started by George Stephenson. Crich Tramway Village Bank is located in part of the old quarry. 3. Intake Lane 9 Many of the villages locally have an Intake Lane. These were the roads leading to common land, especially the moors. After the Enclosures Acts of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries much of this land was taken into private ownership. These lanes Watergate Farm then led to the “Intake”, hence the name. Benthill 8 Crich Farm

4. Lead Mining Whatstandwell Station Lead has been mined from this area probably since pre-Roman times. Whatstandwell At the height of the lead boom, mines were driven deeper and so had - Ambergate to be drained. This was done by tunnels called soughs. These honey- Walk 6 comb the locality. One of the largest, the Meerbrook Sough, lies deep Home 3.5 Miles underground here. The water supplies the towns of Heanor and Farm Ilkeston several miles away. The Tors 5 Ambergate - Whatstandwell 5. Hall Walk 5 Alderwasley Hall and Park were owned by the Hurt family. The family 4.5 Miles fortune was built upon iron foundaries supplied by local ironstone and fuelled Crich by timber and charcoal from local woods. Families of charcoal burners lived Chase in the adjacent woodlands. One family inhabited an ancient yew tree, now 6 Cromford Canal known as the Betty Kenny tree, within Shining Cliff Woods. Here several children were raised and one branch was hollowed out to accommodate the Former latest born. This could be the origin of the nursery rhyme “Rock a bye baby, Youth 7 in the tree top…” Hostel

6. Midshires Way The walks on the west of the valley follow the Midshires Way for several miles. This 225 mile route is a long distance regional path linking the Ridgeway at Aylesbury with the Trans Pennine Trail at Stockport.

7. Crich Chase Ambergate Station Like neighbouring Shining Cliff, Crich Chase was once a hunting park, but not part of Duffield Frith. Shining Cliff The Crich Woodlands were the domain of the Zouch family from Codnor Castle, several miles to the east. Woods

The Chase supports a varied wildlife with the wood consisting of mainly birch, oak, hazel and, from more recent times, a large amount of sycamore.

Scale © Crown copyright and database rights 2019. Ordnance Survey 100023251. 0km 1km N

station walks station

4 scenic station to station scenic 4

Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Heritage World Mills Valley Derwent

right to cross over the railway bridge to the station. the to bridge railway the over cross to right

STATION This leaflet was produced by Derbyshire County Council for the the for Council County Derbyshire by produced was leaflet This

two stone), pass under the road and at the next bridge turn turn bridge next the at and road the under pass stone), two AMBERGATE Tel: (01629) 533298 (01629) Tel:

progress to Whatstandwell. At the third bridge (one metal, metal, (one bridge third the At Whatstandwell. to progress Middleton Top Visitor Centre, Visitor Top Middleton A610

Turn left to the towpath, keep the canal to the left and and left the to canal the keep towpath, the to left Turn FOR MORE INFORMATION MORE FOR

HAPPY WALKING! HAPPY

and down, over Gregory Tunnel, to the Cromford Canal. Cromford the to Tunnel, Gregory over down, and

cottage, on the right. This leads across open parkland parkland open across leads This right. the on cottage,

then Bracken Lane to find a footpath, just past a a past just footpath, a find to Lane Bracken then two more leaflets. more two

exploring the Derwent Valley. The other eight walks are detailed in in detailed are walks eight other The Valley. Derwent the exploring bridlepath on the right. Descend into Holloway and and Holloway into Descend right. the on bridlepath

STATION

The four walks in this leaflet are part of a collection of 12 walks walks 12 of collection a of part are leaflet this in walks four The

past the Rhododendron Gardens to eventually find a a find eventually to Gardens Rhododendron the past WHATSTANDWELL

crossroads. Cross over and bear right onto Long Lane, Lane, Long onto right bear and over Cross crossroads.

Valley Walks. Walks. Valley

cross the road, into a small field to emerge at a a at emerge to field small a into road, the cross

and horseriders. All the discs bear the legend Derwent Derwent legend the bear discs the All horseriders. and

which is crossed by stepping stones, continue uphill and and uphill continue stones, stepping by crossed is which

bridleway status and can be enjoyed by walkers, cyclists cyclists walkers, by enjoyed be can and status bridleway

Enter the wood and carry on to the Littlemoor Brook, Brook, Littlemoor the to on carry and wood the Enter

status to be used by walkers. Blue arrows indicate indicate arrows Blue walkers. by used be to status Canal

Cromford bearing a coloured arrow. Yellow indicates footpath footpath indicates Yellow arrow. coloured a bearing

All walks have been carefully waymarked by green discs discs green by waymarked carefully been have walks All

long descent to Nether Doe Carr Wood below. Wood Carr Doe Nether to descent long

visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/buses www.derbyshire.gov.uk/buses visit take a footpath across open fields which soon begins the the begins soon which fields open across footpath a take

Alternatively, for local bus times, call Traveline 0871 200 22 33 or or 33 22 200 0871 Traveline call times, bus local for Alternatively, Hearthstone Lane. Turn left here for 75 yards then right to to right then yards 75 for here left Turn Lane. Hearthstone

www.nationalrail.co.uk www.nationalrail.co.uk the wood and follow the well walked path to meet meet to path walked well the follow and wood the

For train times call National Rail Enquiries 03457 48 49 50 or visit visit or 50 49 48 03457 Enquiries Rail National call times train For

wall alongside a farm track. Carry on uphill over a stile into into stile a over uphill on Carry track. farm a alongside wall

STATION

workings on the right to find a stone step over a stile in a a in stile a over step stone a find to right the on workings

CROMFORD

services.

to a footpath on the left. This climb leads past old lead lead old past leads climb This left. the on footpath a to

circular or linear walk and travel back by train or on various bus bus various on or train by back travel and walk linear or circular

River Derwent River

Leave the station, turn left along the road, under the bridge bridge the under road, the along left turn station, the Leave

car parks at each of the stations, from where you can start your your start can you where from stations, the of each at parks car

However, if you do travel to the Derwent Valley by car, there are are there car, by Valley Derwent the to travel do you if However,

Derwent Valley are spectacular. are Valley Derwent

VALLEY Long Eaton, and the local Stations. Stations. Line Valley Derwent local the and Derby Eaton, Long

frequent service between , Beeston, Attenborough, Attenborough, Beeston, Nottingham, between service frequent Cromford Canal. The views of the the of views The Canal. Cromford

views along the way. Trains on the Derwent Valley Line operate a a operate Line Valley Derwent the on Trains way. the along views

woodland and the level towpath of the the of towpath level the and woodland

DERWENT opportunity to leave the car at home, relax and enjoy the great great the enjoy and relax home, at car the leave to opportunity

A walk combining steep climbs through through climbs steep combining walk A The train service through the Derwent Valley provides a great great a provides Valley Derwent the through service train The

THE to Cromford to circular route or use the train to get back to the start. the to back get to train the use or route circular

2

DISTANCE 4 MILES 4 DISTANCE scenic Derwent Valley Line. Choose one or more walks to create a a create to walks more or one Choose Line. Valley Derwent scenic

Site have been designed to link together the stations along the the along stations the together link to designed been have Site

WALK 8 WALK

Explore These walks in the beautiful World Heritage Heritage World Mills Valley Derwent beautiful the in walks These

CROMFORD - WHATSTANDWELL - CROMFORD Ambergate GENERAL INFORMATION GENERAL

Ambergate.

AMBERGATE - WHATSTANDWELL WHATSTANDWELLat station the find to left Turn - AMBERGATEbelow. A6 the reach finally WHATSTANDWELL - CROMFORD

crossroads to find the railway station. railway the find to crossroads

WALK 5 to joined be must WALKRoad Chase 6 where bridge next the to WALK 7 Descend still further to the A6, turn left, then right at the the at right then left, turn A6, the to further still Descend

Cromford Canal towpath. Proceed with the canal on the left left the on DISTANCEcanal the with 3.5Proceed MILEStowpath. Canal Cromford emerge into houses on the outskirts of the village. village. DISTANCE the of outskirts 4.5 the on MILES houses into emerge DISTANCE 4 MILES the main path and eventually over the bridge to the the to bridge the over eventually and path main the

woods and continuing under the High Peak Trail to to Trail Peak High the under continuing and woods then continue straight ahead downhill carefully keeping to to keeping carefully downhill ahead straight continue then

through attractive fields, turning right on entering the the entering on right turning fields, attractive through the road bends right. On reaching the woodland turn left, left, turn woodland the reaching On right. bends road the

An attractive walk through ancient A steep walk uphill, across farmland to the This walk has an initial steep climbleft. the on up theyards 200

and follow this track all the way to Cromford passing passing Cromford to way the all track this follow and right along the lane and then take the footpath to the left as as left the to footpath the take then and lane the along right

woodland, old parkland and open farmland old village of Crich and down through the valleyStation side followedWhatstandwell to Bridge by undulatingDerwent the over Cross and onto Longway Bank. Cross the road onto Intake Lane Lane Intake onto road the Cross Bank. Longway onto and The path eventually descends to Chadwick Nick Lane, turn turn Lane, Nick Chadwick to descends eventually path The

side of Lambert's Cottage and on down to soon reach the A6. A6. the reach soon to down on and Cottage Lambert's of side

soon reaches a junction. Go left downhill to a paddock with excellentpaddock a to views.downhill left ThereGo arejunction. a no reallyreaches soon woodlands of Crich Chase to the level farmland with an easy walk along a track

right, descending the hill to follow the path to the righthand righthand the to path the follow to hill the descending right,

left. The path continues through coniferous woodland. It It woodland. coniferous through continues path The left. towpath of Cromford Canal. into Cromford. steep climbs. turning by Way Midshires the leave hill, the of top the At

and the old coalfields areas from here. from areas coalfields old the and the lane and proceed uphill with farm buildings on the the on buildings farm with uphill proceed and lane the

Tors. There are excellent views over the Derwent Valley Valley Derwent the over views excellent are There Tors.

Turn left and then turn right off the lane after a fork in Outin of fork the a station,after turnlane leftthe andoff left right again turn to thethen A6 atand theleft HurtTurn across the fields. the across

second path left which leads to an area known as The LeaveThe theas stationknown by area using an theto footbridgeleads which overleft thepath railwaysecond Leave the station and turn right on to the A6. Cross the river

Arms. Take care crossing the road and turn left, past the

junction and Home Farm then take the first path left left path first the take then Farm Home and junction

footpath on the left to leave the road by taking the and the Cromford taking by Canal. road At the the leave road to turn left right the on and thenfootpath bridge and immediately take the path waymarked on a

cricket ground, tolane. turna to rightfields on toacross Hollyand bank Lane. the up Go left overbear

downhill for a short way then uphill, past the road road the past uphill, then way short a for downhill

From here go right up Sandy Lane ignoring the first immediately first the left into ignoring Hindersitch Lane Sandy Lane. up Continue right go uphill here and,From fingerpost, uphill left and across the road, following another

to its left. Cross the stream on a fine walled footbridge and Halfpennyand Bridgefootbridge andwalled turnfine a righton alongstream a the rough Cross roadleft. intoits to

after Yew Tree Farm on the left, fork right on to the narrow fingerpost. right turn Shortly, and turn hall left the up the near bank, road cross the to the on driveway Emerge

The old rag mill (now a house) is ahead with Watergate Farm ShiningFarm Cliff Woods.Watergate with Follow ahead theis unmadehouse) a road,(now pastmill rag houses,old The

road and continue uphill into Glen Road which becomes a and takevillage. the path leftAlderwasley of to the drivewayparkland foropen Lambert's across Cottagewood, the

to its end. Continue into the woods and turn right going Place. Market the and village Crich into Hill Coast down right

narrow path between houses. On reaching the T-junction andof enterout farmland.followed be easily now can path distance long This

downhill at a signposted junction. Turn right at the next turn road the At houses. into emerges which track narrow a

through the stone stile) and proceed downhill. proceed and stile) stone the through with Top Lane, turn right then immediately left to climb the

junction to eventually pass the former Youth Hostel and on follow Then masts. and reservoir topped flat a towards fields

the Midshires Way. At this point turn right (without going going (without right turn point this At Way. Midshires the steps. At the top of the steps cross the track (to Benthill uphill. heading Way Midshires the of route the join

past the rock outcrops, after which the woods are named, to the through right fork squeeze, stone a through go and Farm) Continue straight ahead until the path joins the route of

Continue straight ahead until the path joins the route of of route the joins path the until ahead straight Continue Farm) and go through a stone squeeze, fork right through the to named, are woods the which after outcrops, rock the past

join the route of the Midshires Way heading uphill. Benthill (to track the cross steps the of top the At steps. the Midshires Way. At this point turn right (without going

fields towards a flat topped reservoir and masts. Then follow on and Hostel Youth former the pass eventually to junction

with Top Lane, turn right then immediately left to climb the the climb to left immediately then right turn Lane, Top with through the stone stile) and proceed downhill.

a narrow track which emerges into houses. At the road turn next the at right Turn junction. signposted a at downhill

and enter farmland. enter and

This long distance path can now easily be followed out of T-junction the reaching On houses. between path narrow right down Coast Hill into Crich village and the Market Place. going right turn and woods the into Continue end. its to

and take the path left of the driveway for Lambert's Cottage Cottage Lambert's for driveway the of left path the take and

the wood, across open parkland to Alderwasley village. a becomes which Road Glen into uphill continue and road

Shining Cliff Woods. Follow the unmade road, past houses, The oldhouses, rag millpast (nowroad, a house)unmade isthe ahead Follow with WatergateWoods. Cliff FarmShining

fingerpost. Shortly, turn left up the bank, cross the driveway driveway the cross bank, the up left turn Shortly, fingerpost.

Emerge on to the road near the hall and turn right narrow the to on right fork left, the on Farm Tree Yew after

Halfpenny Bridge and turn right along a rough road into to its into left. road Cross rough the a stream along on right a fine turn walled and footbridge Bridge andHalfpenny

fingerpost, uphill left and across the road, following another another following road, the across and left uphill fingerpost,

downhill for a short way then uphill, past the road Fromand, hereuphill go rightContinue up Lane. Sandy LaneHindersitch ignoringinto left the firstimmediately

cricket ground, to turn right on to Holly Lane. Go over bear over left Go up the Lane. bank and Holly across to on fields right to a turn lane. to ground, cricket

bridge and immediately take the path waymarked on a a on waymarked path the take immediately and bridge

junction and Home Farm then take the first path left footpath then and on the right left turn to road leave the the At road Canal. by taking Cromford theand Arms. Take care crossing the road and turn left, past the the past left, turn and road the crossing care Take Arms.

Leave the station and turn right on to the A6. Cross the river river the Cross A6. the to on right turn and station the Leave across the fields. secondrailway paththe leftover which leadsfootbridge tothe an using area by knownstation asthe TheLeave

Tors. There are excellent views over the Derwent Valley TurnHurt leftthe andat A6 thenthe to turn again right left offand theleft laneturn afterstation, a the fork of inOut

and the old coalfields areas from here. the lane and proceed uphill with farm buildings on the

At the top of the hill, leave the Midshires Way by turning climbs. steep towpath of Cromford Canal. Cromford of towpath

into Cromford. into left. The path continues through coniferous woodland. It

right, descending the hill to follow the path to the righthand with excellent views. There are no really really no are There views. excellent with woodlands of Crich Chase to the level level the to Chase Crich of woodlands farmland with an easy walk along a track track a along walk easy an with farmland soon reaches a junction. Go left downhill to a paddock

side of Lambert's Cottage and on down to soon reach the A6.

The path eventually descends to Chadwick Nick Lane, turn and onto Longway Bank. Cross the road onto Intake Lane woodland, old parkland and open farmland farmland open and parkland old woodland, old village of Crich and down through the the through down and Crich of village old

valley side followed by undulating Cross over the Derwent undulating by Bridge to Whatstandwell followed side Stationvalley

right along the lane and then take the footpath to the left as and follow this track all the way to Cromford passing

An attractive walk through ancient ancient through walk attractive An A steep walk uphill, across farmland to the the to farmland across uphill, walk steep A This walk has an initial steep climb up the 200 yardsthe up on the left.climb steep initial an has walk This the road bends right. On reaching the woodland turn left, through attractive fields, turning right on entering the then continue straight ahead downhill carefully keeping to woods and continuing under the High Peak Trail to

the main path and eventually over the bridge to the DISTANCE 4.5 MILES 4.5 DISTANCE DISTANCE 4 MILES 4 DISTANCE emerge into houses on the outskirts of the village.

Cromford Canal towpath.MILES Proceed3.5 with the canalDISTANCE on the left Descend still further to the A6, turn left, then right at the

WALK 5 WALK WALK 7 WALK

to the next bridge where6 Chase RoadWALK must be joined to crossroads to find the railway station.

AMBERGATE - WHATSTANDWELL - AMBERGATE WHATSTANDWELL - CROMFORD - WHATSTANDWELL finally reach the A6 below.AMBERGATE - Turn left to find the station atWHATSTANDWELL Ambergate.

CROMFORD - WHATSTANDWELL GENERAL INFORMATION Ambergate These walks in the beautiful Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Explore WALK 8 Site have been designed to link together the stations along the DISTANCE 4 MILES scenic Derwent Valley Line. Choose one or more walks to create a 2 circular route or use the train to get back to the start. THE to Cromford

A walk combining steep climbs through The train service through the Derwent Valley provides a great woodland and the level towpath of the opportunity to leave the car at home, relax and enjoy the great DERWENT views along the way. Trains on the Derwent Valley Line operate a Cromford Canal. The views of the frequent service between Nottingham, Beeston, Attenborough, Derwent Valley are spectacular. Long Eaton, Derby and the local Derwent Valley Line Stations. VALLEY

However, if you do travel to the Derwent Valley by car, there are car parks at each of the stations, from where you can start your Leave the station, turn left along the road, under the bridge River Derwent to a footpath on the left. This climb leads past old lead circular or linear walk and travel back by train or on various bus services. workings on the right to find a stone step over a stile in a CROMFORD STATION wall alongside a farm track. Carry on uphill over a stile into For train times call National Rail Enquiries 03457 48 49 50 or visit the wood and follow the well walked path to meet www.nationalrail.co.uk Hearthstone Lane. Turn left here for 75 yards then right to Alternatively, for local bus times, call Traveline 0871 200 22 33 or take a footpath across open fields which soon begins the visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/buses long descent to Nether Doe Carr Wood below. All walks have been carefully waymarked by green discs bearing a coloured arrow. Yellow indicates footpath Cromford Enter the wood and carry on to the Littlemoor Brook, status to be used by walkers. Blue arrows indicate Canal bridleway status and can be enjoyed by walkers, cyclists which is crossed by stepping stones, continue uphill and and horseriders. All the discs bear the legend Derwent cross the road, into a small field to emerge at a Valley Walks. crossroads. Cross over and bear right onto Long Lane, past the Rhododendron Gardens to eventually find a The four walks in this leaflet are part of a collection of 12 walks WHATSTANDWELL bridlepath on the right. Descend into Holloway and exploring the Derwent Valley. The other eight walks are detailed in STATION then Bracken Lane to find a footpath, just past a two more leaflets. cottage, on the right. This leads across open parkland and down, over Gregory Tunnel, to the Cromford Canal. HAPPY WALKING!

Turn left to the towpath, keep the canal to the left and FOR MORE INFORMATION progress to Whatstandwell. At the third bridge (one metal, Middleton Top Visitor Centre, A610 two stone), pass under the road and at the next bridge turn Tel: (01629) 533298 AMBERGATE right to cross over the railway bridge to the station. This leaflet was produced by Derbyshire County Council for the STATION Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site

4 scenic station to station walks