Use the handrail if conditions are slippery underfoot. slippery are conditions if handrail the Use

crannies before heading back to Black Rocks. Black to back heading before crannies Methodist Chapel on your right. right. your on Chapel Methodist

where they were abandoned. were they where exploring the old town, with its fascinating nooks and and nooks fascinating its with town, old the exploring taking the obvious route passing the former Bolehill Bolehill former the passing route obvious the taking

one or two can still be found on the quarry floor floor quarry the on found be still can two or one down until a wider lane is met. Keep on downhill, downhill, on Keep met. is lane wider a until down market place straight ahead of you. Spend some time time some Spend you. of ahead straight place market

quarried here was used to make millstones. In fact, fact, In millstones. make to used was here quarried right of a short row of terraced houses, continuing continuing houses, terraced of row short a of right The town centre is now very close, with the old old the with close, very now is centre town The

an old quarry, now overgrown with trees. Stone Stone trees. with overgrown now quarry, old an and follow the path steeply downhill, passing to the the to passing downhill, steeply path the follow and

Here you will see see will you Here right. your to fence the over look to you through a gap in a wall. Descend a few steps, steps, few a Descend wall. a in gap a through you Valley Railway Station.) Station.) Railway Valley

Go up the steps, and through a gate, taking your time time your taking gate, a through and steps, the up Go

directing you to Bolehill and Wirksworth will point point will Wirksworth and Bolehill to you directing

(Turn left if you want to visit the Ecclesbourne Ecclesbourne the visit to want you if left (Turn 7

right down the hill for about 80 yards. A finger post post finger A yards. 80 about for hill the down right

steps and, very carefully, cross the road. Then turn turn Then road. the cross carefully, very and, steps will find a wide set of steps cut into the hillside. the into cut steps of set wide a find will

pedestal in the middle of the road. road. the of middle the in pedestal

Go through the wicket gate at the bottom of the the of bottom the at gate wicket the through Go the path forks, follow the well-worn path, and you you and path, well-worn the follow forks, path the

at Newton's Monument - the unusual lamp on the the on lamp unusual the - Monument Newton's at

it curves round to the left to become a path. Where Where path. a become to left the to round curves it

Light Cinema and the Royal Oak Pub and turn right turn and Pub Oak Royal the and Cinema Light

bottom, become slippery in wet weather. weather. wet in slippery become bottom, track. As it enters the Forestry Commission woodland, woodland, Commission Forestry the enters it As track.

North End. Head past the cemetery, the Northern Northern the cemetery, the past Head End. North

Take care! This stretch, and the steps near the the near steps the and stretch, This care! Take

4 Carry on up the remains of an old old an of remains the up on Carry drops.) sheer the of

road. Take a sharp left turn here, and walk down down walk and here, turn left sharp a Take road.

rewarded by magnificent views, but please be careful careful be please but views, magnificent by rewarded

you past Wirksworth Infant School and onto the main main the onto and School Infant Wirksworth past you

Bolehill Road. Road. Bolehill

feeling energetic, a diversion to the top of the rocks is is rocks the of top the to diversion a energetic, feeling

A short walk over the bridge and up the lane will take take will lane the up and bridge the over walk short A

down the hill, following the waymarker posts, to to posts, waymarker the following hill, the down

a venue for climbers since the late 1800's. (If you are are you (If 1800's. late the since climbers for venue a

wn o T orth w s Wirk Into

old town of Wirksworth before heading straight straight heading before Wirksworth of town old

rocks are a natural outcrop of gritstone, and have been been have and gritstone, of outcrop natural a are rocks

stop and take in another magnificent view over the the over view magnificent another in take and stop

The The left. your to Rocks Black impressive the keeping

Railway. Valley field to another stile. As you cross the next field, field, next the cross you As stile. another to field

Keep to the right and head straight on uphill, uphill, on straight head and right the to Keep 2

the path which goes diagonally left across a small small a across left diagonally goes which path the sidings of Wirksworth Station on the Ecclesbourne Ecclesbourne the on Station Wirksworth of sidings

the woodland by climbing over a stile, and follow follow and stile, a over climbing by woodland the Look to your left and you will see the bustling bustling the see will you and left your to Look

6

Moor. soon begins the long descent into Wirksworth. Leave Leave Wirksworth. into descent long the begins soon

curves up the hillside to the right signed Cromford Cromford signed right the to hillside the up curves

path through the gate and along the edge, which which edge, the along and gate the through path

line. line.

High Peak Trail. Take the track in front of you that that you of front in track the Take Trail. Peak High From the trig point, continue along the well-defined well-defined the along continue point, trig the From

the bottom of a lane and a bridge over an old railway railway old an over bridge a and lane a of bottom the

far end of the car park, and cross straight over the the over straight cross and park, car the of end far

and through a couple of gates. Soon you will reach reach will you Soon gates. of couple a through and

Go through the gate at the the at gate the through Go times. peak during open is the distance. the

now well defined and well surfaced, across the fields fields the across surfaced, well and defined well now

There are toilet facilities here, and a café which which café a and here, facilities toilet are There Rocks. walk through later, you can see Carsington Water in in Water Carsington see can you later, through walk

it finally emerges into fields. Follow the path, which is is which path, the Follow fields. into emerges finally it

Looking out over Middle Peak Quarry, which you will will you which Quarry, Peak Middle over out Looking The walk starts from the top car park at Black Black at park car top the from starts walk The 1

past some converted farm buildings on the right until until right the on buildings farm converted some past

3 The views from the trig point are excellent. excellent. are point trig the from views The

Continue to follow the path as it curves to the left left the to curves it as path the follow to Continue

ea. Allow 2 to 3 hours. 3 to 2 Allow ea. ar ounding surr the and tarmac to gravel and soon becomes a fenced path. path. fenced a becomes soon and gravel to tarmac

at the summit of Barrel Edge. Edge. Barrel of summit the at

ound Wirksworth Wirksworth ound ar walks follow to easy and Bolehill Institute. Follow this track as it turns from from turns it as track this Follow Institute. Bolehill

heads upwards, eventually leading to the trig point point trig the to leading eventually upwards, heads

down the track opposite taking you past the red brick brick red the past you taking opposite track the down This walk is one of a series of waymarked waymarked of series a of one is walk This

the fence line leading off to the right. The path path The right. the to off leading line fence the

At the crossroad junction, cross the road and go go and road the cross junction, crossroad the At 5 At the top of the steps, take the path that follows follows that path the take steps, the of top the At

orth w s Wirk

Middle Peak Quarry, Ecclesbourne Valley Railway at Wirksworth Wirksworth at Railway Valley Ecclesbourne Quarry, Peak Middle

From left: view from Black Rocks across Cromford, Cromford, across Rocks Black from view left: From

s to to s ock R ck Bla

orth w s Wirk ound Ar

3 s alk W cuit Cir

Follow the Countryside Code Walking Around Wirksworth Circuit Walks Respect, Protect, Enjoy! With a fascinating history, and a maze of back 3 Respect other people: streets to explore, Wirksworth is a thriving, vibrant • consider the local and welcoming place to live and visit. There are Around Wirksworth community and other plenty of cafés, coffee shops and pubs to help people enjoying the revive the weary walker. Black Rocks - Wirksworth - outdoors • leave gates and property The paths on this route may be Black Rocks as you find them and follow rough and muddy at times, so 5 miles paths, unless wider access is available be prepared and wear appropriate Protect the natural environment: footwear. The route should be easy • leave no trace of your visit and take your to follow, and is waymarked with View from Black Rocks litter home "Circuit Walks around Wirksworth" • keep dogs under effective control discs. Ordnance Survey Outdoor Leisure Enjoy the outdoors: Map No. 24 is recommended to enhance your walk. • plan ahead and be prepared • follow advice and local signs How to Find Black Rocks www.gov.uk/government/publications/ Black Rocks can be found just off the B5036 the-countryside-code between Cromford and Wirksworth. Look out for the brown tourist signs. There is ample pay and Cycle Hire display parking on site, as well as toilet facilities Do you prefer to cycle and a seasonal café. rather than walk? Visit our Cycle Hire Centre at Public Transport Middleton Top. The High traveline For details on public public transport info Peak Trail offers 17.5 transport in Derbyshire, 0871 200 22 33 traffic-free miles of visit: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/transport_roads/ cycling through beautiful public_transport countryside, and connects with the Tissington Trail at Parsley Hay. www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/ countryside/access/cycling/cycle_hire or call More Information 01629 533294. If you need to find out more, please contact: Middleton Top on 01629 533298, or on . Natural History of Black Rocks Call Derbyshire 01629 533190 Black Rocks is a weathered outcrop of Ashover For information on all our Countryside Sites go to: gritstone. The site was mined for lead and the spoil www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside on the scree slopes leading up to Black Rocks supports many interesting lead tolerant plants, such as Leadworts. Other habitats can be explored from If you have difficulty reading this leaflet, it can here, since it is near the boundary between be made available in other formats. Contact limestone and gritstone. Cromford Moor has Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190. heather moorland and various types of woodland. www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/ All photographs are Derbyshire County Council owned and copyright. countryside_sites/wildlife_amenity/black_rocks Photographs of the route by Aidan Rumble. www.derbyshire.gov.uk/countryside

Use the handrail if conditions are slippery underfoot. slippery are conditions if handrail the Use

crannies before heading back to Black Rocks. Black to back heading before crannies Methodist Chapel on your right. right. your on Chapel Methodist

where they were abandoned. were they where exploring the old town, with its fascinating nooks and and nooks fascinating its with town, old the exploring taking the obvious route passing the former Bolehill Bolehill former the passing route obvious the taking

one or two can still be found on the quarry floor floor quarry the on found be still can two or one down until a wider lane is met. Keep on downhill, downhill, on Keep met. is lane wider a until down market place straight ahead of you. Spend some time time some Spend you. of ahead straight place market

quarried here was used to make millstones. In fact, fact, In millstones. make to used was here quarried right of a short row of terraced houses, continuing continuing houses, terraced of row short a of right The town centre is now very close, with the old old the with close, very now is centre town The

an old quarry, now overgrown with trees. Stone Stone trees. with overgrown now quarry, old an and follow the path steeply downhill, passing to the the to passing downhill, steeply path the follow and

Here you will see see will you Here right. your to fence the over look to you through a gap in a wall. Descend a few steps, steps, few a Descend wall. a in gap a through you Valley Railway Station.) Station.) Railway Valley

Go up the steps, and through a gate, taking your time time your taking gate, a through and steps, the up Go

directing you to Bolehill and Wirksworth will point point will Wirksworth and Bolehill to you directing

(Turn left if you want to visit the Ecclesbourne Ecclesbourne the visit to want you if left (Turn 7

right down the hill for about 80 yards. A finger post post finger A yards. 80 about for hill the down right

steps and, very carefully, cross the road. Then turn turn Then road. the cross carefully, very and, steps will find a wide set of steps cut into the hillside. the into cut steps of set wide a find will

pedestal in the middle of the road. road. the of middle the in pedestal

Go through the wicket gate at the bottom of the the of bottom the at gate wicket the through Go the path forks, follow the well-worn path, and you you and path, well-worn the follow forks, path the

at Newton's Monument - the unusual lamp on the the on lamp unusual the - Monument Newton's at

it curves round to the left to become a path. Where Where path. a become to left the to round curves it

Light Cinema and the Royal Oak Pub and turn right turn and Pub Oak Royal the and Cinema Light

bottom, become slippery in wet weather. weather. wet in slippery become bottom, track. As it enters the Forestry Commission woodland, woodland, Commission Forestry the enters it As track.

North End. Head past the cemetery, the Northern Northern the cemetery, the past Head End. North

Take care! This stretch, and the steps near the the near steps the and stretch, This care! Take

4 Carry on up the remains of an old old an of remains the up on Carry drops.) sheer the of

road. Take a sharp left turn here, and walk down down walk and here, turn left sharp a Take road.

rewarded by magnificent views, but please be careful careful be please but views, magnificent by rewarded

you past Wirksworth Infant School and onto the main main the onto and School Infant Wirksworth past you

Bolehill Road. Road. Bolehill

feeling energetic, a diversion to the top of the rocks is is rocks the of top the to diversion a energetic, feeling

A short walk over the bridge and up the lane will take take will lane the up and bridge the over walk short A

down the hill, following the waymarker posts, to to posts, waymarker the following hill, the down

a venue for climbers since the late 1800's. (If you are are you (If 1800's. late the since climbers for venue a

wn o T orth w s Wirk Into

old town of Wirksworth before heading straight straight heading before Wirksworth of town old

rocks are a natural outcrop of gritstone, and have been been have and gritstone, of outcrop natural a are rocks

stop and take in another magnificent view over the the over view magnificent another in take and stop

The The left. your to Rocks Black impressive the keeping

Railway. Valley field to another stile. As you cross the next field, field, next the cross you As stile. another to field

Keep to the right and head straight on uphill, uphill, on straight head and right the to Keep 2

the path which goes diagonally left across a small small a across left diagonally goes which path the sidings of Wirksworth Station on the Ecclesbourne Ecclesbourne the on Station Wirksworth of sidings

the woodland by climbing over a stile, and follow follow and stile, a over climbing by woodland the Look to your left and you will see the bustling bustling the see will you and left your to Look

6

Moor. soon begins the long descent into Wirksworth. Leave Leave Wirksworth. into descent long the begins soon

curves up the hillside to the right signed Cromford Cromford signed right the to hillside the up curves

path through the gate and along the edge, which which edge, the along and gate the through path

line. line.

High Peak Trail. Take the track in front of you that that you of front in track the Take Trail. Peak High From the trig point, continue along the well-defined well-defined the along continue point, trig the From

the bottom of a lane and a bridge over an old railway railway old an over bridge a and lane a of bottom the

far end of the car park, and cross straight over the the over straight cross and park, car the of end far

and through a couple of gates. Soon you will reach reach will you Soon gates. of couple a through and

Go through the gate at the the at gate the through Go times. peak during open is the distance. the

now well defined and well surfaced, across the fields fields the across surfaced, well and defined well now

There are toilet facilities here, and a café which which café a and here, facilities toilet are There Rocks. walk through later, you can see Carsington Water in in Water Carsington see can you later, through walk

it finally emerges into fields. Follow the path, which is is which path, the Follow fields. into emerges finally it

Looking out over Middle Peak Quarry, which you will will you which Quarry, Peak Middle over out Looking The walk starts from the top car park at Black Black at park car top the from starts walk The 1

past some converted farm buildings on the right until until right the on buildings farm converted some past

3 The views from the trig point are excellent. excellent. are point trig the from views The

Continue to follow the path as it curves to the left left the to curves it as path the follow to Continue

ea. Allow 2 to 3 hours. 3 to 2 Allow ea. ar ounding surr the and tarmac to gravel and soon becomes a fenced path. path. fenced a becomes soon and gravel to tarmac

at the summit of Barrel Edge. Edge. Barrel of summit the at

ound Wirksworth Wirksworth ound ar walks follow to easy and Bolehill Institute. Follow this track as it turns from from turns it as track this Follow Institute. Bolehill

heads upwards, eventually leading to the trig point point trig the to leading eventually upwards, heads

down the track opposite taking you past the red brick brick red the past you taking opposite track the down This walk is one of a series of waymarked waymarked of series a of one is walk This

the fence line leading off to the right. The path path The right. the to off leading line fence the

At the crossroad junction, cross the road and go go and road the cross junction, crossroad the At 5 At the top of the steps, take the path that follows follows that path the take steps, the of top the At

orth w s Wirk

Middle Peak Quarry, Ecclesbourne Valley Railway at Wirksworth Wirksworth at Railway Valley Ecclesbourne Quarry, Peak Middle

From left: view from Black Rocks across Cromford, Cromford, across Rocks Black from view left: From

s to to s ock R ck Bla

orth w s Wirk ound Ar

3 s alk W cuit Cir

Follow the Countryside Code Walking Around Wirksworth Circuit Walks Respect, Protect, Enjoy! With a fascinating history, and a maze of back 3 Respect other people: streets to explore, Wirksworth is a thriving, vibrant • consider the local and welcoming place to live and visit. There are Around Wirksworth community and other plenty of cafés, coffee shops and pubs to help people enjoying the revive the weary walker. Black Rocks - Wirksworth - outdoors • leave gates and property The paths on this route may be Black Rocks as you find them and follow rough and muddy at times, so 5 miles paths, unless wider access is available be prepared and wear appropriate Protect the natural environment: footwear. The route should be easy • leave no trace of your visit and take your to follow, and is waymarked with View from Black Rocks litter home "Circuit Walks around Wirksworth" • keep dogs under effective control discs. Ordnance Survey Outdoor Leisure Enjoy the outdoors: Map No. 24 is recommended to enhance your walk. • plan ahead and be prepared • follow advice and local signs How to Find Black Rocks www.gov.uk/government/publications/ Black Rocks can be found just off the B5036 the-countryside-code between Cromford and Wirksworth. Look out for the brown tourist signs. There is ample pay and Cycle Hire display parking on site, as well as toilet facilities Do you prefer to cycle and a seasonal café. rather than walk? Visit our Cycle Hire Centre at Public Transport Middleton Top. The High traveline For details on public public transport info Peak Trail offers 17.5 transport in Derbyshire, 0871 200 22 33 traffic-free miles of visit: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/transport_roads/ cycling through beautiful public_transport countryside, and connects with the Tissington Trail at Parsley Hay. www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/ countryside/access/cycling/cycle_hire or call More Information 01629 533294. If you need to find out more, please contact: Middleton Top on 01629 533298, or on . Natural History of Black Rocks Call Derbyshire 01629 533190 Black Rocks is a weathered outcrop of Ashover For information on all our Countryside Sites go to: gritstone. The site was mined for lead and the spoil www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside on the scree slopes leading up to Black Rocks supports many interesting lead tolerant plants, such as Leadworts. Other habitats can be explored from If you have difficulty reading this leaflet, it can here, since it is near the boundary between be made available in other formats. Contact limestone and gritstone. Cromford Moor has Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190. heather moorland and various types of woodland. www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/ All photographs are Derbyshire County Council owned and copyright. countryside_sites/wildlife_amenity/black_rocks Photographs of the route by Aidan Rumble. www.derbyshire.gov.uk/countryside Circuit Walks 3 Around Wirksworth Wirksworth to Black Rocks

Pictured from left: view down the High Peak Trail, Middle Peak Quarry and Carsington To Cromford, A6 Water Reservoir, pit for the cable return wheel at the foot of the incline. and the Matlocks

Black Rocks 8 When you are ready to leave the town, head for the old Market Place (across the road from the Town Hall and Library), dominated by the imposing Georgian classical town house and its smaller Palladian neighbour. Follow the road that squeezes between the houses and 1 a small row of shops onto Dale End. Greenhill heads straight up the hill, and The Dale heads 2 off to the left. The area between the two is a maze of narrow alleyways and ginnels with part of it known as the Puzzle Gardens. Both roads meet at the top of the hill.

Follow the road up The Dale (or Greenhill if you want a steeper climb, with the option of a walk through Stoney Wood) until all the houses are left behind. If you follow Greenhill, stop and marvel at the Star Disc, a large artwork depicting the night sky, when you reach the very Middleton 3 top of Stoney Wood. Where the two roads finally converge, look for a set of steps and a kissing Top Visitor gate directly in front of you, and follow the footpath into the quarry. Centre National 13 Stone Centre 9 This restored path takes you through the currently inactive Middle Peak Quarry. Although the quarry itself is fenced off and out of bounds, you can marvel at the scale of the workings, and try to guess how many tons of stone were extracted. Disused quarries such as this can be havens for wildlife, as they are relatively undisturbed and soon reclaimed by nature. 12 4

At the end of the quarry section, turn right through a kissing gate and head across the 5 field, following the well-trodden path to an old stone squeeze stile in a tumbledown wall. 10 Stop and turn around as you will have an excellent view down the valley towards the radio masts at Alport Heights. From here go diagonally across two more fields up to a road.

This road can be busy, and the traffic fast moving, so cross with care to the squeeze stile 11 opposite. Go straight ahead over the fields, through a wicket gate and over another tumbledown wall, until you reach a field scarred by the characteristic humps and hollows To 1 1 of T'owd Man - the old Derbyshire lead miner who would have once worked these hills. 10 Keeping this disturbed ground to your left, carry on ahead to the remains of a stone stile. Carsington Water and Stoney The final wicket gate of the walk lies straight ahead of you. Go through this, up the steps Ashbourne 9 and up a short slope to an unsurfaced track. Turn right and follow the track until it meets Wood 6 a surfaced road. Here you turn left for Middleton Top. This is an excellent place to stop awhile, especially if the Visitor Centre and Engine House are open. KEY

1 2 The last part of the walk takes you along the High Peak Trail, following the line of the old 1 Start and finish Disabled toilets Cromford and High Peak Railway. One of Britain's earliest industrial railways, it connected Walking route Refreshments/snacks the Cromford Canal at High Peak Junction with the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge. (seasonal) 8 Parking (Pay and 7 The Engine House at Middleton Top contains the only surviving example of the mighty display, Honesty Picnic area Beam Engines that raised and lowered wagons up and down the incline. You must walk box at National Information down the incline, which is 708 yards long with a gradient of 1 in 81/2. Imagine waggons Stone Centre) (seasonal) B5023 to passing up and down this hill at a sedate eight miles per hour - unless they were runaways Duffield heading to a spectacular doom at the bottom. At the foot of the incline you will find Toilets Railway station 13 the cable return wheel, lying in its pit, which last turned in 1963 when this section closed.

Pass on above the National Stone Centre - a great place to explore. Around the bend on Scale Now you have explored this route try one of the your left is Steeple Grange Light Railway - well worth a ride when it's open. From here 0km 1km others available from our Visitor Centres? There are follow the trail straight ahead. There are excellent views to the north and east, including 4 ‘Circuit Walks around Wirksworth’ leaflets in total. the imposing mass of Black Rocks towering above your finishing point. © Crown copyright and database rights 2016. Ordnance Survey 100023251.