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Walking in Derbyshire

60 circular walks across the county

Walking guidebook to 60 circular day walks in Derbyshire and the Peak District. Includes the Derwent, Wye and Trent river valleys, near Derby, Matlock, Glossop, Bakewell and Ripley. Routes range from easy to moderate and are between 4 and 14km (2 to 10 miles). Walks focus on places of interest, from Stone Age forts to castles to grand estates.

The eBook is also sold by Amazon Kindle, Rakuten Kobo, Google Play Books and Apple Books.

Quick facts

  • Guidebook name: Walking in Derbyshire
  • Location: Derbyshire (including the Peak District National Park and Derbyshire Dales)
  • Number of walks: 60 circular walks across Derbyshire
  • Distance: 4–16 km (3–10 miles) per walk
  • Typical duration: Half-day or full-day walks, 1–6 hours depending on route
  • Terrain: Gritstone edges, limestone dales, moorland, river valleys, rolling farmland, villages and historic estates
  • Difficulty: Easy to moderate, suitable for beginners, casual walkers and experienced hikers
  • Highlights: Chatsworth House, Hardwick Hall, Eyam, Peak District moorlands, limestone valleys, Derbyshire market towns
  • Navigation: Step-by-step route instructions with 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey maps; reliable navigation for walkers of all experience levels
  • Facilities: Information on parking, public transport, cafés, pubs and local amenities provided for towns and villages, including Glossop, Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock
  • Guidebook format: Pocket-sized and lightweight, designed to carry easily on the trail
  • Best season: Year-round walking; spring to early autumn usually offers the best weather and wildlife viewing

Detailed overview

Derbyshire offers some of the most varied walking landscapes in England, from the dramatic gritstone edges and open moorlands of the Peak District National Park to the limestone dales, river valleys and historic estates of the Derbyshire Dales.

This comprehensive Cicerone guide to walking in Derbyshire brings together 60 circular walks across the county, exploring landscapes ranging from the rugged uplands of the Peak District to the gentler countryside of the south of the county.
Routes range from 4 to 16km (3 to 10 miles) and are easy-to-moderate half-day or full-day walks, ideal for both casual walkers and more experienced hikers looking to discover new areas.

60 circular walks across Derbyshire and the Peak District, ranging from 4–16km (3–10 miles), with detailed route descriptions and Ordnance Survey mapping for confident navigation
Walk through a wide variety of landscapes, including limestone dales, river valleys, gritstone edges, rolling farmland and open moorland across the county, accessible from popular accommodation bases like Glossop, Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock
Discover historic landmarks and cultural highlights along the routes, including Chatsworth House, Hardwick Hall, and the historic plague village of Eyam
Each walk includes useful practical information such as terrain notes, refreshment stops, toilets and local facilities in Derbyshire's towns and villages to help you plan enjoyable day walks
Small enough to slip into a pocket or backpack, it provides all the information you need without adding extra weight


From sweeping hilltop views and rugged moorland edges to peaceful riverside paths and picturesque villages, Derbyshire offers walkers a remarkable variety of landscapes to explore. With this Cicerone guidebook in hand, you can discover the county’s rich heritage and natural beauty one rewarding circular walk at a time.

Where and when to go

Seasons

Year round

Centres

Glossop, Buxton, Bakewell, Matlock, Ripley, Ashbourne, Derby

Difficulty

Easy to moderate day or half-day walks (2.5 to 9.5 miles)

Must See

Hardwick Hall, Kedleston Hall, Eyam, Chatsworth House, New Mills, Buxton, Cromford, Goyt Valley, Dovedale

Table of contents

Introduction



Geology

History

The shaping of present-day Derbyshire

Customs

How to use this guide



The Walks

1 Creswell Crags

2 Arbor Low Stone Circle

3 Baslow, Curbar and Froggatt Edges

4 Edale and Mam Tor

5 Longshaw Estate and Carl Wark

6 Hope, Win Hill and the Navio Roman Fort

7 Roystone Grange

8 Castleton

9 Hartington and Pilsbury Castle

10 Dale Abbey and Locko Park

11 Chelmorton

12 Hartington and Beresford and Wolfscote Dales

13 Tideswell

14 Ashbourne

15 Bakewell and Ashford in the Water

16 Haddon Hall and Bakewell

17 Wingfield Manor and Crich

18 Longshaw Estate and Padley Chapel

19 Hardwick Hall

20 Bolsover Castle

21 Tissington

22 Eyam

23 Chatsworth House

24 Chatsworth House, Bakewell and Edensor

25 Calke Abbey and Staunton Harold Reservoir

26 Swarkestone

27 Shipley Country Park

28 Kedleston Hall

29 Magpie Lead Mine

30 Wirksworth and Middleton Top Engine House

31 Lathkill Dale and Bradford Dale

32 Winster, Elton and Robin Hood's Stride

33 Carsington and Brassington

34 Cromford

35 Pinxton Wharf

36 Shardlow

37 Belper

38 Monsal Head, Litton and Cressbrook

39 Peak Forest Canal and Torrs Riverside Park

40 New Mills, Sett Valley Trail and Hayfield

41 Glossop

42 Three Shires Head and Flash

43 Birchen Edge

44 Pentrich

45 Elvaston Castle and Country Park

46 Melbourne Hall

47 Errwood Hall and Goyt Valley

48 Osmaston

49 Hathersage and River Derwent

50 Hathersage and Stanage Edge

51 Holloway and Dethick

52 Midland Railway Centre and Codnor Castle

53 Tissington and High Peak Trails

54 Caudwell's Mill and Nine Ladies Stone Circle

55 Upper Longdendale Valley

56 Buxton and its Country Park

57 Matlock and Matlock Bath

58 Dovedale

59 Derwent Dams

60 Carsington Water

Which format is best for me?

Printed book

A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps — everything you need on the trail.

ISBN9781852846336
AvailabilityPublished
Published11 June 2010
Reprinted23 September 2024
Weight 310g

eBook

The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.

Updates

  1. Updated

    Walk 52

    Walk around either side of the barrier on the other side of the road to take a footpath behind a derelict pub to continue along the canal towpath.

    The derelict pub is currently a building site for 19 new houses and the pub being converted to flats.

    Route instruction 4

    The area around the farmland is usually flooded at this time of year.

Meet the author

Elaine Burkinshaw

View author

Although my husband, Andrew, and I currently live in South Yorkshire, we are only 200 metres from the Derbyshire border and very close to Nottinghamshire. Indeed, I have lived all my life in and around Sheffield and Manchester. Historic Walks in Derbyshire is my third walking guide, following Walking in Sherwood Forest and the Dukeries (Cicerone Press) and Discovery Walks in North East Derbyshire (Sigma Press), which were both inspired by a desire to explore new local walks as an alternative to the Peak District, to which the majority of walkers living in Sheffield are automatically drawn.