Derbyshire Gritstone Way Guided Trail

From Derby Cathedral the route embraces The Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage route and follows the River Derwent. We take a brief visit to the Cathedral to view the peregrines and then on past Lombe's Silk Mill erected in 1717, the earliest factory in the world. Leaving the urban environment, we walk through Darley Park and Darley Abbey village, home of Evan's cotton mill settlement. Turf fields are crossed to pass through the pretty village of Breadsall en route to Little Eaton, once the terminus of various horse-drawn tramways that linked the coalfield to a spur of the Derby Canal. A climb to Holbrook before descending through Jedidiah Strutt's cotton mill village of Milford and an ascent of The Chevin (part of the ancient Portway route) and a descent to Belper. Good footpaths and lanes throughout.

11½ miles (18 km) with 1200 feet (390m) of ascent.

Leaving Belper we pass the Wyver Lane Nature Reserve home to numerous wetland species of bird. Picking up a section of the Midshires Way we pass through Shining Cliff Woods and delightful Alderwasley Park. Continuing high above the Derwent Valley with views East to Crich Stand and ahead to Alport Heights. We pick up historic Intake Lane which was used to transport much of the material required to build the Mills at Cromford. From Bolehill we descend the Sheep Pasture Incline to High Peak Junction (Eastern Terminus of the amazing High Peak Railway). A final trek along The Cromford Canal takes us to Sir Richard Arkwright's Cotton Mills at Cromford (with the option of the village trail to explore).

9 miles (14½ km) with 1400 feet (430m) 0f ascent.

A steep ascent takes us out of Cromford onto Bilberry Knoll and onto the fine viewpoint of Riber Castle. Descending to pass through the historic spa town of Matlock, home to John Smedley’s Hydro (now Derbyshire’s County Hall). The Derwent Valley Heritage way is followed along the river before an ascent of Oaker Hill, the Peak District really begins to shine as we climb to the high plateau of Stanton Moor and its wealth of historical sites including numerous burial mounds and barrows. Quarrying and Lead Mining were the major industries here. After the Trig Point we visit Nine Ladies Stone Circle before descending, with views of the Derbyshire Wye Valley, to Rowsley at the confluence of the Wye and Derwent rivers.

11½ miles (18 km) with 1900 feet (590m) of ascent.

Field paths from Rowsley take us to Beeley village and then we enter Chatsworth Park. From Chatsworth House an ascent to The Hunting Tower, a traverse of Dobb Edge then across to Nelson's monument on Birchen's Edge and then to Wellington's Monument on Baslow Edge. Passing the Eagle Stone, a prominent local landmark, means the hard work of the day is done. Our route hugs the top of Curbar and Froggatt Edges with wide ranging views west towards the plateau of the White Peak. We'll look down on 'Colditz' and admire Chatsworth's Emperor Fountain from a distance as the full grandeur of the Peak district begins to unfold before descending into Grindleford.

12 miles (19 km) with 1650 feet (500m) of ascent.

The brook-side ascent through steep sided Padley Gorge with its ancient oak woodland takes us into the National Trust managed Longshaw Estate home of the imposing Longshaw Lodge built by the Duke of Rutland. We follow Burbage Brook heading for the skyline of Burbage Edge. Open moorland surrounds us as we head for Stanage Edge, used by Himalayan mountaineers for their training in the 1960s. We see evidence of ancient packhorse ways that used to cross this Pennine wilderness area – the call of the red grouse often the only sound hereabouts. The day’s finish ascends Bamford Edge to Great Tor looking down on the spectacular Upper Derwent Valley and the famous Derwent Dams (training ground of ‘The Dambusters’.)

11 miles (17 km) with 1900 feet (590m) of ascent.

From Yorkshire Bridge, Bamford we cross the iconic Ladybower Dam wall and ascend to the summit of Win Hill giving superb views of the Hope Valley, Upper Derwent Valley and across to the Kinder Plateau.  A descent to cross the Vale of Edale near Townhead and then another steep ascent to the summit of Lose Hill where we meet the Great Ridge. The walk follows Back Tor, then Hollins Cross (an ancient track-way through the lowest point of the ridge) and on to Mam Tor our final and fittingly highest summit of the route, the site of an Iron Age hill fort. Below us we see the effects of the 'Shivering Mountain' on the old main road and views south towards Winnats Pass and Castleton village. The descent is to Edale village in the stunning Vale of Edale with the National Park Information Centre with its exhibition of Moorland Management and The Nag’s Head Pub – start of The Pennine Way.

9½ miles (15 km) with 2500 feet (770m) of ascent.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.