Ambergate and Alderwasley, Derbyshire County Walk

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Linear distance - 71/2 miles
Total height climbed - 500 to 600 ft
Approximate time - 3 to 4 hours, depending on the condition of the terrain
Parking - Ambergate Station SK349 516
Stiles - 17
Refreshments - The Hurt Arms, Ambergate
Toilets - A6 opposite the Hurt Arms
Picnic Instructions - 11, 12 & 13 if dry

AMBERGATE AND ALDERWASLEY

Directions: From Derby take the A6 north to Ambergate. Turn right off the A6 in Ambergate on to the A610. Pass under the railway bridge and immediately turn right at the station sign. Follow the winding road to the car park. Park well away from the station.

Description: A relatively easy walk in spring and early summer. After a gradual climb through the woods there is a short minor road stretch before entering the woods again. The path through the last part of the wood is nearly always very muddy in places and you will need to find the best way round them. From Alderwasley you will follow field and woodland paths and tracks back to Ambergate. As you can see from the map this walk could easily be shortened.

THE ROUTE

1. From the car park walk back down the hill via the steps, to turn left to the A6. Cross the busy road to the Hurt Arms and turn left along the A6. Pass the cricket ground and turn right along Holly Lane.

2. Cross the Derwent River and turn off the road to the right to follow a wide track into Beggerswell Wood. In just over 1/4 mile, and having ignored paths off to the left, ignore a track back on the left and a path up left, then at a fork of tracks ahead take the left hand fork uphill.

3. Walk past a row of widely spaced houses. After the last house on the right continue along the wide track through the wood. Notice the plaque on the left. In about 200m after the plaque, pass a way-marked post and another track downhill on the right, to keep straight on up the gently rising track ahead.

4. At the end of the track go through the stile by a gate and walk up to the road. Turn right along Jackass Lane. In about 400m turn right by Netherpark Farm.

5. Follow the YHA route to go through a gate and back into the wood. At a crossing of tracks (where cars often park for the YHA), keep straight on following the Midshires Way for a few metres then at the next junction of tracks and paths turn left leaving the Midshires Way (MSW).

6. Continue along the woodland path for nearly 1/2 mile. This section of the walk can be very peaty and muddy; in places you may need to take a diversion into the wood to avoid the mud. As you near the end of the path pass a lake over to the left as the path bends right up to the road.

7. Turn left along the road (Higg Lane). At the T-junction turn right along the Wirksworth Road. Ignore a right turn. At The Bear Inn turn right into the large car park then immediately bear left to cross a squeeze and fence stile in the far left-hand corner of the car park.

8. Bear right across the field to cross a stile in the field corner to the right of the barns. Bear left to the footpath sign in the wall ahead. Turn right to keep a wall on the left as you descend the next three fields. Walk past Willetts Farm to the road.

9. Turn left down the road passing Back Lane on the left. At a T-junction in Alderwasley cross the road to enter a track.

10. Walk up Well Lane passing the footpath post. Pass Knob Farm and Cottage. Continue along the track which shortly bends left. Cross a stile by a farm gate

11. Keeping a wall close on the right, you will soon enter a sunken path, which winds downhill through scrub. Where the path bends left keep straight on down by the wall on the right. Cross the stile on the right in the corner. Immediately cross another stile on the left signed 'Footpath to Wigwell Grange'.

12. Bear off right down to the middle of the field and in the middle of this field turn right at a crossing of paths. Walk back up the field to cross the way-marked stile. Keep straight on across the next field and over a stile.

13. Turn left along a wide walled and fenced path by the wood. Cross a stile to continue following the wall on the right across two fields and stiles before walking through the top of a wood for a few metres. Cross another stile.

14. Bear slightly left to follow the wood on the left for a short way before it veers away from the path. On reaching a wall on the left and a gate on the left at a junction of paths, keep straight on through a squeeze stile to join the Midshires Way (MSW).

15. Follow the field boundary on the left down the field to cross a stile and a stream. Continue up the next field with the boundary on the right. Just before the field corner cross the stile on the right. Keep straight on up the next field to cross a stile in the top left-hand corner.

16. Walk along the half fenced grass track to cross a stile onto the road. Turn right up the road in Alderwasley.

17. Ignore Chapel Hill on the right to walk down Higg Lane. Pass Alderwasley School and the church.

18. In a few metres turn left to cross the stile, still on the MSW. Walk up the track passing the cross. Where the track bends uphill towards a wall bear off left, leaving the track, to go through a way-marked fence gap/stile.

19. Keep straight on across the parkland aiming for the farm gates. At a way-marked post bear up right to go through a small gate by the farm gate. Keep straight on across the hillside on a clear wide path. In about 1/2 mile from the road you will enter Shining Cliff Wood via a stile. (You may need to make a short detour before crossing the stile if the ground is very muddy.)

20. Ignore the path off left to keep straight on down through the wood. In just over 1/4 mile, at a junction of tracks, turn right. Continue down through the woodland ignoring all side paths. Passing by a boom, you now have a fence on the left.

21. Ignore a wide path up to the right and continue to follow the fence on the left. Walk past the buildings (most are derelict) on a surfaced track. In just over 1/4 mile, at the end of the buildings, keep straight on along and up the woodland path, passing more old buildings before joining your outward route at a T-junction where you turn left.

22. Retrace your outward route back to the car park.

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