Darmat three

Verified Slow Way

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I walked this route from Darley Dale to Matlock.

There is some road walking at the beginning but you soon join a track branching off to the right of Old Road and this goes alongside the preserved railway run by Peak Rail. The track is used by cyclists, walkers and people on mobility scooters.

Towards the end of the walk the track becomes narrower and there are some steps that lead up to a narrow walkway on the right hand side of a bridge across the River Derwent. There are steps down from the bridge at the other side and further steps down to a track beside the River Derwent which you follow to Matlock Station.

This is a mainly peaceful and enjoyable walk with excellent views of the Derbyshire Hills.

Those wishing to avoid the steps and the narrow walkway on the bridge over the Derwent should go on Darmat Two which diverts around the bridge using Bakewell Road and Derwent Way.

Trentbarton bus service 6.1 or Transpeak bus can be used to return to Darley Dale. A further option is to travel by Peak Rail on days of operation.

Walked from Darley Dale to Matlock (after finishing MatChe one from Chesterfield). A very direct route. I was unaware of the path over the railway bridge, so that part was new to me. The highlight was being stopped at the level crossing in Darley Dale where a train was waiting to leave for Matlock (this is a proper old fashioned crossing where the signalman has to open and close the gates). The riverside path is now fully open again, as the flood defence work was completed last year.

There is no need for a detailed description, as the route is mostly obvious. The only points to note are that on Old Road, it is worth using the path on the west side of the wall. The path by the railway is much narrower once the cycle track leaves us, and the path over the bridge is also narrow, with a few metal steps at each end. At the south end of the bridge there is no need to go as far west as the GPX shows to reach the riverside path, as there is a shortcut available down a stone staircase.

I walked this route from Darley Dale to Matlock.

After a short bit along roads in Darley Dale, almost 100% of the route is along rail-side and river-side paths. For the majority of the route along the Peak Rail, the route is flat, wide, and gravel, perfect for easy and fast walking.

Where Darmat one and two leave the rails, this route continues. There's a narrow bit along the railway over the Derwent, and then a set of steps down to the riverside path after the footbridge.

Then, the final approach along the river into Matlock is easy, too.

I should note that, when I walked, the riverside path by Matlock Station was closed for building works (until roughly the end of 2022).

If you're okay with steps and a narrow footbridge, this is the best way to go between Darley Dale and Matlock, I think!.

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