Derhea one

Verified Slow Way

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Walked from Derby to Heanor. Mostly good, but a lot of stiles and some wet and muddy field paths. The GPX plotting also leaves something to be desired, but is not bad enough to justify a new version.

The route out of Derby is mostly excellent. but the route from the Derwent bridge to the Inner Ring Road is longer and noisier than it needs to be - the slip road has a pavement but you then need to descend to the road to get to the underbridge. Once on the NCN cycle route progress is very fast and well signposted. The Great Northern Greenway is excellent, though a couple of the road crossings need a little care, and the GPX plotting is a little wayward.

Beyond Lime Lane the character of the walk changes. A short field path takes us to a farm lane, beyond which the field path is a little indistinct in places, and has stiles. North of Collins Park Farm I tried to use the shortcut path left, and one hedge gap was very overgrown with holly and bramble shoots, and might have been impassable in summer - I think most walkers take the slightly longer bypassing line, and the GPX does not make this clear. After crossing the stream take the better trodden right fork, which should lead you into Stanley Common easily enough. The shortcut path from Naggle Gate Close to Common Lane was impassable due to rampant bramble shoots, but the pavement is only fractionally longer.

Having crossed the main road in Stanley Common we turn left down the Ropewalk - don't miss the path that branches right earlier than one might expect if following the OS map. The field path beyond is fine, but has a lot of stiles, many of which are defended by pools of water of uncertain depth, which were mostly frozen yesterday. As Ken says, we cross a farm airstrip - no sign of planes in winter.

Eventually you should reach Park Hall Lane, where we turn left then cross open fields to enter Shipley Country Park. From here the rest of the route is easy except that the choice of line through the car park is a little uncertain, and it might be better to use the path out of the east end of the car park rather than crossing the open field. A short section of former railway cycle track takes us to Thorpes Road, from where Heanor market place is a short pavement walk over the hill.

I can't give this the full 5 stars because of the state of the paths and navigational uncertainties in the middle third, but it is still a pretty good route.

I walked this route starting in Derby in December. It had been wet the couple of weeks before hand but it wasn't too bad underfoot. Leaving Derby across the river by the old Silk Mill, the route heads first for Little Chester - part of the Derwent Valley conservation area. There is a section alongside a main road before we pick up the line of the Great Northern Greenway, along an old railway trackbed. After crossing Lime Lane the route uses footpaths across the fields to Stanley Common. This was the muddiest section and the hardest to follow (but with the 1:25000 map not too difficult).
Leaving Stanley Common it uses more cross-country footpaths across the ridge before reaching tarmac at Park Hall Lane. From here a short length of wet path leads into the lanes approaching Shipley Country Park. We passed the visitor centre (a refreshment opportunity) to gain the Nutbrook Trail section which leads to the residential streets of Heanor. I thought that this was an excellent countryside walk with good views.

NOTE: ADD PHOTO LAYER ON MAP TO SEE LOCATIONS ALONG THE ROUTE.

We began the walk in Heanor but only a few minutes later we were in the Shipley Country Park. Ken's advice here is needed as there could be confusion in the paths you pick through the Park.

We walked past the Shipley Country Park Visitor’s Centre and for a little while stayed in the Park, before passing Mapperley Reservoir and walking into fields containing calm and uninterested horses.

The kissing gate past the spade man and his dog took a bit of finding as there was no footpath signpost - Spring and the woodland foliage will prevent easy sighting – use SK42515 42928 or ///skate.tomb.spin and you should see it through the trees or find the path to it (see photo locations).

The gates and stiles were generally in good condition, except for the stile leading into Stanley Common, one of the vertical posts that many use to haul themselves onto the stile was a bit wobbly. There were a few muddy patches along this stretch of the route, but nothing serious.

We then followed the Great Northern Greenway to walking into the outskirts of Derby. Regarding the A608 crossing – if you follow the left path (instead of the steps) and cross the road where the patch meets the road, it will take you on the path that runs parallel to the Frank Whittle Road.

Although the views are better if you walk from Derby, this is a great route and worth the five stars.

This is a great walk, direct and very pleasant so it ticks lots of boxes. There are some stiles, gates and narrow bridges as would be expected on a country walk plus horses and cattle but no issues on the day I walked it from Heanor to Derby on a fine autumn day. Refreshment stops on route about a mile from each end and by making a small detour at Stanley Common. Generally well plotted with occasional field edge and other slight deviations that are easier than the definitive route.

The exit from Heanor is direct and enters Shipley Country Park from the urban area via Sustrans route 67. A large car park had horse boxes unloading for a hack along shared routes so you are likely to meet a four legged friend. Smaller friends on four legs are also exercised here and two owners were desperate to be reunited as I passed through. I had been asked if a small dog was mine, then met an owner asking if I had seen a dog. I replied yes but apparently that was the wrong dog, her's was a large dog that had been chasing the earlier lost small dog. I do hope they were all reunited.

Crossing a small stream at John Wood care is needed. There are lots of paths off to the left don't be tempted to take one too soon. The correct path has a metal gate but no signage except a notice from the Woodland Trust wrongly stating 'No Public Access' this is very misleading as it's a public footpath so ignore the sign if it's still present.

This path takes you across pleasant field to Mapperley Park then a short section of quiet road and right onto another unsigned path which eventually crosses a private airfield, signs offer a warning. I saw two microlights but nothing moving.

If you want or need services in Stanley Common it may be better to use alternative paths because the plotted crossing of the road offers only a Chinese takeaway and a pet food store. It may also be better to ignore the start of the next footpath and stick to the estate road which leads to the same place.

We have a brief encounter with the Centenary Way a promoted route connecting Ilkeston with Ashbourne created by the Derbyshire Footpaths Preservation Society to commemorate their centenary, this could make a good Slow Way.

Meeting the disused railway it might appear that we join the cycle route on the track bed, but that not correct. Initially the path uses the footpath. It's approaching Halloween and at Lime Farm they have pick your own pumpkins, there are hundreds if not thousands of them waiting to be selected by the discerning visitors.

Approaching the A608 road crossing the plotting should again be disregarded, Take the climbing surfaced path right. I continued along the track bed which was fine but then deteriorated and left me floundering when I met the road behind a safety crash barrier.

A zigzag at Breadsall Hilltop offers an Inn more a food place than drinking. Next a visually pleasant path if you ignore the noise of the adjacent busy but invisible road. The section along the edge of Racecourse Park is good leading to a short subway under that busy road then under the railway into Little Chester a large open space which hides the remains of a Roman Fort. I made a detour her to the Little Chester Ale House before completing the journey through the secretive bus and bike only underpass into the centre of the city.

I have perhaps been a little mean with some earlier reviews but this one really deserves five stars. It's a direct route between the Derby and Heanor and it's also a very enjoyable leisure walk. Buses are frequent to do it one way walk. It has a large catchment area and deserves to be well used.

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