Derilk two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Derilk here.

Walked from Derby to Ilkeston on a spring day, mostly in light rain and drizzle. An enjoyable and fairly green route, with a few stiles and places that can get a little muddy. The route passes a pub in Dale Abbey - there are no other facilities in the middle third but there are plenty in Derby and Ilkeston.

From the meeting point outside Derby bus station, we take the riverside path/cycle track east as far as the bridge under Derwent Parade, then cross the Derwent and pass the Wyvern to reach the rather impressive foot/cycle bridge over the A52. A short section of pavement walking takes us to Nottingham Road, where there is a pelican crossing a short distance left. We then cross into Chaddesden Park. The path along the east side of the brook has an unsurfaced section that can get a little wet and muddy, but is direct. We ermerge on Maine Drive, which we cross, then take the path over the footbridge to Chapel Lane.

Here we rejoin DERILK 1, using the pavements of Chaddesden Lane and Morley Road to reach the bridletrack which takes us east, crossing Acorn Way (take care) and joining Locko Road for a short distance of road walking - the verges are too narrow to walk on but it didn't feel unsafe to me. We take the signposted byway left into Locko Park, passing the lake and turning right onto another surfaced road where the footpath goes straight on. We pass East Lodge and continue up the hill where we leave the road on a track straight on that crosses the busy Spondon Road and continues to join the bridlepath ahead,

There is a choice almost almost immediately - the direct route to Dale Abbey crosses a stile to the left and follows field edges over more fields, some of them wet with long grass, but it is better to stay on the bridleway as far as Columbine Farm. Just beyond the farm a footpath goes left over a few stiles, crossing a footbridge to rejoin the direct path then heading into the village along Tattle Hill. We go left here then right past the Carpenters Arms pub. Just beyond a playground we take the field path left,, which leads us over several stiles and footbridges with a few slightly muddy sections to reach Kirk Hallam. Here we go left on Wirksworth Road and right on Avondale Road to St Norberts Road. It is best to cross because there is a pelican crossing over Ladywood Road right/east of the junction.

We continue down Godfrey Drive, crossing just beyond the junction with Abbot Road, then using alleyways through the houses on Lock Close to reach the open space (Kirk Hallam Lake and Meadows) beyond. We cross a footbridge and take the surfaced path half right to reach the bridleway which goes left along the edge of a school field to reach Derby Road. There is a pelican crossing further left/west but unless the road is very busy it is easier to ignore it and go straight across. We cross under the Nutbrook Trail to emerge on what was the edge of the Tewit golf course, which has closed and is now being rewilded.

We head straight across the former gold course. There are a few variants possible to reach West End Drive, but since it is a quiet road with a good pavement, I have chosen one of the shortest. There is a pelican crossing on Oakwell Drive, where we go straight on, then turn right onto Wharncliffe Road which leads us to the market place, where the Ilkeston meeting point is to the left in the middle of the open square.

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