Derilk one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I walked this route from Ilkeston in October, after a long dry spell. The exit from the town is on quiet roads with pavements, followed by the section along the urban greenways to Kirk Hallam. K-H has more quiet roads. The countryside section through Dale Abbey and Locko Park is pleasant countryside with varied views and surfaces. This is a 5-star section. Approaching Chaddesden the route becomes more urbanised once more. There is little enjoyment in this section, but it has to be done. There are pavements and road crossings in the expected places. I found the approach to the City centre poorly plotted, but managed to find a route.

A really good Slow Way. Potential for cattle but none seen, a few stiles on field paths but plenty of good surfaces. Well plotted and the paths are there to see on the ground. Some services along the way and an abundance of seats in Dale Abbey village.

I walked Ilkeston to Derby and enjoyed this exit from the town passing the Rutland Sports ground a reminder of ownership by the Duke of that name and the former Pewit Golf Course. The route soon enters a green corridor on the Nutbrook Trail which follows the line of a long gone canal. The main road crossing in this direction had poor sight lines but there is a light controlled crossing close by if required.

Passing through the heart of West Hallam Derilk passes the shops and almost meets Borilk, but not quite. Leaving the estate we enter real countryside with good views and a well walked path. This section to Dale Abbey is delightful especially when it enters pasture fields.
There is a choice at Dale, a cross field path would take you closer to the abbey remains although the arch can be seen from the main route passing the play area, with seats, and the inn, which was open pre-noon on a Thursday. There are more seats in the village for a break or picnic lunch.

The next section maintains the high standard for scenery and path quality but a shorter footpath, rather than this bridleway, could be used. Crossing the next main road, again from the inside of the bend but using eyes and ears should provide a safe crossing. From here it's the private estate roads of Locko Park a small amount of traffic but there are verges before the fence. This is easy and attractive walking to eventually arrive at the lake and a view of the house to the right.
From the park lodges we meet that section of busy and fast road. The muddy path reported in another review is not a public right of way but looks to be well used. A spell on a bridleway and crossing another minor but busy road, with good sight lines, then it's Chaddesden.

A few more shops, perhaps one sells earplugs, because after a few quiet estate roads we hit the main road into Derby. I've looked hard at the map to find a better route but can't find one. I did cross the road, a life in hands job, and detoured via the cemetery, but I can't recommend that. What might be a better route later would be straight on at the Pentagon to follow the old road, this has only one road crossing rather than many, although they are all light controlled. However this would miss the Spotless Water filling station.

I'm still giving it five stars because so much of the route was exceptional, good paths, well plotted an excellent linear country walk which offers a feeling of achievement, even if I did get the bus home.

We walked Derby to Ilkeston on a dry, sunny winters day. This is a reasonably direct route with a variety of surfaces ranging from suburban roads, metaled paths through parks, to some quite muddy footpaths in fields. All paths were well defined along the route. A pub at Dale Abbey (halfway through the walk) provides a food and toilet stop if needed. This is a great leisure route as you begin and end the walk next to bus stops.

The walk began at Derby Bus Station and took us over bridge to cross the Derwent (photo 1) and onto suburban Chaddesdon. This part of the walk didn’t take as long as I expected because I had taken the #30daysofSlowWays opportunity to invite my husband and friends who were new to Slow Ways, and we chatted until we came to the outskirts of Chaddesdon and out into countryside (photo 2).

Past the first bridleway and we came to the part of Morley Road without a footpath. We were able to avoid this short but fast section of road by walking the parallel footpath, however we were not able to avoid the mud (photos 3 & 4). I would advise wearing walking boots in the winter or after rain.

Locko Park was the next highlight of the walk (photos 5 - 7). The house is privately owned, but the public can walk through the Park. (The name comes from an association with the leper hospital built here in the 13th century, loques was the old French word for the dressings used on the patients).

Coming out of Locko Park we walked a small section of the Midshires Way (photo 8), to come into Dale Abbey (photo 9). This is a lovely village with the remains of the Abbey just out of sight on the route. When you get to W3W ///ordinary.nudge.fondest you will see a footpath. I advise following it – a few metres along the path and you will see the only part of the Abbey left standing, the beautiful window arch (photo 10).

From Dale Abbey we continued in the countryside, passing through fields with well defined paths and over foot bridges (photos 11 & 12) until we came to the outskirts of Kirk Hallam. The walk past the Nut Brook Pond (photo 13) led us to the Nut Brook trail. We followed the trail for 100 metres before a sharp turn right took us around the edge of Peewit Golf Course and into Ilkeston.

We walked the final stretch past the United Reformed Church (photo 14), ending the route around the corner at Ilkeston Market Place (photo 15).

The group all agreed that the walk was lovely and should be included in the Slow Ways network.
Thanks to Mark, Fran and Steve for joining me on one of my favourite reviews!.

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