Drosta two

Verified Slow Way

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Walked fro Dronfield to Staveley. A good direct route, mostly on good paths but with a few short rougher sections and a few steps. Mostly dry underfoot even after a day of heavy rain.

From Dronfield station, we follow Chesterfield Street south, turning left into Mill Lane beyond the junction with Callywhite Lane. The lane is quiet and interesting. Further on it becomes a narrower surfaced track, before we return to Chesterfield Road through houses. The pavement of Chesterfield Road is not as unpleasant as it looks on the map, and gets us quickly to Unstone. Beyond the railway bridge the left turn looks a little uninviting, as it doubles as the entry point for a building site, but we soon leave the road on a little path right that heads uphill with a few steps. This path is a little overgrown but no major issues.

Just beyond an old railway line we bear right along a farm road that leads to a playing field. Note that the path into it is slightly further west than the definitive line, and the waymarks indicate a direct beeline across the field. Lower down we descend an easy angled flight of steps to Crow Lane. We go left a few yards then right, following a drive across fields then taking the path to the left just before a stream. The path takes us up through a wood and a cow pasture to a T junction where we turn right. Where the path forks we take the upper left hand path, which leads quite steeply uphill.

The gradient continues on the well cut path across the next field, and there are good views back. We reach a quiet back road and go right a short distance, then left above the phone masts and a good path through the fields. Where it forks, we bear left, and a short narrow muddy section leads to a path along the field edge. We pass through the wood into a large horse pasture, then turn right and follow the streets down through New Whittington.

Eventually we reach the edge of the village and continue on the signposted path under the railway and over the Rother to reach the Chesterfield canal. Here we turn left on a good wide track, passing a popular cafe (we are now beyond the middle third of the walk) and continue past a short narrower section to an old bridge where we turn right and pass the busy Morrisons car park and cross into Staveley's surprisingly pleasant market square, where the meeting point has a choice of benches.

A pleasant walk despite the damp conditions.

I walked this route from Dronfield. There are shops and pubs to top up supplies. At first the route follows the pavement alongside a busy road. After crossing back under the railway the way is not obvious, but it is eventually waymarked and follows an overgrown muddy pathway uphill to meet a broader woodland path. An interesting Interpretation panel helpfully suggests what industrial remains to look out for. It is easy going through woodland and pasture. After crossing Windmill Lane the route follows the edge of Grasscroft Wood, climbing gently to a summit. The views are good along this stretch. At the highpoint we continue onwards around the edge of the wood, finally entering along a muddy track before emerging into horse pastures. This is pleasant walking. We drop down a surfaced road to pass the school and cross a more major road. Over the road we continue down hill through residential streets. There are small shops and a pub in this stretch. As we reach the valley floor we cross under the railway, cross a meadow and reach the canal bank. This is followed all the way to Staveley. The Canal Society's Hollingwood Hub and visitor centre dispenses information and refreshments. Both very welcome. After a further short walk we cross a narrow bridge and climb a narrow lane to reach the town centre. This is an enjoyable walk that is easy to follow.

From Staveley Market Place the route passes close by a large supermarket so top up because there's not much on this Slow Way. It's a short hop to meet the canal where the towpath offers an easy walk shared with cyclists.

At about a mile out is the excellent Hollingwood Hub with cafe, boat trips and information, the outside seating is good if the weather is fine. The route presses on along the good surface of the towing path until our route leaves towards New Whittington.

There is a convenience store here and at least one pub. From the canal it's a steady climb taking Glasshouse Lane which eventually leads to a footpath through a Derbyshire gate into a field of horses. Looking to our left the expanse of Chesterfield can be seen and a telecommunication mast pretending to be a tree. The skeleton of an abandoned building project marks the end of open fields so take a last look back to see Bolsover Castle on the horizon.

A bit of woodland before returning to open countryside dominated by two more masts all of which must prove we have climbed to the top. We have crossed from the Rother valley and will descend into that of the River Drone. The walk northwards offers a view of Dronfield which has expanded away from the river while Unstone is hidden in the valley bottom.

The route passes a sports field and becomes a little overgrown before arriving at a small industrial estate which houses Drone Valley Brewery. From here the route follows the pavement which in places has a wide margin from the traffic. Mill Lane offers a break from the traffic and a sight of Dronfield's industrial past.

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