Wirbel one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I walked this route from Belper. It begins through the town centre and after passing the old mills and crossing the river it leads onto quiet roads and field paths. On Wyver lane watch out for the path heading up the hedgerow to reach Wyver farm. Soon after we reach Belper Lane End ( good pub !). Alongside the road to leave the hamlet but watch out for the path through the stable yard that climbs to meet Wilderbrook Lane. A short length of roadside before we climb up through the fields on the Midshires Way. In the field NW of Crowtrees farm there was a herd of cattle with calves which followed me alongside the electric fence. I elected not to cross to meet them but was diverted to approach the crosspaths on the wrong (south) side of the hedge bounding the field. The cattle had followed my route and barred the way back to the stiles. I headed SW to Chequer Lane and approached Alport Height on minor roads from the SE. The view was an excellent bonus and I resumed the official route on Alport Lane. At New Buildings I stuck to the road rather than climb the footpath triangle. It was now straight forward. Pratthall lane was dry and I headed down down the road under the railway to pick up the footpath first NNE then W into the centre of Wirksworth. A good route with splendid views.

This route provided an excellent walk with good views of the Derbyshire countryside. I recorded 345m of Elevation Gain and a distance of 12.2k. My direction was from Belper to Wirksworth, which resulted in a steady ascent to the highest point of the route, at Alport height (314m).

The route requires a couple of stretches of road walking, without pavements, but mainly on very quiet roads. The exception was about 100m of road walking at Belper Lane end where caution will be needed.

Although it was a lovely sunny day, at the end of May, it followed a period of unusually wet weather and therefore the route was a little muddy in places. It was particularly muddy through the yard of Wyver Farm, soon after leaving Belper, and along Pratthall Lane, on the approach into wirksworth. Pratthall Lane gets particularly muddy in winter so it is best to stick to the footpaths that run parallel with it.

There are notes posted at Pratthall Lane advising that Severn Trent Water has applied for permission to lay a pipe along the lane. This will inevitably lead to some disruption on this route. Lets hope the lane is left in a better condition when the work is complete.

My only niggle with the route is a dog-leg, via footpaths between Hillside Farm and New Buildings Farm (just to the NW of Alport Height). This requires unnecessary ascent along two sides of a triangle, whilst the easy road walk along the third side of the triangle is straight forward and consistent with the characteristics of the route.

Great views on this walk often 360 degrees over several counties. regular busses between Belper and Wirksworth.

Very scenic with amazing views from Alport Heights. Several good pubs in Belper & Wirksworth and the excellent Bulls Head on route.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.