Wirmat two

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I walked this route from Wirksworth. It is a functional A-B walk rather than a scenic one. I agree with the previous reviewer that the section to Cromford would not be suitable for those with mobility issues, or wheeled users. The starting section up Green Hill is fairly brutal !, but it soon eases when the traverse footpath is reached. The previous reviewer has already pointed out the plotting error where the route crosses the B5023, Middleton Road. We must either turn left up hill and find the walled path on the right, or turn downhill and join the pavement of the main road before turning left at the post box up Old Lane. That puts us back on the plotted path, which wends its way uphill through the grounds of the National Stone Centre (cafe, if its open) to pass under the High Peak Trail and reach the B5035. The route crosses this and skirts Dene Quarry on a diversion before entering Cromford. The cut-off path to Scarthin is quite steep and has steps. From Cromford the route follows the A6 on a pavement.

Walked from Wirksworth to Matlock. Quite an enjoyable walk, but the Wirksworth end is definitely not accessible to wheelchairs, buggies or anything else wheeled that can't be carried over steps, squeeze stiles, narrow and rough sections. Also quite a lot of ascent and descent, some of it steep and some of it unnecessary. Two minor problems with the plotting - the shortcut path from Greenhill to the higher path no longer exists on the ground, and at Middleton Road I had to deviate left up the hill to find a viable path - the lower route (if it ever existed) is blocked by a newish house with a private drive. So not an unqualified success but no show stoppers. From Scarthin in Cromford to Matlock everything is easy, paved and fairly flat.

Leaving Wirksworth, we start very steeply up Greenhill. It is best to stay on the road until the main path right is reached - having investigated the supposed shortcut path, the steps lead up to a residential road which cannot be escaped to the right until you return to Greenhill. There was definitely once a right of way here but I couldn't see any evidence at the top end either. The path takes us between fences and crosses an airy man-made ridge between old quarries with views down on both sides, before descending to Middleton Road. There is no path straight on, and the driveway to the right doesn't offer one either, so you need to go up to the left to find the narrow surfaced path (unsignposted but marked on the OS map) that leads down to Old Lane.

From here we are back on WIRMAT one, and we follow the main path up through the National Stone Centre then follow its access track under the High Peak railway/cycle path and up the hill. The start of our path right is indistinct and unsignposted - it is easiest to reach before the bend in the road. This path stays behind the wall right of the busy Porter Lane, but is easy to leave opposite Dark Lane, which we follow down to the second path to the left, which goes through a narrow kissing gate and up a grass slope to reach the path that goes right along the quarry fence.

The upper part of the quarry path is not well used, and is a little narrow and overgrown in places. Further down the steeper sections have wooden steps. When you reach the quarry access road, follow the signs through the quarry to the path that continues downhill, then go left and right to descend to Cromford Hill. A short pavement walk takes us to another path (easily missed) which threads its way through houses, with steps and narrow squeeze stiles, to reach Water Lane opposite Scarthin.

Here all difficulties end, though parts of Scarthin are too narrow to accommodate a pavement. If open, the Ship Inn is worth a visit, as (for some of us) is Scarthin Books. At the junction of Market Place and Derby Road, it is necessary to cross pelican crossings to the right hand side of Market Place then cross the A6 to the pavement on the far side - there is no pedestrian access around the near side of the corner.

From here we are on a good pavement, with plenty of interest as we follow the river past Masson Mill and Matlock Bath and approach the edge of Matlock. Beyond a large car park we go round one more bend then take the footbridge over the Derwent and follow the surfaced path left of the railway through an area of park land and around the bend in the river, then take the path left through Knowleston Gardens to reach the main track through Half Leys Park. At the bridge, there is still some building work going on to restore the one way system after the major project to rebuild the flood walls, and the far pavement is still fenced off. It is possible, though not encouraged, to cross the A6 at the junction above the bridge - there is a pelican crossing further down to the left if needed. Once the building work is finished, the old route along the far pavement will be available again.

All in all I found this route quite enjoyable, though there are definitely easier and more accessible ways to walk from Wirksworth to Cromford, though the big hill is unavoidable. The three star rating reflects the minor issues I had navigating using the GPX file and the OS 1:25000 map.

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