Matlock

I created an alternative route Matche Three because it is more direct and avoids the big drop into Ashover and the climb back out. However this route has some good things going for it - the farms between Stubbing and Ashover and then Matlock feel more friendly, the farmland is prettier, and Ashover has coffee shops and pubs while the more direct Matche Three passes no shops or pubs. And there were great views back over Chesterfield, then over Ashover and finally Riber Castle and Matlock Dale....

SeaGreen

Leaving on the decent from the ridge that Clay Cross sits on you can see the other ridges this walk crosses, the path leads through fields and along small sections of quiet roads to begin the climb upto the first of smaller ridge, path is reasonably easy to follow here....

dave smith

No climb stiles but plenty of narrow squeeze stiles, some steps and potentially slippery slopes....

Ken

I walked this route from Darley Dale to Matlock....

mtormey

I walked this route from Matlock to Crich....

mtormey

Where the path forks we take the left branch which continues to cross the field, and joins a clear path that comes down from Seven Rakes, which we follow round a few bends and across another path to St Johns Road, which we follow to its end, turning half left below a gate and following anothr clear path past the Heights of Abraham cablecar line to Upperwood Road, which we also follow to its end. Just above the village the path forks again, and we take the right branch then turn right on the clear path that leads to Coasthill....

Hugh Hudson

These paths offer a very pleasant walk to Wheatcroft but there is one spot where the path invisibly crosses a cropped field, the plot is good so stick with it. It's a climb along a green lane into the hamlet of Wheatcroft and the ascent continues on the road of departure. If you don't need a break at Tansley then the view from Riber is well worth including so I suggest heading west along the road then a direct footpath off Carr Lane. On the Slow Way the path becomes well walked dropping into Tansley where it passes the inn but this takes us on a narrow pavement alongside a busy road. The path from the road climbs to Riber across pasture and while views of the turreted castle had been inviting since Wheatcroft it's now hiding behind trees. Sit on the grass or a little further down a bench and pick out landmarks known or perhaps new before making the steep descent and a walk through the old town, Matlock Green and across the park missing the final yards of this Slow Way unless you have a train to catch....

Ken

The Matlock end of the river path seems to be inaccessible at the moment because of the flood wall repairs that have closed Derwent Way and the bus station (see photo 1), so I crossed the old bridge to the east side of the river and walked along Bakewell Road to leave Matlock, rejoining this route at the Derwent Way roundabout....

Hugh Hudson

We leave the Crich Meeting point along Coasthill, which we follow right around a bend, up the hill and going straight on where the main road goes right. Here one can either follow the road right (busy and enclosed) or better go a short distance left to find the path parallel to the road the far side of the wall, which leads to the bottom of the drive that leads up to the Crich monument, which a familiar landmark to most people in East Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. We turn right and right again at a footpath sign into a field, where the path is now clearly marked until it meets the lane that goes up the hill from the farm buildings. This crosses a road and continues across a few more fields to reach a rutted lane, which we follow down a short distance to another path left across fields, which leads us into Lea, where we follow the road past the Jug & Glass Inn (last possible refreshment stop before Matlock) to reach a crossroads, where we take the footpath straight on steeply down the hill. The path crosses a road and goes slightly right and straight on down to a bridge over Lea Brook....

Hugh Hudson

The route can be split in two the first half along green lanes and the High Peak Trail. The route out of Biggin is shared with Bigwir-3 or it's possible to use Bigwir-1 so a few options. The Limestone Way goes via Grangemill where there is an inn but our route cuts the corner to Ible it's a gentle down to the road which needs care as there is no verge but a direct crossing when there is a gap in the traffic. It's a climb up to Ible and the path here is hidden but find the steps which offer assurance the path has been found. Back on the Limestone Way at Ible cattle in fields but they have no interest in me....

Ken

Exiting the urban area it's achallenge to find the less used definitive line of the footpath, the other walked paths are well defined but wrong, so keep a close eye on the plot although it's not spot on here. The sheds of the large poultry farm were quiet and deserted on the outside and the path on this side was far better than the route around the back. The track after Hodge Lane Farm is fine but the footpath leaves this and gets rather complicated so again careful inspection of the plot is needed which is good at this location. It's possible to use the estate road and avoid the pavement alongside the main road before heading off towards The Bank. Once a San Francisco style cable car helped visitors ascend this steep road so it was good be be heading down, not up....

Ken

The cycle route is easy walking if a lttle boring so if I used this route again I may well use sections of the footpaths in the open fields....

Ken

As you approach Matlock look out for the premier in on the A6 you need to cross the railway near here staying on the cycle path not crossing the river on the edge of the railway bridge....

dave smith

At the foot of the valley I took a ‘short cut’ from the Slow ways route taking a footpath south of Hodge Lane Farm rather than continuing on the metalled lane – the path involves a shallow ford and was becoming overgrown. It is sad to see a footpath disappearing, but I can understand why the northern route round the farm is preferable. Passing through a garden edge at Shooters-Lea Farm a tight woodland path takes you to the wide open pastureland of Rushley Lodge dairy farm. Skirting another golf course you reach the edge of Matlock where there is a very steep descent into the town centre past the HQ of Derbyshire County Council, housed in one of the former hydros built during the town’s hey day as a spa resort....

Alex Reeve

Walked it at the end of January from Matlock to Chesterfield. It is quite a distance to get in, or out of both Matlock and Chesterfield but the X17 runs between both and can be picked up to do the final stretch in either direction....

SeaGreen

Excellent views but muddy in winter not easy to navigate in parts even with OS map. Excellent pubs in wirksworth and good bus network...

Timb

This a good route that we took as the first leg of a longer circular walk: Alfreton - Matlock, Matlock - Crich, Crich - Alfreton. Our start was from the Travelodge in Alfreton so was just slightly longer than the 10 miles....

Dave Nash

This was a good walk that was the second leg of a longer circular walk, as we walked to Matlock in the morning from Alfreton, then heading on to Crich and eventually finish back in Alfreton. The trek out of Matlock is quite steep (we had already walked down!) but the views at the top are great....

Dave Nash

Wirksworth is a lovely small town so I'm sorry to be leaving, first over a hidden rail tunnel to the old quarry then under an unrecorded footbridge. Old Lane, again unrecorded but well used and subject to an application to be added to the footpath map. Crossing the B5035 the route uses another unrecorded path, Dark Lane, but it was okay....

Ken

I did this one Crich to Matlock which offers a reduction in elevation and some great views but still some climbing. Heading north again gently down through pasture is a delight with views northwards, then steps into the hollow way which gives Holloway it's name. More great views before meeting the walled restricted byway which leads to Riber....

Ken

Hardly saw anyone between Riber Castle and Crich Tramway. About half way the village of Lea has good food at the Jug and Glass Inn and good cafe and cake at Lea Gardens. Some good views - especially at the Forrester Memorial as you get near to Crich (also has a cafe)....

SeaGreen

Between Matlock and Cromford I took a favourite alternative path half way up the hill which avoids going up so high and is beautiful though the woods then a lovely, quiet dead end road to Upperwood....

SeaGreen

Otherwise there are beautiful tracks and pathways, lovely woods, flower meadows and streams, high pastures and ancient trees....

SeaGreen

If you don't mind a narrow bridge and some steps there is no need to leave the track when the cycle way does - just follow the river path....

SeaGreen

South and parallel to the cycle track paths meander along with the river and walkers can leave and return to the main track....

SeaGreen