I walked this route from Darley Dale It is easy to follow, and can be simplified still further because the rail-side path can be accessed directly from Old Road bridge (rather than the dog-leg through the village), and near Matlock a concessionary path carries straight ahead alongside the railway, crossing the river on the railway bridges. This saves the detour east to join Bakewell Road. A fast and safe passage from Darley Dale to Matlock....

StephenWalker

I walked from Chesterfield via the Market Square, crossing into Queen's Park and walking up the road into a residential area. I came upon Stubbing Pond soon enough and from there walked up a farm track to get into fields which were still waterlogged from the previous week's rains. I continued to Spancar on the road until I found the footpath to continue the route through fields. But I got to the top and continued the route over increasingly muddy fields, cutting into my journey time....

Lynn Jackson

I agree with the previous reviewer that the section to Cromford would not be suitable for those with mobility issues, or wheeled users. The previous reviewer has already pointed out the plotting error where the route crosses the B5023, Middleton Road....

StephenWalker

I've done this multiple times on bike, including with a trailer, and with an off road pushchair. It's fine for both, although personally I tend to stay on Bakewell road rather than going down onto the riverside path for the very last section as that bit is bumpy and marked no cycling. With dogs it is okay, but be aware there are tons of bikes on a nice day and you'll need to keep the dog on a lead....

Joe Marshall

A winter walk in long trousers may discover the faint short path that leads to the path following the stream on the west side of the hedge....

Ken

The path to Dethick is again well walked with stone step stiles so even a dog may struggle. The path continues across pasture to Lea where we pass over an attractive stone bridge to reach the main street. So admire the stone bridge as you safely pass under the line because it's nearly two hundred years old. The inn marked on older maps had now closed but a walk to the church would provide refreshment and buses if needed. The final pavement walk is brief passing a few useful shops, there are more close by. Buses to many locations but if you want to continue by train it's a walk or bus ride to the station....

Ken

It is easier to follow the quiet lane to Wheatcroft, and then a footpath link towards Lea, which intersects the lane leading to Lee Moor Road. Here we join the route of Matcri2 on a footpath which begins in Lea and takes us uphill to meet Hearthstone Lane (a bridleway) That can be followed over Bilberry Knoll - good views - to Hearthstone....

StephenWalker

This route is poorly plotted and fails to follow a recognised public path west of Lea....

Ken

Once Harehill Road is reached, the route takes to the right of way that follows the golf course boundary and heads towards Widdowson Spring Wood and then on a fenced route through horse pastures to reach Swathwick Lane. Now the route follows a long leg southwards first on lanes then right of way across the fields to reach Hilltop Road on the edge of Ashover. After a right turn along the road, a steep footpath on the left takes us down to Hill Road and thence into the village centre on quiet streets. The route turns downhill along this quiet lane (Once again a wide verge to avoid cars, if required) to reach Foxholes Lane where it turns south-westward. After the end of the tarmac on Foxholes Lane (SK 31821 61150) there is a clear path into the wood but the exact route through the trees and to descend to SK 31580 61035 is not always obvious and could be very steep....

StephenWalker

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. 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. 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. 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. 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....

Hugh Hudson

From Fallgate around Milltown quarry to Gin lane is an obvious path - which then continues to Ravensnest Farm cottage at SK 34596.61761 - but from here the RoW is not obvious. However, a narrow but distinct path climbs steadily through the woods and across old mine spoil to the gate at SK 34412 where you rejoin the main path. After the end of the tarmac on Foxholes Lane (SK 31821 61150) there is a clear path into the wood but the exact route through the trees and to descend to SK 31580 61035 is not obvious and could be very steep....

StephenWalker

I tried to walk this route but it is badly plotted and a section west of Lea does not use rights of way. I have replaced it with a suggested Matalf3....

StephenWalker

It is a high level route between the nodes, so be aware that there is a lot of up and down whichever direction you take....

StephenWalker

It appears that at Hollybush Farm most users of this path stay in the field and use the farm track - the old route/right of way line up from the other path by the stream (which I think is the one Ken mentions missing) is not marked on the ground and appears to be blocked by impenetrable undergrowth - I gave up on it and walked down Pit Lane instead. The other slightly problematic path is the one from Dethick Lane to High Lane - the entrance to the field from Dethick Lane would have been invisible had it not been for the footpath sign and required some determination. We turn left up Cunnery Lane, and once the wood is reached it is easier to use the unofficial path along the right hand wall of the wood than to find the old right of way line (I did the latter and it is rougher and steeper). A stone step stile takes us out of the wood onto a field path with fine views, which becomes Green Lane. This is where I think I missed a trick, as the path we need to take is more often accessed using the farm track through the field before the stream rather than the old right of way line which followed the path to Pit Lane through the trees. This path is fine for those heading for Pig Lane, but at the point where the right of way turns up to the left past Hollybush Farm I found nothing but apparently impenetrable undergrowth (see photo 12!) and no sign to show the correct line. We turn right along High Road and use the shortcut path to descend to Church Lane, where as Ken says the walls are imposing....

Hugh Hudson

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