There is an unofficial path (not a right of way) from the bridge a little further south to the severed branch, but it has some slightly awkward sections and it could easily be blocked by the landowner. This unofficial path is now becoming well trodden, but at the gate where we rejoin the right path just above its fenced off section there is a partially torn sign which may have been there to warn walkers that the field is private. The shortcut path is signposted but very little used and unpleasantly overgrown - I suspect most locals would use the roads to reach the start of the field path, which is better used and easy to follow, but straighter than the right of way line. Rather than continuing onto the road, our route stays in the field and follows the edge round to join the Clowne Greenway track at a signposted gateway....

Hugh Hudson

From here most of the route is simply a matter of following the canal, mostly on a good wide path, with a few narrower sections where cyclists are discouraged. [In the unlikely event that the bridge under the A619 is still blocked, my solution was to follow Lockoford Lane east, crossing the A619 at a pelican crossing, then following Lockoford Lane and Swaddale Avenue to Brimington Road, leaving the pavement right just beyond the railway bridge on an unofficial but well trodden path (or further on on a good track)....

Hugh Hudson

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. 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. 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....

Hugh Hudson

After crossing Windmill Lane the route follows the edge of Grasscroft Wood, climbing gently to a summit. As we reach the valley floor we cross under the railway, cross a meadow and reach the canal bank. After a further short walk we cross a narrow bridge and climb a narrow lane to reach the town centre....

StephenWalker

Heading out of the town centre the route picks up the route of the transpennine trail heading southwards. After the Inkersall Green housing estate the route veers eastwards along the Bamford Road with a wide pavement to reach a footpath which soon drops quite steeply into West Wood on a wide but muddy path. Soon the route regains the transpennine trail and descends across the golf course....

StephenWalker

The plotting is a bit approximate in this first section, but with the aid of the OS map the intention is obvious and quiet roads lead from the town centre across the inner bypass and through an industrial estate....

StephenWalker

I used the direct path from the canal, which climbs eastwards towards the church to join Church Street into the town centre....

StephenWalker

I followed this route from Staveley, the last leg of a Chesterfield - Bolsover- Staveley - Chesterfield circular walk. I enjoyed the route throughout, despite the unattractive entry to Chesterfield itself. There were refreshments and canal-related information available at Hollingwood Lock....

StephenWalker

After a short stretch along the pavement, past the former colliery, a cycle way takes us off the roadside across the River Doe Lee and provides a pleasant surfaced trail to Long Duckmanton. Just follow the cycle path towards Staveley and after crossing the Pennine Bridleway trail, joins Inkersall Road for a short walk to the hub....

StephenWalker

A short section of pavement crosses an old rail route which may eventually offer a more direct route to Staveley. The Methodist Chapel is an interesting and well maintained building opposite where our faded signed route takes a track. Again this path doesn't follow the definitive path but stick with the walked and plotted route and all will be fine....

Ken

From Staveley Market Place the route passes close by a large supermarket so top up because there's not much on this Slow Way. The route passes a sports field and becomes a little overgrown before arriving at a small industrial estate which houses Drone Valley Brewery....

Ken

Just beyond Renishaw the route diverts away from the Trans Pennine Trail (it is worth carrying on 100 yards past the turning point to see the abandoned Renishaw station platform which make a good resting point) and crosses fields, the current train line via a bridge and then across the River Rother before an indistinct and poorly marked path crosses Eckington golf course before you follow roads to the meeting point in Eckington....

paul.scholey

There are a couple of awkward navigation moments as you follow the back streets through Chesterfield, crossing above the busy A61 and then crossing a number of smaller, but busy roads near Chesterfield train station but after that the navigation is easy. The only negative is the first, short stretch along the canal until you reach Tapton Lock is blighted by rubbish and hemmed in between housing developments - but it improves substantially after Tapton Lock....

paul.scholey

The Slow Ways route from Staveley to Eckington was one of the more interesting I've walked. As with many Slow Ways walks, the start and end feel slightly artificial, although that is not really a criticism as a route needs to start and finish somewhere. However, this, in turn led the route to the most difficult aspects of the route. As a final point, this route was less accurately plotted than most Slow Ways I've walked and while this did not result in me ever getting lost, was frustrating at times....

Andrew Sheldon

A near-perfect Slow Way joining Chesterfield and Staveley, almost entirely along the Chesterfield Canal....

Andrew Sheldon

At the end of Breck Lane the route meets a busy road with little or no verge especially as it approaches the narrow bridge controlled by lights for single way traffic....

Ken

This was the last walk of three, Staveley, Clowne, Bolsover, Staveley and turned out to be the major challenge. Beyond the farm it was a track but the path east across the field was not apparent so I stayed on the track to discover a walked path leading to the motorway crossing. Hitting the cycle track I was back on my outward Staveley Clowne route and ignored the loop to the church....

Ken

Netherthorpe Grammar School can trace its origins back to 1572 when four local families, the Sitwell, De Rodes, Cavendish and Frechevilles decided to establish a school to serve the local people of Staveley. Another section of field edge path leads to the cycle track then it's plain sailing....

Ken

From Staveley Market Place with it's statue / sculpture marking the history of the town it's a short walk to join the Chesterfield canal which is followed all the way....

Ken

It's hard to follow the marked route into the centre of Staveley but there are a variety of paths/back streets which go in the right direction and with a map it's not hard to find a way to get there....

James & Jill