Connect Wirksworth with Slow Ways

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Wirksworth

Derbyshire


Slow Ways linking Wirksworth and Ashbourne, Belper, Biggin, Crich, Matlock, Ripley

Great Britain / Derbyshire / Wirksworth

Wirksworth’s six Slow Ways are 75% checked

Drawn: 6/6
reviewed: 6/6
verified: 4/6
and surveyed: 2/6

Help connect Wirksworth

Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.

Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.

Give a hike and help get a for every one of Wirksworth’s Slow Ways.

Walk to Wirksworth from further afield

Slow Way Route To do
Ashbourne—Wirksworth
Ashwir one

Double check Distance 17km/10mi Ascent 317m Descent 355m
Ashbourne—Wirksworth
Ashwir two

Double check Distance 17km/11mi Ascent 125m Descent 163m
Ashbourne—Wirksworth
Ashwir three Pioneer me Distance 18km/11mi Ascent - Descent -
Biggin—Wirksworth
Bigwir one Review me Distance 18km/11mi Ascent 465m Descent 327m
Biggin—Wirksworth
Bigwir two

Double check Distance 21km/13mi Ascent 590m Descent 453m
Biggin—Wirksworth
Bigwir three Enjoy me Distance 16km/10mi Ascent - Descent -
Wirksworth—Belper
Wirbel one Survey me Distance 12km/7mi Ascent 275m Descent 368m
Wirksworth—Crich
Wircri one

Review me Distance 8km/5mi Ascent 313m Descent 277m
Wirksworth—Crich
Wircri two Verify me Distance 7km/4mi Ascent 306m Descent 273m
Wirksworth—Matlock
Wirmat one Enjoy me Distance 8km/5mi Ascent 304m Descent 360m
Wirksworth—Matlock
Wirmat two Pioneer me Distance 8km/5mi Ascent - Descent -
Wirksworth—Ripley
Wirrip one Survey me Distance 15km/10mi Ascent 389m Descent 391m
Wirksworth—Ripley
Wirrip two Pioneer me Distance 15km/9mi Ascent 386m Descent 386m

Collective progress

58% of Wirksworth’s six route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified

13/13

drawn

10/13

reviewed

3/13

surveyed

4/13

verified

12 people have contributed to Wirksworth’s Slow Ways

2 people have pledged to walk and review a route

3 people have surveyed a route in Wirksworth

138km out of 179km have been walked and reviewed

294km of reviews have been shared in Wirksworth

Latest Updates

Hugh Hudson surveyed Bigwir three

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Here we go straight on over a hurdle, more stiles and a few steps to reach the High Peak trail. We follow the railway past Harborough Rocks and through Longcliffe until we reach a little wood under Minninglow, beyond which the track we take is helpfully signposted as a cycle route to Biggin....

Hugh Hudson

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Wirksworth—Crich

Hugh Hudson added Wircri two, a new walk from Wirksworth to Crich

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We walked most of this route while following WIRCRI 1, and the only part we didn't walk was the short road walk down from Crich Carr down to Whatstandwell. This version is slightly shorter and easier. For my detailed review with pictures see WIRCRI 1....

Hugh Hudson

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There's a little, but not much, of a climb out of Crich, then a nice flat stretch with specacular views on the "summit" between Crich and Crich Carr....

mtormey

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It's a good route, but there's a point that's not really follow-able. I'll upload an alternative that addresses this....

mtormey

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we follow Coasthill round the bend and up the hill then take the left turn onto Stones Lane, then following the obvious path right that leads out into the fields, where we join the MATCRI 1 footpath above the steps that lead down to Crich Carr. Before it turns right we follow the footpath sign right, which leads to the problematic section and eventually the track through Duke's Quarry, where we go sharp left down Robin Hood Road, which leads us down to Whatstandwell. Beyond the brook the path turns left through the wood to emerge on more pastures, where a clear path leads us up to Green Lane, which we follow up to Derby Old Road, where we turn right and then left by the pub....

Hugh Hudson

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Wirksworth—Matlock

SeaGreen added Wirmat two, a new walk from Wirksworth to Matlock

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No refreshments along the way so go prepared but there are seats and views worth time to take in. I do like pottering  around the narrow streets and alleyways of Wirksworth, who remembers the Hovis advert, Wirksworth has a Gold Hill of its own. Just off route but well worth a visit when it's open....

Ken

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Ashbourne—Wirksworth

Ken added Ashwir three, a new walk from Ashbourne to Wirksworth

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It starts out on a quiet, wide road out if Biggin and once across the A515, follows the National Cycle Route 548 through stone-walled farmland for a few miles until it meets the High Peak trail. These cycle route sections of the route are very easy to navigate and there are only a few wide gates along the way. The first was just after leaving the High Peak trail, where the footpath (which is signed on a wooden post) goes right off the track, stepping over some low rocks, just before little the live-in van encampment (w3w material.hotspots.describe)....

Mockymock

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Plotting is poor and I see no benefit in the detour via Carsington village, there are facilities at Carsington Reservoir main site....

Ken

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I don't see any benefit in the detour to Carsington village as the road walk through Hopton has no pavement so stay on the waterside path....

Ken

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Wirksworth

David Collins surveyed Wirksworth

View facilities

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

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Ashbourne—Wirksworth

Lynn Jackson added Ashwir two, a new walk from Ashbourne to Wirksworth

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Also, the gpx route itself follows the wrong side of field markers, requiring back tracking to get to stiles. Instead there is the public footpath sign 30 meters further up Greenway (road). While there was a public footpath sign, looking back the way of the gpx there is an opening what should have a stile doesn’t and the field is enclosed with barbed wire3 At the gate into the field there was electrified fencing immediately beyond gate – a public deterrent to using footpath and so the gpx route was blocked. Walk the 80 metres to the cottage and you will come to ///skyrocket.thudding.syndicate where I saw a public footpath sign looking into the field5 WM2606: The gpx appears to take you onto the wrong side of the field as there is no stile to cross in the corner of the field that I was in. At ///bats.retailing.includes I went through the stile on my right and walked up to the far right hand corner of the field where there is another stile. I followed the footpath up the hill and across a small road. To enter the field, you need to climb this gate as there is no stile crossing. I chose not to use this path and instead retraced my steps back over a cattle grid and turned right to discover a stile and footpath....

Lynn Jackson

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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

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I walked the route Ripley to Wirksworth on a sunny day but I have walked the paths before. Crossing the Roman route of Ryknild Street then safely under the busy A38 bypass into Morley Park where remains of an early ironworks can be inspected just south of the route....

Ken

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The path through the pasture park of Wigwell Grange is a delight. Crossing Mere Brook the path stays on the higher ground with views into the valley. The finger post incorrectly located one hundred metres along the road directed me along a well used twisting path through the remains of old quarry working and spoil heaps before meeting the definitive path at the boundary of the old working....

Ken

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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

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The route across Carrington Pasture and Bee Nest Mine (disused) is not a right of way....

Ken

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Nice walk but at 13 miles this is a tour, a direct route (see Bigwir3) is 3 miles shorter but has no refreshment stops along the way so take your pick....

Ken

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Biggin—Wirksworth

Ken added Bigwir three, a new walk from Biggin to Wirksworth

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Very scenic and good views for a lot of the route having climbed out of Wirksworth. less interesting on the approach to Ripley. the Talbot Taphouse is a lovely micro pub in Ripley...

Julian Darke

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The exception was about 100m of road walking at Belper Lane end where caution will be needed. It was particularly muddy through the yard of Wyver Farm, soon after leaving Belper, and along Pratthall Lane, on the approach into wirksworth....

Brian in Belper

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Brian in Belper took this photo on Wirbel one

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A fairly steep climb out of wirksworth across fields and lanes with fabulous views....

Timb

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

Julian Darke

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Several good pubs in Belper & Wirksworth and the excellent Bulls Head on route....

Timb

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East from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Ashbourne the definitive map and hence the Ordnance Survey is wrong due to house building. About 4km out of Ashbourne the route follows the B road....

Malcolm Boura

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Ashbourne—Wirksworth

Slow Ways added Ashwir one, a new walk from Ashbourne to Wirksworth

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Biggin—Wirksworth

Slow Ways added Bigwir one, a new walk from Biggin to Wirksworth

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Biggin—Wirksworth

Slow Ways added Bigwir two, a new walk from Biggin to Wirksworth

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Wirksworth—Belper

Slow Ways added Wirbel one, a new walk from Wirksworth to Belper

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Wirksworth—Crich

Slow Ways added Wircri one, a new walk from Wirksworth to Crich

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Wirksworth—Matlock

Slow Ways added Wirmat one, a new walk from Wirksworth to Matlock

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Wirksworth—Ripley

Slow Ways added Wirrip one, a new walk from Wirksworth to Ripley

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Wirksworth—Ripley

Slow Ways added Wirrip two, a new walk from Wirksworth to Ripley

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1

Wirksworth, Sun 28 May

17°

Cloudy

Wirksworth’s Slow Ways starting point

Grid ref

SK2864053981

Lat / Lon

53.08231° / -1.57389°

Easting / Northing

428,640E / 353,981N

Facilities

Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Wirksworth's meeting point

Public toilet

Wheelchair accessible toilet

Supermarket or convenience shop

Restaurant, cafe or pub

Accommodation

Accommodation for under £50 a night

Campsite

Bothy

Free wifi

Mobility scooter hire

Off-road wheelchair hire

Disabled Parking

Train station

Bus stop

Ferry

Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town

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