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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ken

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

Ken

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

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

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

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

Timb

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

Julian Darke

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

Timb

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