Connect Wirksworth with Slow Ways
We’re creating a network of walking routes that connect all of Britain’s towns, cities and national parks
more walks and reviews are needed to fully connect Wirksworth to the verified network. Can you give a hike and help?
Give a hike!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 | ||||||||
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Ashbourne—Wirksworth
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Ashwir one |
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4 X |
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Double check | Distance 17km/10mi | Ascent 317m | Descent 355m | |
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Ashbourne—Wirksworth
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Ashwir two |
|
|
U U |
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Double check | Distance 17km/11mi | Ascent 125m | Descent 163m | |
Ashbourne—Wirksworth
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Ashwir three |
|
U U |
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Pioneer me | Distance 18km/11mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
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Biggin—Wirksworth
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Bigwir one |
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U U |
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Review me | Distance 18km/11mi | Ascent 465m | Descent 327m | ||
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Biggin—Wirksworth
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Bigwir two |
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U U |
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Double check | Distance 21km/13mi | Ascent 590m | Descent 453m | |
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Biggin—Wirksworth
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Bigwir three |
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3 X |
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Enjoy me | Distance 16km/10mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
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Wirksworth—Belper
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Wirbel one |
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5 X |
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Enjoy me | Distance 12km/7mi | Ascent 275m | Descent 368m | ||
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Wirksworth—Crich
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Wircri one |
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U U |
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Review me | Distance 8km/5mi | Ascent 313m | Descent 277m | |
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Wirksworth—Crich
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Wircri two |
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5 X |
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Enjoy me | Distance 7km/4mi | Ascent 306m | Descent 273m | ||
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Wirksworth—Matlock
|
Wirmat one |
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4 X |
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Enjoy me | Distance 8km/5mi | Ascent 304m | Descent 360m | ||
Wirksworth—Matlock
|
Wirmat two |
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U U |
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Pioneer me | Distance 8km/5mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
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Wirksworth—Ripley
|
Wirrip one |
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U U |
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Survey me | Distance 15km/10mi | Ascent 389m | Descent 391m | ||
Wirksworth—Ripley
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Wirrip two |
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U U |
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Pioneer me | Distance 15km/9mi | Ascent 386m | Descent 386m |
Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?
If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Wirksworth and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?
This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!
Collective progress
63% of Wirksworth’s six route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified
13/13
10/13
5/13
5/13
13 people have contributed to Wirksworth’s Slow Ways
2 people have pledged to walk and review a route
5 people have surveyed a route in Wirksworth
138km out of 179km have been walked and reviewed
313km of reviews have been shared in Wirksworth
Latest Updates
On Wyver lane watch out for the path heading up the hedgerow to reach Wyver farm. Soon after we reach Belper Lane End ( good pub !). Alongside the road to leave the hamlet but watch out for the path through the stable yard that climbs to meet Wilderbrook Lane....
StephenWalker
I walked this route from Crich to Wirksworth. The path starts as a lane and then is an obvious route across pasture land. After the pub, the first section of the B5035 descending to Wirksworth is narrow with no pavement - but the route soon leaves it at a stile and fp sign....
StephenWalker
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
Ken added Ashwir three, a new walk from Ashbourne to Wirksworth
Walk this routeIt 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
Lynn Jackson added Ashwir two, a new walk from Ashbourne to Wirksworth
Walk this routeAlso, 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
Slow Ways added Ashwir one, a new walk from Ashbourne to Wirksworth
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Wirmat one, a new walk from Wirksworth to Matlock
Walk this route
Wirksworth, Sat 23 September
11°
Light rain
Don’t forget your raincoat!
Wirksworth’s Slow Ways starting point
Grid ref
SK2864053981
Lat / Lon
53.08231° / -1.57389°
Easting / Northing
428,640E / 353,981N
what3words
Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?
If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Wirksworth and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?
This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!
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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