There is something very satisfying about walking on a linear route.
Most of us tend to plump for circular walks to get back to our cars, but the Transpeak and Trentbarton Sixes offer a great public transport service along the A6 corridor, allowing us to walk part of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way in one direction.
Take the bus, then walk back to your starting point – or vice versa – and your linear route is sorted.
It’s also great to ditch the car and do your bit for the environment. And for pensioners, free travel is a great way to save money on fuel.
This ramble starts out from the Museum of Making in Derby, meanders through Darley Abbey park and mills, before heading up to Duffield via Little Eaton.
The walk never strays far from the river. The route is packed with industrial history, taking in the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, the birthplace of the factory system.
1. From the Derby Cathedral bus stop take time to pop into the nearby Museum of Making, showcasing Derby’s industrial history – and a great place for a coffee and cake to fuel you up for your ramble. The silk mill, now museum, was opened in 1721, 50 years ahead of Arkwright’s cotton spinning mill at Cromford.
From the mill head along the banks of the Derwent, the river on your right. You’ll pass by the historic St Mary’s Bridge with its medieval chapel, then Handyside Bridge, a striking bowstring girder railway crossing. Soon after, you’ll enter the pretty Darley Abbey Park.
Ignoring the official DVHW here, follow the river, then boardwalk to the car park and out into Darley Street. Take time to pause at Mill View Garden with spectacular views over to the weirs, river islands and the mill complex of Darley Abbey.
2. At the end of Darley Street turn right into Old Lane with its charming toll booth. Presently, a temporary pedestrian bridge is replacing the old Booth Bridge for pedestrians, the old crossing having eroded so badly it’s no longer safe to use.
Continuing along Haslams Lane, look out for a green public footpath sign opposite the rugby club. Follow the lane around the rugby pitch, then past a fishing pond.
There’s a good chance of seeing greylag geese here. Following a rough track that sticks close to the Derwent, you’ll see an underpass ahead of you.
3. Go under it and turn right (signed) and right again to climb steps up to the Derby bypass. Walk a short section of the dual carriageway (a footpath with concrete barrier separating pedestrians from the busy road).
4. Thankfully, another flight of steps quite quickly takes you down below the road on the other side of the railway line. Cut across uncultivated land, passing old gravel pits to emerge at the road of Outrams Wharf.
5. Turn left onto Alfreton Road. You’ll come to a monument celebrating Benjamin Outram, who engineered the Little Eaton Canal. Continue along the road to the pretty centre of Little Eaton village, backed by woodland. There’s a pub and a couple of places to buy a coffee and break your ramble.
6. Turn left onto the road signed The Town, then right onto Barley Close. A short way up it, take the lane on your left, then a pathway that leads to another lane, veering right past pretty houses blessed with fine views over the Lower Derwent Valley.
Another left takes you along a public footpath through private woods. Passing an old quarry, turn left to drop down to Duffield Road, then right to walk the pavement as far as Peckwash Mill.
7. Turn left, a narrow path funnelling you down the side of Peckwash Mill driveway (now a private residence). You’ll pass an impressive brick chimney that served the 19th century paper mill.
From here the Derwent Valley Heritage Trail crosses the flood plains of the River Derwent. It’s a particularly tranquil part of the river valley, attractive houses and woodland a backdrop to the waterside walk with the spire of St Alkmund’s Church in front of you.
8. Emerging at Bridge Inn (another temping watering hole), turn left to cross the bridge on Makeney Road, then right at the other end of the bridge to drop down again onto the flood meadows, the river now on your right. The path emerges at the A6 right by the bus stop for Derby (and Matlock if you’re heading north).
COMPASS POINTS
DISTANCE: 5.5 miles
GRID REFERENCE: SK 351 364 (Museum of Making)
MAP: OS Explorer Map 259: Derby, Uttoxeter, Ashbourne & Cheadle
DIFFICULTY: Easy. Most of the walk is flat with a small rise out of Little Eaton.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Ditch the car and use the regular TransPeak or Trentbarton 6.1 plying the A6 to enjoy a linear walk.
REFRESHMENTS: Museum of Making, Derby; fine dining at Darley Abbey; food and drink options at The Little Kitchen, the Co-op, Barry Fitch Butchers and the Queens Head in Little Eaton and Bridge Inn near Duffield.
