Helen Moat joins - friends on three of their six-mile rambles S over the 30 days of June on a fundraising mission to bring children from war-torn Ukraine to England for a respite holiday.
Around Eyam and Stoney Middleton
This ramble takes in the neighbouring villages of Eyam and Stoney Middleton, passing Darlton Quarry, one of the locations for the seventh Mission Impossible film.
In one famous scene, the train carrying Tom Cruise rushes towards the quarry wall before plunging into its depths.
Starting from Eyam Car Park (opposite the museum), head through the ‘Plague Village’ via Main Street and Church Street, taking time to read the tragic plaques on cottages.
A third of villagers died in the plague of 1665 and 1666. Apart from the museum, the stained-glass window of the church tells the tragic story of those events.
It’s worth dropping in to find out more about this tragic event, and how the village was isolated to stop the spread of the deadly disease. It worked, but at a huge cost to the residents.
Head down the B6521 (Eyam Dale), walking on the right and swapping over to the left on the bend to stay safe.
Part way down, there’s a narrow pavement to walk on. At the junction, cross the road and enter the wood via the brook to climb up to Darlton Quarry.
Cross Middleton Lane to continue uphill on Black Harry Lane. It’s named after an 18th-century highwayman. Justice was served when Black Harry was arrested and hung from the gallows tree at Wardlow Mires.
Continue to the end of Black Harry Lane (Black Harry Gate) where several paths converge. Turn left and drop down through Rough Side, a steep-sided dale. This area is riddled with lead veins.
Look out for a path on the left that ascends the side of the dale and out onto meadows. After crossing several fields, you’ll emerge at High Street in Stoney Middleton. Turn left just before the school to descend to the B623.
Cross the road to the Toll House (now a well-regarded chippy) and head up the Bank. Turn left up the Fold. Where the road splits, keep left to continue along Bottom Cliff Lane.
On seeing a wicket gate on your left, go through it to climb steeply across a meadow, continuing through more fields until you reach a lane. You’ll pass the boundary stone on the way. The round holes in the stone were filled with vinegar to purify money left by Eyam villagers in exchange for medicines and food from their neighbours in Stoney Middleton.
The grassy path meets a track, then road. You’ll pass the Lydgate Graves. Lydgate (the little road once the main route into the village) emerges at the Square (more a triangle of roads). Turn left up Water Lane to enjoy a well-earned pint (or lunch) at the Miners Arms.
At the top of the lane, follow the wall on the left and through a field. Go through the wicket gate and turn left onto Edge Road. Descend the lane back to the car park.
Around Matlock
This is a six-miler that takes you along Matlock Bank with its spectacular views across the Derwent Valley and out into the country via a woodland lane leading to the otherworldly Ladygrove.
From the thickly wooded dale (puddled with stepped reservoirs that were created to serve the mill below), a short sharp climb takes you up to Farley Wood.
The route through Forestry England managed plantation drops down through the more natural deciduous woodland of Hurker Wood to Matlock Bank again. This is a ramble of lovely diversity – urban interest, mossy lanes, an ethereal dale and a wide forest track that leads through mostly coniferous woodland.
Starting from Matlock Railway Station, cross the bridge and head up Bank Road (plenty of cafes to choose from around Crown Square, a grand name for a mini roundabout, either at the beginning or end of your walk).
After a short distance, turn left to climb up Imperial Road, becoming Woolley Road. At the top you’ll come to a meeting of roads. Cross over Dimple Road, passing the new oak planted to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and head west along Smedley Street.
On reaching Farley Hill on the right, climb the road a short distance, then turn left into Hackney Road. You’ll pass the Laburnum Inn, open from 3pm between Friday and Sunday, a good place for a pint if it happens to be open.
Continuing along Hackney Road, enjoy the views over the Derwent Valley, the river meandering through the flood plains. Hackney Road becomes Greenaway Lane. Look out for Holt Road on your right as the road starts to drop down and veer right onto it. This narrow lane gives way to a pathway that winds its way through mossy woodland and quarry walls - Holt Wood. Keep right to maintain height, following the boundary of the dale.
At the bottom of Tax Farm, you’ll see a path on your right leading uphill through a field onto the farm track. Eventually you’ll emerge at Farley Lane.
Turn left and cross the road to walk into the oncoming traffic for a short distance. You’ll see a path on your right that takes you into Farley Wood. Turn left to follow the periphery of the Forestry England wood to the main entrance.
Turn right here, following the wide forestry trail as it twists and turns through the forest. Keep to the widest track, ignoring any detours. The forestry land on your right eventually gives way to a field.
Turn right just beforehand, following the field boundary wall on your left and continue down to Hurker Wood. Turn left to follow the narrow path as it crosses the top of the wood then zigzags downhill.
The path then leads you along a narrow strip of woodland to Cavendish Road. Through the trees there are lovely views to Riber Castle and Crich Stand.
At the end of the playing fields, stay on Cavendish Road until the playpark on the right, dropping down the steps here to a cobbled path that leads steeply down beside the old Jackson House hydro hotel, now private residences.
From here, it’s just a question of descending Far Green and turning right to retrace your steps downhill back to the railway station.
Around Curbar, Froggatt and Grindleford
From Haywood National Trust CP, head through the back of the car park and follow the pathway dipping down to the stream before rising to the road (A625).
Cross the road and slip through the gate and up the track onto Froggatt Edge. As the well-worn path climbs, it becomes Curbar Edge. The views are second-to-none over the valley to Stoney Middleton and Eyam, as are the wonderful rock formations on the Edge.
At the end of Curbar Edge, veer right (unless you want to seek out the mobile kiosk in the car park). The narrow path drops down to Clodhall Lane. Descend it until you see another verge-side path on the other side of the lane.
Take this, then go through the squeeze gap (signed National Trust). The path descends through fields, then veers right to cut out the elbow of Clodhall Lane. It meets the road again further down, now Bar Road.
Continue downhill, turning right onto The Green. This leafy part of Curbar is lined with beautiful country cottages and grand villas. At the end of The Green, turn right onto The Bent, becoming Riddings Lane.
On meeting the A625, cross carefully and continue along Froggatt Lane. The road runs alongside the River Derwent at the bottom. Detour to the bridge and take in the slow-flowing river and sylvan coppice on the edge of the water. It’s sure to slow your heart rate.
Returning to Froggatt Lane, head on in the same direction through Hollowgate. Where the road sweeps right, keep straight on, following Spooner Lane. The path narrows, then twists through fields into woodland.
This is a lovely stretch of the walk with babbling streams and weathered stone in among the mature trees. The path emerges from the woodland out onto the Derwent’s flood plains, where it meets the lane next to St Helen’s Church in Grindleford.
Why not drop into the vestry and order yourself some coffee and cake? There’s comfortable seating on the lawn of the old graveyard – with very quiet neighbours. It’s lovely to see this community-run business serving the villagers as well as ramblers and cyclists.
Leaving St Helen’s behind, climb the lane running alongside it, then the path through Hay Wood. If you’re lucky – as we were – you might encounter red deer grazing near the path. They are a beautiful sight with their magnificent antlers and warm red coats.
After a steep ascent, turn right at a crossroads of paths. Before you know it, you’ll have arrived back at Haywood car park.
Helen Moat joined friends on three six-mile walks as they committed to a challenging 180 miles over the month of June, averaging an impressive six miles a day. Their aim is to raise money on behalf of Matlock teenager Ivan Yezhov who, alongside his mum, is planning to bring old classmates over from Kyiv to England for a short holiday – a brief respite from the war. Ivan’s story is a moving one. You can read about it at bit.ly/DerbyshireUkraine.
