Day 1: Arrive Matlock
Arrive at your accommodation in Matlock with time to explore this enchanting town.
Day 2: Matlock - Youlgrave (9 miles)
Leaving Matlock behind you will climb to the Heights of Abraham (or you can take the cable car) which offers fine views over the fantastic gorge below. You will continue to the typical Peak District village of Bonsal with its interesting architecture & 12th century church of St James. Here you will join the Limestone Way & venture deeper into the Heart of the White Peak through the picturesque & historical villages of Winster & Birchover. A fascinating day’s walk takes you onto your stop for the night at Youlgrave. With 3 cosy pubs & one of the prettiest churches in Derbyshire, this quiet & friendly village makes a fantastic place to relax after you first days wanderings.
Day 3: Youlgrave - Bakewell (10 miles)
Continuing north along the Limestone Way you will walk through wonderful rolling green fields to Monyash. Mentioned in the Domesday Book as Maneis, the name Monyash is thought to derive its name from ‘many ash trees’. The village is clustered around a village green & is home to a great pub, known for its excellent food. Here you turn south to Lathkil Dale, surely one of Derbyshire’s prettiest dales, with an abundance of wild flowers & birds. You will continue along the Lathkil Trail to the tiny village of Over Haddon which offers great views over to the Haddon Estate. Perhaps you will arrive in Bakewell before the bakeries close & have time to sample the local pudding before settling into your accommodation for the night.
Day 4: Chatsworth Loop (8 miles)
Leaving Bakewell behind you will pass the attractive woodland at the Manners Estate before dropping down to the picturesque village of Edensor. You will continue to Chatsworth House, one of the grandest houses in the country. Built in 1549 by the Cavendish family the house was finished by Bess of Hardwick after the death of her husband, Sir William Cavendish. Over the years money continued to pour into Chatsworth, making it an almost unparalleled showcase for art treasures. Every aspect of fine arts is here ranging from old masterpieces, furniture, tapestries, porcelain & alabaster carvings. There are also some fantastic gardens which have a number of interesting features such as the Emperor Fountain, which dominates the Canal Pond & can reach up to 290 feet.
Day 5: Bakewell - Matlock (11 miles)
Following the River Wye your journey South takes you through the Manners Estate, home to Haddon Hall. Haddon is one of the finest examples of a mediaeval manor house currently in existence in England. Next stop is Alport, which in recent times was voted Derbyshire’s prettiest village. Green fields & woodlands take you through another of the Peak Districts more interesting villages at Stanton in Peak, look out for the inscriptions on some of the older houses in the village! Here you will enter druid country & pass by the nine ladies stone circle, which is of significant archaeological importance. Another fine trail takes you to Darley Bridge where you join the Derwent Valley Heritage Way & follow the River Wye once again, past the Peak Railway and back to Matlock.
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