Grindleford Circular via Chatsworth House Walk

24.8 km (15.4 mi) with 504m ascent/descent. For a shorter walk and an Alternative Ending see below Walk Options.

7 out of 10, with 6 hours 20 minutes walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 11 1/2 hours.

From Grindleford Station, you ascend through ancient oak woodlands to the eastern rim of the wooded Upper Derwent Valley flanked by a continuous series of some of the most famous of the gritstone escarpments - or edges - of the Dark Peak area of the Peak District National Park, named after the colour of the grit stone. You follow the edges south, with views along this stretch back along the Derwent River encompassing much of the Central Peak District: Higger Tor and Stanage Edge, Win Hill, Lose Hill and the Great Ridge, Kinder Scout as well as Eyam Moor across the valley.
After lunch you follow permissive paths through the Chatsworth Estate and drop down through the steep wooded edge and past the magnificent Chatsworth House (the UK's most liked Country House). You then join the Derwent River and return along it through the scenic Chatsworth Park, landscaped by 'Capability' Brown and Sir Joseph Paxton, situated in a glorious setting surrounded by wooded hillsides, looking up to the classic gritstone edge scenery walked along earlier. You pass through Baslow and a few other, more quiet villages, some woods, marshland, a wooded wetland and finally along ancient packhorse routes through quiet lush pastures back to Grindleford Station.

An alternative - more challenging - return route re-ascends the edges from Baslow village along the grassy slopes of the valley and through the Curbar Gap to cross the upland Big Moor along the lonely White Edge.

Various bus lines enable shorter versions by either taking buses from Sheffield or Chesterfield stations to stops along the route or by finishing the walk earlier with buses back to train stations. The stops are: Bar Brook Bridge, Robin Hood Inn, Chatsworth House, Baslow Nether End, Baslow Church Street, Calver Bridge, Grindleford Playing Field (see the route map for symbols for them).

• Line 65/65a (Buxton - Sheffield, Mon-Sat to late afternoon): serves Calver, Froggatt and Grindleford (village);
• Line 66 (Tideswell - Chesterfield, Mon-Sat, useful service early evening): serves Calver, Baslow and the Robin Hood Inn;
• Lines 84/170 (Bakewell - Chesterfield, hourly Mon-Sat, every 2 hours Sun): serves Baslow and the Robin Hood Inn;
• Line 218 (Matlock/Bakewell - Sheffield, 7 days): serves the A621 by Bar Brook Bridge (half-hourly, cutting 8 km from the walk), Chatsworth House (hourly) and Baslow (half-hourly);
• Line 257 (Bakewell/Castleton - Sheffield, 7 days): serves Calver Sough, Frogatt and Grindleford (village).

An Extension at the end, along the Derwent River and via Upper Padley, adds 700m, but cuts tarmac.
An Alternative Ending, crossing Big Moor along White Edge, rises from the Derwent Valley at Baslow back onto the edges and takes a route higher - and more exposed - than the outward route, back to Grindleford Station. This adds 1.5 km distance and 172m ascent and is rated 8/10.

OS Explorer: OL24 (The Peak District - White Peak Area)
OS Landranger: 110 (Sheffield & Huddersfield)
Harvey Superwalker XT25: Peak District Central and South
Harvey British Mountain Map: Dark Peak or White Peak

Grindleford station, map reference SK 250 787, is 14 km south west of Sheffield, 224 km north west of Charing Cross, 165m above sea level and in Derbyshire. It is on the Hope Valley Line from Manchester to Sheffield, with a journey time of 14 mins from Sheffield. Sheffield Station is the terminus of the Midland Main Line from London St. Pancras, with two trains per hour (journey time from 116 mins Mon-Sat, longer on Sundays).

Saturday Walkers Club: Take a train no later than 9.00 hours.

Jolly's Coffee & Cake Car Park off Clodhall Lane, Curbar, Derbyshire, S32 3YR (07880 139925). 100m off route, 5.6 km/3.5 mi into the walk.
The Robin Hood Inn Chesterfield Road, Baslow, Derbyshire, DE45 1PQ (01246 582 551). The Robin Hood is located 10.4 km/6.4 mi into the walk.
At the Chatsworth Estate (all open daily, until at least 16.00), 13.6 km/8.4 mi from the start of the walk: Carriage House, The Parlour and Cavendish restaurants.

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

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National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Nov-24 Thomas G