Downloads: GPX File | KML File | FIT File | Google Maps File | OS Online route
About Chatsworth House | About Bakewell | Parking Location | OS Map | Current Weather
We started from the main car park in Bakewell and headed over the river, past the Agricultural Business Centre to follow the path which runs parallel with the agricultural way. This path moves through multi-use fields and soon you move off the flat dull section to head into more grassy fields, straddled by woodland. We continued through the fields, following a small river and eventually passing by a large farmhouse. This path ends at a road, which we followed to our left. The road heads up to a farmhouse, so there is only a small chance of encountering cars. We followed this until the path on the right and from here we were back on a typical peak district path, a small dirt track with fields reaching off to the side and rolling hills in the distance.
At the end of this path, we joined Park Road for a short while, passing Bowling Green Farm and then heading off to the right down Park Lane. Park lane was mostly a dirt track, with a slightly rocky section which very soon got us to the bottom of the hill and joined Haddon Road. We walked along the pavement here for a short while before heading onto a path to the left through a hedgerow. This took us into the outskirts of Rowsley and got us directly onto the Derwent Valley Heritage Way. The start of this was through a farm, the path here was mucky from cows regularly using it. It stays mucky until you reach a tunnel. Here, the path clears up and before you know it, you’re walking alongside the River Derwent.
The walking here was great, wide-open fields with a large forest to one side and the river on the other. The path is very easy to follow and outside of a little height at the end, the only thing you might need to deal with is cows. On our walk, there was plenty in the field, but they were away from the path and kept to themselves.
Eventually, the path brings you out to the tiny village of Calton Lees. This is a beautiful small village with immaculate houses and perfect cottage gardens, it felt so serene that it was a shame to leave. It doesn’t take long at all to exit the other side and head up towards the garden centre. From here we passed by the car park and then over the main road down into the Chatsworth Estate, continuing to follow the river Derwent. We were still on the Derwent Valley Heritage Way here, and it’s understandable why this was picked as part of the walk, the views are amazing. You can see Chatsworth house, which continues to get closer with every step, as well as having open fields with the slowly flowing river passing past you.
Once at the bridge, you have the option to take it to Chatsworth House. We did discuss looking around, but the price put us off. So instead, we continued our walk which took a path over the road and up over a hill. While we were following this route, several horse-drawn carts passed us on the path. It was a bit of a novelty that we hadn’t had before, and it fitted well with the setting. Continuing over the hill we came back to the main road. Crossing over here, we soon made it to Edensor. Now if ever there was a village that showed off the English way; cottage gardens, a small church, beautiful grounds, then it is Edensor. There is a fantastic little coffee shop here, so we stopped and had coffee and cake (the best coffee I've ever had at a coffee shop might I add! And the cakes were great too).
Once finished here, we headed up the main path out of Edensor, passing more of these perfectly crafted gardens. Eventually the path leads you up the hill, through a tree-lined trail which finishes at Handley Lane. This is a bit of a busier road, so we took our time and only a few cars did pass us. There is plenty of room to get out of the way if needed and soon you come across a path to the left. This leads through the local golf course (watch out for golf balls!) then eventually through a small woodland and finishes at an old train station on the Monsal Trail.
We jumped onto the Monsal Trail for a quick flat burst to the next “off-ramp” which is then just a gentle wander along the road to get back into the heart of Bakewell. We found this route to be a terrific way to discover the surrounding areas of Bakewell, including Chatsworth and the beautiful Edensor.
