It starts on the pavements of residential streets, once we reach open country the next half mile was a quag-fest after the recent rail....

StephenWalker

Crossing Coppice Brook, we take the wide track left out to Mlll Lane, then go right up the hill to an oddly large road junction, where we turn left into Kirk Lane, which soon becomes a narrow farm track. We pass a farm and shortly afterwards head downhill on a path through fields to another farm, where we go straight on down another farm lane then right along another. We go straight on up Over Lane and right along Overwood Lane then right again (using the fenced path just left of the Hilltop Farm lane), then down the lane to cross the A38 on a bridge....

Hugh Hudson

From Ripley, we follow pavements to the end of Sandham Lane and continue on the field path, which starts between fences and continues through trees before emerging onto open fields. We take the field path right between houses (some narrow squeeze stiles here and a little stone bridge) then turn right along more field edges to Hall Lane. At Slack Lane we take a shortcut path up to the quiet Gun Lane, which we follow up to the junction with Crich Lane, then continue across fields over the top of the hill and down to Newbridge Lane (just before the lane you have to go left slightly down a drive. Beyond the pub the road has an S bend, then we take a little path left through a wood and across a horse pasture and more fields to Bent Lane, where we turn right. Beyond the houses a path takes us left along field edges to a lane that leads down to Hay Lane, where we go right again....

Hugh Hudson

We are soon on the easy walk down the pavement of Nottingham Road, which can be crossed either at a zebra crossing where we join it or a pelican crossing lower down. The path soon rejoins the access road for the Derbyshire Police HQ, and lower down there is no pavement and plenty of traffic, until we pass the police dog training site on the Coach Road. Here I ignored the GPX and tried the shortcut path, which is a little overgrown but easy enough, with no stiles, and it saves an unnecessary dogleg and some pavement walking so I recommend it. Eventually we reach a farm lane where we cross the stream and continue along a fenced path past the farm buildings (ignore the signposted path left over the stile), then follow the lane which takes us to Nottingham Road in Selston at the meeting point, i.e....

Hugh Hudson

At the bottom of the hill we follow a path diverted along the side of the A38 to get to the track which crosses the overbridge and climbs to Hilltop Farm. We cross the road to enter the park and follow good tracks downhill to reach the car park on High Pavement....

StephenWalker

There are interesting panels around Pentrich recording the Pentrich Revolution of 1817 and around Crich about the various tramways....

StephenWalker

Here there is a shop and it was good to see that the surface of the next path has been improved along the edge of recent house building. The path, signed to Codnor Castle, is again well used along a field edge and in the dip it looks like the stream can flood. I'm not happy about the narrow path which is provided into the next fields, less than one metre wide just to retain private vehicle access for the owner across the bridge....

Ken

We cross the bridge over the heritage railway by Butterley station, then take the path right over stiles and along the field boundaries (note that the trodden line is less direct than the right of way). We follow the lane half left up the hill to Cray's Hill, where we cross and turn right. The bridleway follows the edge of a wood to an industrial road (Wimsey Way), where we turn right - there is a choice of following the wide road or the little path left parallel to it....

Hugh Hudson

We cross Lower Beauvale and take the second path half right which leads across the edge of the park to a bigger path, where we go half right, then turn left up the farm road at the crossroads. Where the farm road turns right up the hill, we go straight on and follow the field path to reach Brinsley on Mansfield Road. Here we turn sharp left along another farm road which becomes a track and then a field path, crossing the Erewash and going up half right towards a row of houses....

Hugh Hudson

The path follows an obvious trodden line across the first two fields, then left across a stile into a field, where we follow the hedge on the right to a stile in the corner (I misread the map at this point and followed a more obvious track above the hedge, but was eventually forced to retreat when I realised my mistake). We continue up the lane to the right of the farm buildings, and over the railway, where we either follow the path straight on or (as I did because I wasn't paying attention) stay on the lane up to the road, where we turn right and follow the road left round a wide corner. At the far end we cross another squeeze stile and follow the path through the wood to another field, which we cross to reach the houses at Mill Green, where we go left down the lane to the road, where we turn right. After crossing a bridge we turn right at a very old rusty footpath sign, where the path follows the wooded area a short distance before a raised squeeze stile leads left to an obvious path along the field edge....

Hugh Hudson

Starting from the square in Heanor, we walk down Market Street, and turn left down Derby Road, crossing at the pelican crossing. We continue a little further and turn right down Nook End Road and Kingsway, then right into Park Street and along the left edge of the Park. At Loscoe Denby Lane we go slightly right and then left along Grammer Street, and follow the path straight on at the end of the street to Codnor Denby Lane, where we turn right (pavement on the right) until we reach the signposted path left, following the signs around the house and then diagonally across the field to a track where we turn right....

Hugh Hudson

It follows mostly quiet roads out of Heanor with a light controlled crossing of the main road....

Ken

The first section is on quiet roads with short lengths of footpath to link them. From here a quiet lane with extensive views leads through lower Brinsley to reach the A608....

StephenWalker

The route leaves on quiet pavements before taking to the footpath around the school field. The footpath from the A610 underpass up to Wood Street was muddy and steeply uphill (in places), but there was firm ground available alongside....

StephenWalker

This is basicly a good route but an inconsiderate landowner / farmer has blocked the correct line of the path at Barnclose Farm Fritchley. I will post an unobstructed route but should we abandon routes that have illegal obstructions or should we take steps to have the obstruction resolved? So I intend to verify it and hope others will take a look....

Ken

A few stiles,sections of quiet road with no pavement and a short section of busyroad with a verge. Nothingto see here but an information board in Fritchley will tell more.Mill Green offers a former Hat Factory and a section of quiet roadwalking before more fields and a view over Fritchley before divinginto a pleasant wooded section. At the end of this it's possible todrop down to Lynam Road and avoid the loop around Tithe Farm butstaying high offers views across the Amber valley....

Ken

This route is well plotted starting along fenced field edges then more fenced in paths around the edge of Westwood and Jacksdale before a pleasant section alongside the disused Cromford canal. So I'm disappointed that I'm restricted to a narrow fenced route, overgrown, since stock no longer have access to graze it. The first mile and a half is alongside the often weed infested canal then close to the tunnel mouth, which needs a detour to inspect, the route joins the former Butterley Toll roads. Some have become adopted roads but here it's only a public footpath and the owners make futile attempts to prevent unauthorised vehicle use, so care is needed....

Ken

Leaving Ripley the route takes an off road route through a park but it can be wet and the path muddy, so Butterley Hill might be worth considering after rain. After crossing the heritage railway the route is back into fields again these can be muddy and the walked path may not be on the plotted line....

Ken

A Co-op offer a chance to stock up on drink and energy bars or if walking into Ripley take away food is available. Openwoodgate on the fringe of Belper offers an Inn and a Co-op before skirting around the sprawling town through green fields shared with cattle....

Ken

I walked the route Ripley to Wirksworth on a sunny day but I have walked the paths before. Crossing the Roman route of Ryknild Street then safely under the busy A38 bypass into Morley Park where remains of an early ironworks can be inspected just south of the route....

Ken

Very scenic and good views for a lot of the route having climbed out of Wirksworth. less interesting on the approach to Ripley. the Talbot Taphouse is a lovely micro pub in Ripley...

Julian Darke

A fairly steep climb out of wirksworth across fields and lanes with fabulous views....

Timb

Good views over the Erewash valley, the imposing remains of Codnor castle and the Nature Reserve in the valley....

Ken

This is a great walk BUT the permissive path across Whiteley brickworks has been closed. The definitive paths across the site are also obstructed pending a diversion being discussed between the landowner and Derbyshire CC. See Riphea-2 for an alternative route over this section....

Ken

It's not because stiles, uneven surface and long section of enclosed unfriendly paths make section unpleasant....

Ken