Derbyshire Dales Walking Festival 2023
Welcome to the Derbyshire Dales Walking Festival
This Festival has been put together in partnership with some of the organisations who offer free led walks. Included are walks of a variety of distances and geographies around the Derbyshire Dales.
Walking Festival 2023 web version (pdf 0.5MB)
Dates
Monday 25th September to Sunday 1st October
How to book
All walks are free and led by experienced volunteer walk leaders and must be booked
To book your place contact Helen Milton, DDDC Health Walks Coordinator
phone or text 07775 931047 or email:
Walk Details - walks must be booked
Monday 25th Sep
- 1:30pm Ashbourne with Ashbourne U3A
Ashbourne to The Royal Oak and return to Ashbourne via Clifton goal. Three mile level walk through fields. Some stiles. At the Royal Oak cross the A52 at Hanging Bridge and return via the Shrovetide Clifton goal. Refreshments at The Stepping Stones. Meet at the Homebase end of Waterside car park to begin the walk at 1.30pm prompt
- 2pm Wirksworth with DDDC Health Walks
Very steady walk for up to 1.5hrs covering about 2 miles. Meet in Wirksworth Leisure Centre car park
Tuesday 26th Sep
- 9:30am Dovedale with Ashbourne U3A.
This Dovedale walk will be around 10 miles and take about 6 hours. Well behaved dogs on a short lead will be welcome. We will start from Dovedale car park (National Trust) at 9.30am.
- 10:30am Darley Bridge with DD Ramblers.
Steady walk 4 miles in ~2.5hrs. Meet at Darley Bridge in the free car park by Cricket Ground (SK269623, DE4 2JY)
- 2pm Hassop Station Walks for All with Peak District National Park.
Fully accessible, dementia friendly stroll for up to 1hr along the Monsal Trail followed by tea and cake. Meet outside Hassop Station cafe
Wednesday 27th Sep
- 9:30am Ashbourne to Wirksworth via Carsington, getting the bus back with Ashbourne U3A
This is a linear walk with options to join and leave at the half way point in Carsington. 5 or 10 miles. 3hrs for each 5 miles and and hour for lunch at Carsington
Meet point 1 - Ashbourne Memorial Gardens at 9:30am sharp for a 5 mile walk to Carsington (DE6 1EJ, OS ref: SK 1817 4680
Meet point 2 - Millfields car park picnic area Carsington Water at 13:30pm sharp for a 5 mile walk to Wirksworth (DE6 3JL, OS ref:25093 49701)
Approximate Duration of Walk: 7 hours Total, including an hour for picnic lunch - or 2 x 3 hours walking
- 10am Darley Bridge with DDDC Health Walks
Steady walk of about 3.5 miles in 90mins meeting at the free car park by the Cricket ground
- 10:30am Ilam with DDDC Health Walks
Steady walk of about 5.5miles in 3hrs meeting in Ilam Hall stable yard with parking in the National Trust car park (DE6 2AZ, SK 131507) or roadside in the village
Thursday 28th Sep
- 10am Matlock with DDDC Health Walks
Very steady walk of about 2 miles in 90mins meeting at the Bandstand in Hall Leys Park
- 10am Foolow with DDDC Health Walks
Steady walk of about 4 miles in 2hrs meeting parking next to the village green
- 10am Ilam with DD Ramblers
Steady walk of 8 miles in about 4.5hrs meeting in Ilam Hall National Trust car cark (SK131507, DE6 2AZ). Route: Rushley, Musden Wood, Blore, Manifold Trail
Friday 29th Sep
- 10:30am Bakewell with DDDC Health Walks
Very steady walk of about 2 miles in 90mins meeting on Water Street by the Bakewell Pudding Shop outside cafe
- 10:30am Narlows Lane with DDDC Health Walks supporting MacMillan Coffee Morning at Thorpe
This will be a great walk supporting a wonderful cause. The walk will be about 6 miles in 4hrs including the cake stop. Meeting in Narlows Lane free PDNP car park (DE6 2AT, SK163504)
Saturday 30th Sep
- 10am Matlock with DDDC Health Walks
Very steady walk of about 2 miles in 90mins meeting at the Bandstand in Hall Leys Park
- 10:30am Cromford Wharf fully accessible walk to Aqueduct Cottage and back for a Heritage Talk
We will meet at Cromford Wharf and walk along the canal, past High Peak Junction, where we will be met by a volunteer from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust who has been working on the restoration of Aquaduct Cottage. The walk is 1.5 miles in each direction (3 miles in total) and will take about 2.5 hours including the talk
Sunday 1st Oct
- 10am Calton Lees with DD Ramblers
Walk of 11miles over 5.5hrs meeting in Calton Lees car park near Chatsworth (SK258685, DE4 2NX) Route: Calton Pastures, Jubilee Rock
- 10:30am Hathersage with DDDC Health Walks
Family walk to Thorpe Farm for Hope Valley ice cream. This walk meets in the car park on Oddfellows Road opposite the swimming pool in Hathersage, walks along the river to Thorpe Farm and Hope Valley ice cream parlour (not included - must be paid for) and then returns to Hathersage through the fields. Just over a mile each way—about 2 hours total including time at the Farm.
With thanks to
Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC) - www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/healthwalks
Peak District National Park - www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Derbyshire Dales (DD) Ramblers Group - www.derbyshiredalesramblers.org.uk
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust - www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
Ashbourne U3A strolling, walking & hiking groups - www.u3asites.org.uk/ashbourne