Whatstandwell-Lea-Dethick-Holloway 8 Mile Circular

A steep-in-parts woodland, meadow and country lanes walk linking some old Derbyshire settlements.This route starts in the pay-and-display railway station car park at Whatstandwell. (There is an alternative free carpark about 200 yards along the route where Main Road crosses the Cromford canal). A short section of easy walking along the Cromford canal tow path leads onto a footbridge crossing the canal into Oxhay Wood and a steep climb along a disused quarry route previously used to transport stone from the nearby quarrys down to the canal for onward transport. An interesting mix of woodland, pasture and old quarry cuttings before the path climbs upwards crossing Leashaw (road), past a small farm steading at Wakebridge to continue the climb. At the top the path levels out into farmland with some easy walking down towards Lea, where we join Lea Main Road for a short distance before turning right. A short decsent, across a stream and a short climb up another hill and we enter Dethick. The churchyard offers a convenient seat for a tea stop.From Dethick we turn west and follow country lanes all the way down towards Lea again before turning right onto a footpath leading to picturesque stepping stones across a small brook. The path takes a moderately difficult route for a while from here, traversing through woodland and along leaf covered paths before opening out into pastures with more steep climbs. As the route reaches Brecks Woods it turns left onto a long descending footpath. Upon emerging from the woodland we’re rewarded with stunning views over the valley bottom, Cromford and upto Black Rocks. Another great spot to take the flask out.Continuing downwards along the well defined footpath we emerge into Lea Bridge in the vally bottom, which means another steep climb up Mill Lane into Holloway. We leave Holloway on a footpath that takes us down paths and footways towards the Cromford canal where we eventually rejoin the it after crossing over a canal tunnel and looping back onto the tow path. A short walk back to the car from here.An excellent, quite physical route overall and very enjoyable.

OS Maps Required

OS Explorer Map (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 109 and 111) Cornwall Set

Map of Trail