Distance: 4.3 miles
Time: 2 hours approximately
Accent: 530 feet
Parking: Free, next to the road
Public Transport Links: Train and buses both stop in Ambergate
Refreshments: The Hurt Arms
From the village of Ambergate, this route takes you into Shining Cliff Woods – and it really does feel like stepping into a different world. One minute you’re near the main road, the next you’re under the trees with the noise fading away and just birds and the breeze for company. The woods have been here a long time, once part of an old royal hunting forest, and you can still spot bits of history tucked away if you know where to look.
It’s a cracking place to walk, whatever the time of year. In spring, you’ll get the bluebells coming through, covering the ground, and all year round there’s plenty to see – from winding paths and little streams to the odd view down towards the River Derwent. And it’s not just nature either – this area used to be busy with industry, including the old wire works down by Ambergate, which played its part in the valley’s working past. You might not love the look of an old disused factory, but you can’t question that it adds something different to the walk!
There’s nothing fancy about it, just proper woodland, fresh air, and a bit of peace and quiet. That’s what makes it so good – it’s somewhere you can slow down, clear your head, and just enjoy being out.
Step-by-step walk guide:
This walk begins in Ambergate, if you’re at the T-Junction facing The Hurt Arms, turn left and then immediately right, this will take you over the bridge over the river Derwent and there will be parking on your left.
From here we head right up the track with the Derwent on your right.
This track gently rises and bends to the left keeping the Derwent on your right and the woods on your left.
When you come to a fork in the road, on the right you’ll see a barrier stopping cars entering, go right downhill and keep following this track as you pass buildings on your right and on your left.
Partway along these buildings you’ll find The Wireworks Project, an exhibition of art. If you’re lucky enough to be passing when it’s open it’s well worth a visit.
Continue to follow this past the buildings until you reach another barrier stopping vehicles.
The track then starts to head uphill again, and away from the buildings.
Continue following this track all the way up until it starts to bend to your left again, continue on this track.
The track will eventually bend to the left while you’ll hit a T junction, at this point head left.
You will see a big opening, where, in the past couple of years, they’ve cut down numerous trees.
At the top of this stood Betty Kenny’s Tree, an old Derbyshire legend which says it’s where the Nursery rhyme rock-a-bye baby came from. Legend has it in the 1700s a woman named Betty Kenny lived in the tree with her husband and eight children and that she rocked her babies to sleep in one of the trees enormous hollowed out branches. Sadly, very, very little of the Tree remains but a lovely piece of Derbyshire history (if it’s true of course, which it probably isn’t but it’s a lovely story).
Continue following this path along the top of the woods with the fields on your right.
When you see a style taking you into the fields, take it but continue to stick with the woods on your left and the field on your right and, follow the edge of this tree line.
Continue along this ridge, until eventually you’ll hit a point where it joins the Midshires Way, at this point turn left and head back down into the woods.
The path then meanders back down through the wood, eventually coming out at a beautiful little pond.
It’s lovely to stop here for a minute, have a cup of coffee or a sandwich and just enjoy this beautiful, tranquil piece of nature.
Once you’re ready to set off, with the pond on your right head over a small bridge, you’ll then be stood at a crossroads, take the path straight ahead and continue down through the woods.
Follow this all the way back down until it joins the track that you set off on.
This track will lead you down and back to the car park.
All in, it’s a proper ‘Derbyshire walk’ – a bit of everything thrown in. You’ve got the quiet of the woods, a bit of local history, and just enough of a climb to feel like you’ve earned that pint at the end. Result!
