Ambergate Betty Kenny Walk

Go out of the car park entrance and down the steps on the left. Go down to the main road (A610). Turn left to go under the railway bridge and left again to walk along the A6. Cross the road (beware of traffic) opposite Holly Lane. Walk down Holly Lane with the church on your left, and over Ha’penny Bridge.

Turn right and follow the single track road that runs along the bottom of the woodland. Continue for 1/4 mile and take the public footpath on the right (no vehicular access). Follow the path as it leads down through the old wire works. Continue all the way through the works following signs for the YHA until you reach the woodland.

At the woodland do not continue to follow signs for the YHA but go straight ahead through the woodland (a mixture of sweet chestnut, oak and sycamore of approximately 100 years old) travelling parallel with the River Derwent and A6. Whilst in the wood, follow the wooden posts with the white stripe at the top.

Continue through the barrier and follow the path. After 1/4 mile take the right fork to follow the path downhill for a short distance.

After half a mile take the main path on the left. Follow this uphill (marked by white posts) with pine trees on your right. Halfway up the hill, take the path on your right uphill into the pine trees. The white posts lead you to the remains of the Betty Kenny Tree.

Follow the path beyond the Betty Kenny tree down the hill, head towards the stone wall at the edge of the wood. Cross the public footpath and continue ahead, skirting the edge of the wood next to the stone wall. (Over the wall are views of the Hurt family home, Alderwasley Hall, and their estate.)

Follow the path and go over the boardwalks. Continue straight ahead, climbing through the woodland. Take care to keep away from the old quarry edge. Keep children and pets under close control.

At the top of the hill take time to briefly leave the path and look at the view. Take care near the edge. There are good views down the Derwent valley. Landmarks such as Heage windmill and Crich Stand can been seen on a clear day.

Join the path again and follow it as it gently travels down through the wood. Eventually the path joins a wider path. Do not follow the path to the YHA but continue ahead. At the junction turn left to continue downhill.

At the bottom of the hill turn right to travel back the way you came through the old wireworks. Follow the path along the bottom of the wood and turn left along Holly Lane. Cross the A6 (beware of traffic). Turn left and then right to go under the railway bridge, right again, and right again up the steps and back to the railway car park.