Birchen Edge to Chatsworth walk

Nearing the northern end of Birchen Edge the path veers left away from the edge and winds its way down through the heather and across the moorland. Cross the stile and turn left to cross the A621. Walk up the minor road for about 200 metres. At the top of the hill turn left through a small gate and immediately turn right onto a track by the 'Boundary of 0pen Country' sign. Follow the track with the high wall on your right. This is the ancient 'CHESTERFIELD ROADE' as you will see on a stone pillar. Where the wall ends keep straight on to the Wellington Monument, noticing the Eagle Stone on your right. About ¾ mile from the minor road you will reach the Wellington Monument, built in 1866 to commemorate his visit to the Duke of Rutland. From the monument continue along the track for about 150 metres and at a T-junction of tracks turn left. Follow the wide stony track downhill go through a gate. Continue down the walled and hedged track for nearly ½ mile to meet the surfaced road of Bar Road. Follow Bar Road down, passing two roads off left and right, for about 250 metres to the grass island at the junction of School Lane and Bar Road, then turn to the left. Walk down Eaton Hill into Nether End, Baslow. Cross the main A619. Turn left along the minor road to pass Café on the Green Tea Rooms on your left.

With Café on the Green Tea Rooms on your left cross the bridge and turn right into the Chatsworth estate, following the track past the cottages and through the Cannon Kissing Gate. Keep straight on following the path. When you reach White Lodge, in about 500 metres, turn left up the short tree-lined road. At the T-junction turn right to follow the estate road for about ½ mile.

From the house walk up towards the stable block, go to the left hand side of it and follow the track up over a cattle grid, passing Chatsworth Farmyard on your left. Follow the estate road as it bears right up through the wood signed 'Stand Wood Walks'. After about 100 metres opposite an old building and just before four coloured arrows on a low stone on the lefthand side of the road. turn left.

Walk up a narrow woodland path through the laurels and rhododendrons. Cross a wider track diagonally left and continue up the winding narrow path, crossing a stream and walking round a large yew tree to the steps. Climb the 148 steps to the Hunting Tower. Turn left to follow the road round the tower. At a crossing of roads turn left still on a surfaced road through the woods. After about'/3 of a mile, and where the road bends right up to a large shed, keep straight on along a farm track for a few metres. Just before a gateway turn left through the wood following the wall on your right. Cross the high wall stile. Turn right then left to follow the wall on your right.

From here you can see Nelson's Monument and the 'Three Ships'. After about 300 metres and before the wall corner' the path bears left down to cross another high stile. Keep straight on up the field to walk along the concessionary path of Dobb Edge. Cross the stile in the field corner. Follow the narrow winding rocky and undulating concessionary path, crossing two stiles. After about 400 metres at the end of Dobb Edge cross a ladder stile. Bear left downhill following the waymarked post and crossing a wider track, then on down steps to cross a planked bridge and up the steps to the road. Cross the busy A619 and turn right back to The Robin Hood and Birchen Edge car park.

PLEASE NOTE WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED THERE IS SOME DAMAGE TO THE BRIDGE