Ticknall - Calke Abbey - Ticknall Limeyards - Ticknall

Michael Astle

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The walk starts in Ticknall, a picture-postcard village with a number of historical features such as the old lock-up and a number of ancient water pumps. After the village, the walk leads you over fields into the extensive parkland of Calke Abbey, a National Trust property. It is relatively flat with an occasional quiet road-walk, taking you through a variety of landscapes that include a deer-park, a reservoir and old limekilns.

There is free car parking in Ticknall next to the village hall. There are also toilets here. The village shops and pubs can supply good food and meals. Toilets and refreshments are also available in Calke Abbey grounds. Take your card if you are a National Trust member.

A Google search for 'Ticknall, Derbyshire' will provide more information and photographs of the village. Ticknall once had a thriving brickyard making use of local clay deposits. Limestone was also quarried in large quantities and you will find remains of the old limekilns on your walk. These have SSSI status. The village also boasts one of the 200 surviving lock-ups in Britain.

The walk will take you through the grounds of Calke Abbey, built in 1701 by the Harpur Crewe family and now a National Trust property. It is dubbed 'The House that Time Forgot' and is a wonderful example of a grand country house in decline. The parklands are extensive and among their notable features are the many fallen trees left to nourish and encourage wildlife. Another interesting feature is the recently restored railway tunnel, where once a railway linked the lime-yards to the Ashby Canal. For this tunnel section a torch is advised, but an alternative route is provided if required.

(Covid-19 July 2020 - the permissive path between waymarks 12 and 13 has been closed temporarily. You may be able to divert from waymark 9 to 13 over the bridge)

England - Central England - Derbyshire - Countryside

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Great Views, Industrial Archaeology, Lake/Loch, National Trust, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, Stately Home, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland
10/16/2017 - Walkingworld Admin

Updated instructions and photos - October 2017. Thanks to Jill Hempsall for the feedback.

9/15/2017 - Jill Hempsall

I walked this route with a friend on 13/09/2017. Fabulous walk which we really enjoyed. There are a few updates needed though for guidance. Point 4. Before the third stile, there is now a gate and you cross a stone path before you get to the stile. Point 5. There are now two gates rather than a stile to the left of the main gate. Go through the right hand gate. Point 8 - walking through the fallen trees. There are two vaguely defined paths - you need to follow the one on the left closest to the lake. Point 14 - there are gates before and after the bridge and lime kilns. The hollow is no longer walkable - it's very overgrown but there is now a black metal bridge across the route giving easy access.

4/20/2017 - Iain Forsyth

A group of us (aged 7 to 70) did this on a mostly grey and drizzly Easter Sunday. We started from Calke Abbey (point 10) rather than Ticknall, being NT members we didn't have to pay to park. The first part was fairly busy with walkers but it quietened after point 12. (our only slight navigation issue - you take a left turn along the side of the deer park before you get to the stile & gate) Mostly on good paths and despite the drizzle dry underfoot. It's a very enjoyable walk with a good variety of scenery and environments, the Limeyards are very atmospheric and worth spending a little time in.The tunnel just about OK without a torch.

8/7/2013 - Jill Willis

We did this walk on 27 July 2013 and enjoyed every minute of it - it's very varied and full of interest. Dog-friendly - stiles had dog gates.

8/2/2009 - Mangal Mistry

I did this walk on 31/07/09. This is truly a very enjoyable walk, with varied beautiful scenery, parklands, lakes, woods, history and more. Author’s instructions were very clear and very easy to follow. Walk around Staunton Harold Reservoir is really idyllic. I’ve walked this area before, but discovered the Ticknall Limeyards for the first time. The wood here is dark and magical, with a canopy of very, very tall trees. I walked through the tunnel (without a torch) and it was thrilling. Only try this if you are surefooted, because it is very slippery and uneven. I enjoyed it.

2/26/2007 - Bernadette Burrows

Thoroughly enjoyable walk with beautiful scenery.

5/29/2006 - Judy Nolan

I'm sure this was longer than the stated milage - maybe I'm a new, unfit walker! Other than that, good walk & clear directions