Ashbourne - Mapleton - Swinscoe - Mayfield - Ashbourne

Paul John Bridgett

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A pleasant, not too difficult walk just outside the Peak District National Park area, starting from the market and spa town of Ashbourne. The route offers good views in several areas, looking into Dove Dale towards Thorpe Cloud and Bunster Hill and also back towards Carsington and across the Leicestershire plain towards Loughborough.

The route, mostly along field-paths and tracks, passes through the deer-park beside Okeover Hall, with its own small church beside. The hall is privately owned and there is no public access. There is one short section of road-walking between Mayfield and Hanging Bridge on the return section. All paths were clear and easily found when walked, though two stiles were missing due to broken walls.

The pub used on this route is the Dog and Partridge at Swinscoe. This is a motel and pub, welcoming walkers, though covering boots to protect their carpets is appreciated. Opening daily at lunchtimes, they offer a good-value menu and a couple of interesting real ales on hand-pumps, though vastly overpriced. When walked, these were Charles Well's Bombardier and Moorland's Old Speckled Hen.

England - Central England - Staffordshire - Countryside

Features

Birds, Church, Flowers, Pub, River, Stately Home, Wildlife, Woodland

8/6/2019 - Alan Bailey

The route is a strenuous moderate walk. The section from Ashbourne to Mapleton is easy to navigate but after that, it becomes difficult because the instructions are out of date and paths' have been rerouted. The section through Catholes wood is impassable to all but the determined and confident walker. Paths are blocked with fallen trees and deep in bracken and brambles. It is unlikely it has seen much traffic in recent years. Other paths are also overgrown. The route could do with some TLC and then would be a real gem but at the moment, it needs changing in some areas.

5/30/2016 - Lynn Clayton

Poor instructions throughout but instructions from Swinscoe to Ashbourne are impossible to follow - paths are being rerouted -the woods which this walk passes through appear to be fenced off and looked impassable anyway - shame because it passes through some lovely countryside - May 2016

2/2/2010 - michael whiteside

An excellent walk thank you but harder than we thought. Maybe because it was winter but some of the field paths were unmarked and the public waymarkers very sparse so a compass or preferably a GPS unit are advisable. Other than that very enjoyable and Ashbourne is a picturesue town to explore afterwards.