Walks in the East Midlands by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations in the East Midlands and plan your next day of green.
Nottingham Circular via Attenborough Nature Reserve (Nottinghamshire)
Off-road walking and cycling alongside canal and river — a waterside network of paths. Passes the historic Trent Bridge.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Derby Circular via Allestree Park (Derbyshire)
30 minutes direct from Nottingham.
Parks, river and heritage trail.
Time: 5h–10h30
6 lunch spots: Darley Park (1h–2h30 in) — Darley Park Terrace Cafe, the Little Darley in the Park, the Abbey Inn, or the Darleys; plus the Joiners Arms (3h–6h in), or the Orangery Café (3h–6h in)
4 end-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Victoria Inn, or the Waterfall
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.
Similar walk: North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership.
Duffield Circular via the Chevin (Derbyshire)
30 minutes from Nottingham, with one change.
Undulating countryside with several steep climbs.
Warnings: Several steep climbs.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Belper Circular via Kilburn (Derbyshire)
45 minutes from Nottingham, with one change.
Hilly countryside with several steep climbs. Alport Heights — a 314 m peak five miles away — is visible from the route on clear days. Route passes Holbrook.
Warnings: Several steep climbs.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Ambergate Circular via Pentrich (Derbyshire)
45 minutes from Nottingham, with one change.
Mixture of hilly and flat terrain with stiles along the way. Telling the story of the Pentrich Rising of 1817, exploring the local men who took part. Route passes through Fritchley and South Wingfield.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Oakham Circular via Manton (Rutland)
1 hour from Nottingham, with one change.
Villages, churches and views across the Vale of Catmose.
Time: 5h–10h30
2 lunch spots: the Horse and Jockey Pub (2h–3h30 in), or the Blue Ball (3h30–6h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Royal Duke, or the Grainstore Brewery
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.
Cromford Circular via Lea Bridge (Derbyshire)
1 hour from Nottingham, with one change.
Historic cotton mill, former railway track to High Peak Junction, canal towpath, deer park, bluebell woodland in Lea Wood, riverside fields and crossing of the River Derwent.
Walk details: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Similar walk: East Midlands Railway.
Grindleford Circular via Surprise View (Derbyshire)
1 hour 15 minutes from Nottingham, with one change.
Quite possibly the best views in the whole of the Hope Valley. Ancient mixed woodland with rocky brook and footbridges, open moorland and gritstone edge. Detailed route map, photographs and route preview video available.
Hilly: a quarter on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 2h–4h
Walk details: Let's Go Peak District (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Hathersage Circular via Stanage Edge (Derbyshire)
1 hour 15 minutes from Nottingham, with one change.
Green valley, gritstone escarpment edge, open moorland plateaus, ancient hill fort, narrow wooded gorge with tumbling waterfalls and quiet river pastures.
Time: 5h30
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Hope Circular via Hope Cross (Derbyshire)
1 hour 30 minutes from Nottingham, with one change.
The most magnificent views of the Hope Valley, the Edale Valley and even into the Derwent Valley. Hill trails over moorland and an old Roman road. Detailed route map, photographs and route preview video available.
Time: 3h–6h
Walk details: Let's Go Peak District (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Edale Circular via Mam Tor (Derbyshire)
1 hour 30 minutes from Nottingham, with one change.
Some of the most spectacular views in the Peak District. Footpaths, farm trails, gritstone ridge, hill trails and country lanes. Detailed route map, photographs and route preview video available.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Time: 3h30–7h30
Warnings: Challenging in places.
Walk details: Let's Go Peak District (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Melton Mowbray to Oakham (Leicestershire)
45 minutes from Nottingham, with one change.
Rural countryside.
Time: 5h30–11h30
2 lunch spots: Little Spice Box (3h–6h30 in), or the White Lion Inn (3h30–6h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Railway Inn, or the Grainstore Brewery
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.