Walks you can reach from Matlock by train
Stations: Matlock · Matlock Bath
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Matlock.
Cromford Circular via Lea Bridge (Derbyshire)
3 minutes direct from Matlock Bath.
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.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Similar walk: East Midlands Railway.
Ambergate Circular via Pentrich (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Matlock Bath.
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.
Time: 3h30 (2h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Belper Circular via Kilburn (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Matlock Bath.
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.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Several steep climbs.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Duffield Circular via the Chevin (Derbyshire)
30 minutes direct from Matlock Bath.
Undulating countryside with several steep climbs.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Several steep climbs.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Derby Circular via Allestree Park (Derbyshire)
30 minutes direct from Matlock Bath.
Parks, river and heritage trail.
Museum of Making (30m in)
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
6 lunch spots: Darley Park (1h15 in) — Darley Park Terrace Cafe, the Little Darley in the Park, the Abbey Inn, or the Darleys; plus the Joiners Arms (3h in), or the Orangery Café (4h 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.
Ambergate to Langley Mill (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Matlock Bath.
One of the world’s oldest industrial regions. Overgrown canal towpath, woodland and field crossings and ironworks remains. Follows the route of the disused Cromford Canal. Butterley Tunnel (nearly 3 km) collapsed in 1900, severing the canal into two sections.
Waterway: two thirds along the Cromford Canal.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Substantial tree blockages on overgrown sections; busy A610 road crossing.
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).
Ambergate to Alfreton (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Matlock Bath.
Impressive views back across Amber valley. Predominantly countryside walk. Walk takes in Pentrich, where the doomed Pentrich Revolution began in June 1817 — an early working-class uprising following the Napoleonic Wars. Route follows parts of the former Cromford Canal.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Follows a busy road for a sixth of the walk. Busy A610 with lorry traffic; stiles.
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).
Ambergate to Cromford (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Matlock Bath.
Terrain along a preserved canal towpath. Walk follows preserved Cromford Canal from industrial heritage site at Ambergate to Cromford, birthplace of factory system under Richard Arkwright in 1771.
Waterway: almost all along the Cromford Canal.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Watch out for cyclists on the towpath.
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).
Similar walk: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership.
Ambergate to Whatstandwell (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Matlock Bath.
Excellent views. Unmade road, woodland paths and open parkland and field paths. No steep climbs. Follows the Midshires Way for a substantial section.
Time: 3h30 (2h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Take care crossing the A6.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Belper to Ambergate (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Matlock Bath.
Footpaths, wooded valley paths, fields, stiles and tracks and a ridgeline route.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Knee-trapper stiles; two steady climbs make this a more demanding route.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Belper to Duffield (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Matlock Bath.
Superb views over open country. Footpaths through ancient deer park, farm tracks, a tarmaced lane and bridleway across fields and river-bank path. Passes through the historic settlements of Bargate and Holbrook and follows the Midshires Way for part of the route.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: The right of way cuts straight through the front yards of a row of cottages — this is the right of way.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Duffield to Derby (Derbyshire)
30 minutes direct from Matlock Bath.
Repurposed railway track along the Great Northern Greenway.
Duffield Castle (National Trust)
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
2 lunch spots: the Bell and Harp (1h in), or the Three Horseshoes (2h15 in)
4 end-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Waterfall, or the Merry Widows
Warnings: Follows a busy road for a sixth of the walk.
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.