Route: Chatsworth
Area: Derbyshire, Peak District
Date of walk: 9th August 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 9.6 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Mixed cloud and sunshine, some light rain
On the first day of our short walking break in the Peak District we decided to visit Chatsworth House by including it in a circular walk from the village of Beeley. We walked out of the attractive village alongside the Beeley Brook and then followed a path through the woods onto open moorland known as the Rabbit Warren. From here we descended to Chatsworth House
This should have been the climax of the walk but for us it was a little disappointing. Much of the house was hidden behind white sheets and scaffolding, unavoidable since renovation works are in progress, but the issue for us was the sheer number of visitors, drawn to this place by the numerous attractions on offer. The grounds are full of interest but next time we’ll arrive early and not during school holidays in order to properly appreciate them
After leaving the house we followed a path beside the River Derwent. The surrounding parkland was stunningly beautiful, having been designed by Capability Brown, and we had good sightings of the herds of fallow deer that roam around here. After crossing the bridge over the Derwent we followed a path through the fields back into Beeley to end a wonderful walk
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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Beeley Brook at the start of today’s walk
Walking past cottages built of gritstone
Beeley Plantation ahead
We follow the woodland path through Beeley Plantation and Hell Bank Plantation
We emerge onto Rabbit Warren, with good views over the surrounding countryside…
Chatsworth Park
We enter the woodland near Chatsworth House
Swiss Lake and Swiss Cottage, part of the Chatsworth Estate
View of the parkland from the Elizabethan Hunting Tower
The village of Edensor (pronounced ‘Ensor’), which was moved in its entirety by the sixth Duke of Devonshire as it spoiled his view
We enter the gardens of Chatsworth House - this is the Cascade
The south facade of Chatsworth House
The east and north facades are undergoing a major project of essential restoration
The Victorian Rock Garden
Emperor Fountain, powered by water pressure dropping 122m. It was built to impress Czar Nicholas, but he failed to visit
Walking Madonna by Dame Elisabeth Frink
Chatsworth Park as we leave the gardens
We cross Paine’s Bridge over the River Derwent to start the return leg to Beeley
A walk in the park
Looking back from the riverside path
Fallow deer on the opposite bank of the river…
We pass by the Old Mill, last used in 1950 for grinding corn, now preserved as a romantic ruin
Fly fishing
We cross the bridge at Calton Lees
Looking back towards Chatsworth from the bridge
We walk along an avenue of trees
St Anne’s Church Beeley, and the end of our walk
We were staying at nearby Fischer’s Baslow Hall (which I can highly recommend) and later that day I took a few close up photos in the lovely gardens…
