The length of a walk is not so much a matter of miles, but of interest. Certainly Lumsdale near Matlock is short, yet so many watermills are crammed into this narrow gorge that progress slows to a crawl beside Bentley Brook cascading down past the ghostly shells of the disused mills. The Arkwright Society now owns the land and the area was scheduled an ancient monument in 2014.
LOCATION: Matlock, South Peak District
START: Turn right off A632, one mile from Matlock & park on Upper Lumsdale Road opposite Highfields School
Grid ref: SK313612 Postcode: DE4 5LG
DISTANCE: 2.5 miles
GRADE: Easy, but with steps & a short climb
TIME: 2 hours
MAP: Explorer OL - White Peak Landranger 119
REFRESHMENTS: The Gate
EN ROUTE: Foxholes, Tansley Knoll
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News