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Chelmorton and Deep Dale

Recommended by

Our view

"Explore a rocky dale near Chelmorton where industry and wildlife seem to co-exist."

Walk directions

From the church or pub walk down Church Lane to the first road junction, with a bench on the corner. Turn right on a signposted public footpath and follow this between buildings away from the village. Keep left approaching Shepley Farm.

When you get to the road, cross over and take the right-hand of two public footpaths. Follow this grassy track, initially walled then out across fields, to the right of Burrs Farm. Join an unmade farm track, then where this bends left go down to the bottom right corner and on along the foot of a shallow valley to the far end.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Unmade lanes, grassy fields, rocky valley paths including steep sections; many stiles

Landscape - Open fields and a deep, narrow limestone dale

Dog friendliness - On lead except in walled lanes away from farms

Parking - Chelmorton village streets

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Derbyshire Dog-friendly walks in Derbyshire

About the walk

At first glance the limestone upland of the White Peak seems quite a gentle and benign landscape, but there is a series of narrow dales etched out of the rock that can take your breath away. It’s no surprise that there are several Deep Dales in the Peak District, but the one at the heart of this... walk is located a mile or so west of Chelmorton and includes everything from rocky staircases to cavernous holes and huge slopes of scree. Rocky staircase The route begins at the village of Chelmorton, one of the highest in the Peak District and overshadowed by the prominent hill of Chelmorton Low (1,463ft/446m), which proves a useful direction finder later on in the walk. The straightforward approach to Deep Dale across fields is no preparation for the sudden and unexpected descent into Marl Dale, a short rocky staircase taking you past the entrance to Churn Hole cave. Marl Dale is only a short side valley that soon leads to the long and winding Deep Dale, much of it a nature reserve managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. It’s a dry limestone valley, with narrow slopes often edged with bare rock and cliffs or huge slopes of scree. Scrub and small patches of woodland dot the slopes, but elsewhere the rough grass sides reach down to the dale floor. Quarry As you turn into Deep Dale you can’t help but be aware of Topley Pike Quarry. It’s mostly hidden from view, but if you’re there on a weekday you will certainly hear it, and as you progress into Deep Dale alongside its perimeter fence you can’t help but notice the signs warning you to stay out. The opposing forces of conservation and development are close bedfellows here. You leave the dale on a steep, winding path above a small cave. But if caves are your thing then also venture a little further up the dale to explore the much bigger Thurst House Cave. It’s located high on the upper eastern slope and, when excavated in the 1880s, yielded Romano-British pottery and the bones of a great brown bear. Tumuli and Cairns Prehistoric remains are not confined to caves, however. As well as being a useful landmark, Chelmorton Low is also notable for a pair of round Bronze Age barrows, or tumuli, that adorn its summit. You can reach them across access land from the left-hand bridleway beyond the Church Inn. Further along the escarpment towards Taddington is Five Wells chambered cairn, the highest of its kind in Britain.

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About the area

The natural features of this central English county range from the modest heights of the Peak District National Park, where Kinder Scout stands at 2,088 ft (636 m), to the depths of its remarkable underground caverns, floodlit to reveal exquisite Blue John stone. Walkers and cyclists will enjoy the High Peak Trail which extends from the Derwent Valley to the limestone plateau near Buxton, and for many, the spectacular scenery is what draws them to the area.

Route details

Difficulty:

Medium

Gradient:

Challenging

Distance:

3.5 miles (5.7kms)

Ascent:

787ft (240m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

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Chelmorton and Deep Dale

Recommended by

Our view

"Explore a rocky dale near Chelmorton where industry and wildlife seem to co-exist."

Walk details

Difficulty:

Medium

Gradient:

Challenging

Distance:

3.5 miles (5.7kms)

Ascent:

787ft (240m)

Walk directions

1 of 6

2 of 6

Go over a stile and down a steep but short rocky staircase into Marl Dale. Follow the path along the valley floor and before the path swings right, into Deep Dale, look for the gate on the left.

3 of 6

Go through the gate and to the left of the Wildlife Trust noticeboard on a stepped path up the steep hillside. This swings round to the right, levels off and continues alongside the quarry’s boundary fence. Go down a gravel path, over a stile by a pond and out along the valley bottom.

4 of 6

After about 0.75 miles (1.2km) there’s a crossroads of paths, before the dale bends left. At the junction turn left for a steep, zig-zag path up the hillside past a cave entrance. At the top go over a stile, into the field and up the right-hand edge to cross another stile.

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Now follow the path through fields, aiming just to the right of Chelmorton Low on the skyline. When you reach a walled lane turn left, then in a few paces right on to another, called Caxterway Lane. Follow this back to the road crossed earlier in the walk and on to Chelmorton.

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Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Unmade lanes, grassy fields, rocky valley paths including steep sections; many stiles

Landscape - Open fields and a deep, narrow limestone dale

Dog friendliness - On lead except in walled lanes away from farms

Parking - Chelmorton village streets

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Derbyshire Dog-friendly walks in Derbyshire

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Derbyshire

Chelmorton and Deep Dale

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Walking in Safety

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Chelmorton and Deep Dale

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