Video

Gallery

Map

Directions

Start: Saint Martin’s Church, Alfreton
(Park sensibly in the town centre.)

1. Enter the churchyard and follow the flagstone path straight ahead, keeping the church on your right. Leave the churchyard, turn sharply left, cross the stile beside the gate, and continue along the track for about half a mile.
   St Martin’s Church is reputed to be the oldest building in Alfreton. The lower arch was built in the 12th Century, and is the oldest part. The rest of the tower was completed 200 years later.
2. As the track bends right, go through the gate and cross the field. Cross the first stile and keep the hedge on your right. Cross a second stile, turn left and walk with the Heage to your left to the road. Turn right and continue for around 40 meters. Beware of traffic.
3. Cross the road carefully go through a gap in the hedge on the left. Follow the field edge with the hedge on your right. At the bottom, turn right into the copse and continue through the trees to the golf course.
4. Go straight ahead with the wood on your right. Cross the fairway (bunker on your left — look for low footpath sign). Continue across a second fairway, then head down the lane with the wood on your left. Turn left into Oakerthorpe Nature Reserve.
   Oakerthorpe Nature Reserve is formed from the remains of the Oakerthorpe coal mine, which helped to create a marshy area alongside Oakerthorpe Brook. This is now a nature reserve managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.
5. Cross the gravel path and keep straight ahead to the boardwalk. Follow it to the gate, cross the drive, pass the house, and continue to the road. Cross carefully and follow the footpath on the left.
6. Go through the gap and cross the lawn to Hollybank House car park. Head to the right-hand corner and follow the path with hedge/fence on your left. Continue up David’s Hill and follow the path around the field into woodland. Continue through woods and up the field with the hedge on your left, passing the radio mast.
7. Enter the next woodland and keep right along the top edge. At the steps, turn left and go downhill. Continue into the field and cross the stile. Walk downhill to the railway, cross the stile and turn right along the track.
   Wingfield Manor was built in the sixteenth century by Ralph de Cromwell, Lord Treasurer to Henry VI. Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned here in 1569 and again in 1584. Whilst there she plotted with Anthony Babington, a local squire, to escape with the intention of overthrowing Queen Elizabeth I. The conspiracy was foiled and Babington was executed in 1586. The manor is administered by English Heritage. Please note that Wingfield Manor is currently closed for the safety of visitors and no public access is allowed. Views from the footpath only.
8. Turn left under the railway tunnel onto a sports field. Go through the kissing gate and continue across the field. Follow the River Amber and cross the bridge to Holm Lane opposite Taylor’s Mill. Cross the road carefully to the pavement. Beware of traffic.
   South Wingfield (or ‘Winfield’ according to old records) is believed to have had two mills. Taylor’s Mill (opposite) dates back to the 17th century, although there was a mill on this site long before. The other mill was believed to have been under the walls of Wingfield manor.
9. Turn right and walk to the church. Turn left into the churchyard, pass to the right of the church, and cross the stile& gate into the field.
   All Saints Parish church dates back to the 13th century. What is believed to be the tomb of the ancient Norman family of DeHeriz can be found in the churchyard. This family were the lords of the Manor of Oakerthorpe. The tomb cover, found beneath the east window, depicts a knight lying cross-legged.
10. Follow the path to the squeeze stile. Turn right and head uphill to the railway bridge. Cross the bridge, then turn left to follow the path beside the quarry through two wicket gates. Go through the squeeze stile and follow the path to Dale Road.
11. Turn right up Dale Road to the junction. Cross the road carefully to the footpath opposite. Continue through six fields towards the wood and church. At the small wood, turn right along the track towards the gate.
12. Turn left through the gate to rejoin the route back to Saint Martin’s Church.

Disclaimer

Please note that the council update these leaflets on a periodic rolling basis and that some landmark information may have changed. The footpaths should remain in place and be signposted and be clearly marked on the Ordnance Survey maps. Please report problems you may find so that these can be investigated to tourism@ambervalley.gov.uk.