Rank : 6.0 (average on 1 votes)Coordinates : 53.141127, -1.533731 (
Open in Google Maps)
Subjects : Main walk features old Mill Buildings and mill ponds aswell as some beautiful waterfalls. It's a great place for autumn colors and if you visit the woods and scrub moorlands higher up can find many different fungi and mushrooms as well as insects. The fields nearby can also be a great place for Buzzards.
Recommended equipment : A Tripod due to shaded location.A wide angle lens for buildings and waterfalls.Mid Telephoto lens for waterfall details plus plants and birds (i use a 70-200 which worked well).Macro Lens for butterflies, fungi etc - not essential but useful.Also be sure to pack a good coat and wear sturdy boots!
Best months : All year round really as it's a nice location but the months of September and October are perhaps best for the falls due to the Autumn colors.
How to get there : Easy access but parking can be a problem, aim for Highfields School (Upper Lumsdale) located on the lumsdale road (just off the A632 or Chesterfield road) and look for a small lay-by to park up. I do believe there are other parking areas but not been to those.There are some bus stops nearby aswell.Once parked up you have two options. Follow a footpath through the woods - This you follow till the trees end and you come to walled fields turn right and head downhill, you will soon come to stepping stones and the real walk begins from this point turn left and follow the paths in that direction. A word of caution the path going down to the stones get's pretty slick and i would not recommend using it in ice conditions.The second option is to simply walk up the road you are on (going past "ivy Cottage") and at the end turn left and follow the signs. Either way the walk is well signed and there are several information points with a map.
Visits : No charges for entry and open all year.If using the lay-by there will be no parking fees, however i can not confirm if other parking areas are also free (i have only used the lay-by as i normally walk to the location or get dropped off).
Notes : A hidden gem on the outskirts of Matlock.The walk itself is short (1-2 hours) but due to other paths and track-ways that lead off from the main route you can spend a good few hours there. If you wander up to the moors and woods (you can get to this easily by turning left instead of right on the woodland foot path at the beginning) you can see some great views of the area and find many fungi species including Fly agaric.
JuzaPhoto contains affiliate links from Amazon and Ebay and JuzaPhoto earn a commission in case of purchase through affiliate links.
