Walk the Derwent Valley
Discover the beauty, splendour and heritage of Derbyshire’s River Derwent by following the Heritage Way
The Derwent Valley Heritage Way is a 55 mile walk from Ladybower Reservoir in the Peak District National Park, via Chatsworth and breathtaking scenery around the Derbyshire dales, and through the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
Follow the riverside path through Derby and continue onwards to the historic inland port of Shardlow. Journey’s end is at Derwent Mouth where the Derwent flows into the River Trent.
As well as the river, the Derwent Valley Heritage Way takes in a reservoir, miles of open countryside – much of it within the Peak District National Park – two canals, the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, villages and towns, a stately home, and numerous museums and other sites of interest. There are also plenty of pubs, tea shops and other places to recharge your batteries!
View the interactive map to explore each section of the route, and click on the points of interest to learn more.
Walking experiences
-
Views from the outside!
Some interesting outside views of walking the Heritage Way – from Derby Telegraph, The Guardian, and more.
Herb Eppel’s adventure in 2022
Claire and Tim Hollinghurst June 23
The Guardian 2022
Josh Allen April 2022
-
A Three-Day Ramble along the Heritage Way
With a new guidebook edition imminent, and days rapidly shortening into winter, my good friend Clon Ulrick and I took the chance to spend three days on a complete walk of “the Way”. Clon and I had met in Botswana years ago, when both living there. We used to camp together with our families in…
-
The ultimate 5-day walk: Along the Derwent Valley Way
From Ladybower to Derby – Derek Latham, Chair of the Derwent Valley Trust, explores the beautiful Derwent Valley on foot. Day 1 We set off late Sunday afternoon from the Upper Derwent Visitor Centre, crossing below the majesty of the dam that holds the Derwent reservoir. It was this dam where the Lancaster’s practiced dropping…
