CP=check point
cp=car park
brg=bearing (magnetic)
fp=footpath
R=right
L=left
sp=signposted
Times are for a steady walking pace.
On leaving the pavilion cross the road and turn L over the river bridge. Take the path on the right sp Froggatt etc across the field (not the track along the river bank). Follow the path into woods and back into open fields where it jinks slightly R at an old barn into a walled lane. This leads to Froggatt village. Continue down Hollowgate. (30 min)
Turn R over the river bridge and go up to a T-Junction. Cross the road to a stile opposite and a path brg 265 which leads up through fields to another road. Cross this at a bad bend and a few metres L (look where the chevrons point) a squeeze stile leads to a path alongside a wall. Follow this into scrubland and then woods, going L as you join another path and I again at a farm track as you leave the wood. This joins a metalled farm track, which leads to Eyam. Continue along New Road into the centre of the village and bear R following the sign to Eyam Hall. Just past the hall turn L into New Close and the checkpoint in the car park.
Go up New Close and straight on at the end of the footpath between houses and gardens until it emerges through a squeeze stile into a lane. Just to the R a broken stile marks where the footpath crosses the triangular field to another stile in front of bungalows. Turn L here into the lane, which takes you all the way to Housely. When you meet the road turn R sp Foolow and go up to the next junction where a L turn sp Wardlow will take you back to the main road. (40 min)
THE MAIN ROAD IS VERY BUSY AND THE TRAFFIC MOVES QUICKLY. PLEASE FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED ROUTE, WHICH KEEPS YOU OFF IT.
Cross the main road with care and in the entrance to the farm look for a stile on the R. Go over this and then follow a line of stiles on a faint path brg 180. Cross a metalled lane and minor road and continue to look for stiles and occasional red waymarkers on brg 180. Cross a rough track and go through a gate and across the field to another gate and CP on the minor road. This field is very wet in bad weather, well over ankle deep, and with a high organic content. It can be avoided by using the track/road. (20min)
Opposite the gate a stone stile leads into fields still brg 180. After three stiles where you enter open country go slightly L brg 160 (but you may have problems with compass bearings here) and then back to brg 180 on a good path passing a finger post at the highest point of the moor. In the next dip there is a CP where you turn R brg 270 on a grass strip between the heather (no obvious path) and head for a prominent copse of trees on the horizon. Pass to the left side of the trees and just left of a small cairn with a stake in it. The path becomes more obvious and views of Monsal Dale open up. As you enter the field with the dewpond in it turn L along the fence/wall until you reach a stone stile. Cross this and follow the path brg 130 until two stiles lead into a lane. Turn L. The lane becomes a path and then a track as it descends to Dale Farm. Go between the buildings and out to the road. Turn R and descend into Great Longstone. Turn L in the village and look for The Crispin on your R.
Take the road SP Thornbridge Hall until you reach the last house. On the R opposite this house is a footpath, which leads diagonally across fields and back to the road. Turn R and then R again at the old railway bridge. Turn L on the platform and follow the railway to the next CP and refreshment stop at The Country Book Store (35 min).
Follow the railway to the old station at Bakewell. Turn R in front of the station building into the CP, out onto the road and I over the railway bridge. Look for the fp on the R brg 060, which climbs through the golf course and then more steeply through Ball Cross woods. Keep going up until you emerge on a minor road at a CP, and turn immediately R over a stile onto a track SP Beeley. Follow this keeping R of a stand of conifers and bear right at a yellow waymarker heading downhill. Cross open ground brg 165 heading for a stile (sign posted Chatsworth) at the R end of an obvious pond. Go round the pond (keeping it on your L) to another stile where a faint path brg 130 leads to another stile. Continue on this path until you reach a barn just before Swiss Cottage. Take a path L SP Edensor. This goes into a walled lane, which leads to the Chatsworth grounds.
Head just L of the church spire following occasional yellow way markers for public footpath, keeping L of clump of conifers, until steps lead down into Edensor village. Turn R at the road through the village and go straight across the main road. (1hr 25min)
Follow the path as it winds round the hillside to meet the Chatsworth main drive. Cross the river bridge and take the obvious path on the L. Follow this path/track (ignoring the path going I across the river) to the large kissing gate and beyond this to the houses at Netherend. Turn L across the river to the CP in front of the village hall. (40 min)
Cross the main road by the pelican crossing and go up Eaton Hill to the end. Turn R into Bar Road and continue up as it becomes a track. It swings R (ignore the path 1) then bends sharply L climbing all the time. As it levels out and you near Wellington's Monument the path forks. Take the L fork past the Eagle Stone and stay on this path all the way to Curbar Gap. (40 min)
Cross the minor road and continue on the path opposite across the tops of Curbar and Froggatt Edges until you reach another road. Cross the road very carefully and follow it uphill for a few metres until a gate and steps lead L down to a stream. Go up the other side and when the path forks go L and shortly afterwards L again. Descend to a gate and continue for about 200 metres to anther fork. Again go L and head downhill until you emerge from the woods on a track. Go R to the road and then L to the river and pavilion.