This short two-mile walk starts out from Ashover on to Ashover Rock, where you can enjoy fantastic panoramic views
There’s usually some parking around All Saints on Church Street.
It’s worth nipping into the interest-packed 15th century church before stepping out. Continuing up the street, you’ll pass the Crispin Inn, thought to date back to 1416. The name references St Crispin’s Day and Thomas Babbington of Dethick, who fought in the Battle of Agincourt on the saint’s day. Veer left onto Moor Road, where you’ll find The Stamp, a community Post Office and coffee shop. Settle down onto the stamp-patterned upholstery with a home-made cake before tackling the climb up to Ashover Rock.
Head up Malthouse Lane, opposite The Stamp, and follow it round as it turns into Hill Road, admiring the many fine villas and cottages along the way. At the junction of Chapel Hill, a public footpath sign points into a field. Cut through the field diagonally to the right boundary and go through a second wicket gate. The grassy path roughly follows a field boundary on your right, then veers off to climb steps towards a house. You’ll emerge onto the quiet country lane of Hilltop Road.
Turn right and continue on to the point where four roads meet: Hilltop Road, Hillside Road, Bassettbarn Lane and Alton Lane. A short way up Alton Lane, a small path disappears into shrubbery on your right. Take it and climb up to Ashover Rock. The views are outstanding. On one side, you have the wooded edge of Ravensnest, on the other, Amber Valley. Ahead, the land drops away to the plains beyond the Peak District fringes.
Look out for Hardwick Hall and Bolsover Castle as well as the Crooked Spire of Chesterfield. If you have a telescope, you can even spot Lincoln Cathedral, visibility permitting. This panoramic high point takes in five counties on clear days: Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire. Scramble up Ashover Rock (also known as The Fabrick) if you have the agility.
The rock was once privately owned by the descendants of the Bassett family of Liquorice Allsorts fame. Near to it there’s a curious concrete construction, the site of a Royal Observer Corp bunker used in the Cold War. When last walking the heath, I met Richard, a local litter picker, who informed me if I kept on walking, the next high land I would meet would be the Ural Mountains of Russia!
Richard also informed me there are 150 footpaths criss-crossing Ashover Parish, a more manageable project for future rambles. From the Fabrick, drop through the heathland, following the path as it curves round back below the rock. Look out for a path on your left, descending to a stone-wall boundary. Turn right, then left to continue downhill, keeping another dry-stone wall on your lefthand side. Meeting a lane (leading to the back of Eastwood Grange School), turn left, looking for a gap in a stone wall on your right. Go down the steps into a ‘tunnel’ (under a road bridge) then continue along the narrow passageway, a high wall on one side, the tunnel effect of leaning trees on the other. After a second tunnel (road bridge), drop through a field to the Black Swan. You’ll see the church in front of you – your starting point.
The photos in this guide are from our Derbyshire and Peak District Walks Facebook group, for more photos, join the group and seach for Ashover
