Manners Wood, part of the Haddon Hall estate, extends from Bakewell to Rowsley, a long strip of woodland clinging to the slopes of an escarpment.
On bright autumn days the larches and beeches sing with colour. In winter, the bones of branches in the mists feel otherworldly. When snow falls, Manners Wood could be Narnia. Park at the end of Coombs Road on the outskirts of Bakewell and take the path leading to the Monsal Trail. Turn left and continue until you see a wooden fingerpost. Turn right up steps, then left to cross the golf course.
Continue into Manners Wood, veering right at a blue concessionary path sign. Meeting a junction, turn right to continue along the concessionary path to its end. Head uphill at the second concessionary path sign, a high drystone wall on your right. The path crosses a gap in the boundary between two stone posts, eventually curving right to follow a stonewall with birches stretching out to the horizon.
You’ll come to a stepped stile over a wall. Take in views of Chatsworth Estate before dropping through Calton Lees Pastures to another boundary edging woodland. The path veers left along it for a short distance. At the wooden gate, go through and climb a track. Keep right and right again along tracks until you reach New Piece Wood.
The track cuts through the narrow strip of woodland, where views open up again to Chatsworth parkland and house, another breath-taking vista. Follow the grassy path to Edensor, keeping left of a clump of trees where the way is no longer clear. Use the tree with a bench beneath it to keep the line, then the spire of Edensor church to guide you to the steps leading down to Edensor.
Turn right into the village and The Edensor Tea Cottage, which oozes character. There’s an extensive breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea menu – with plenty of choice for the hungry rambler. From the tearoom climb up through the village, then a rough track leading to Handley Lane. Turn left onto it, ascending to the high point before dropping to Ballcross Farm where two paths meet in a V on your left. Take the second path that drops steeply into Manners Wood. Turn left again onto a more level path that follows the contours of the land. Meeting a shallow stream, turn right to drop through woodland. The way is steep, the mossy stones wet from the stream, so watch your footing. Soon, you’ll see the concessionary path sign you followed earlier. Continue down through woodland, back to the golf course. Cross it, ringing the bell to let players know you’re in their blind spot! At the bottom, turn left to retrace your steps along the Monsal Trail back to Coombs Road after a lovely forest and parkland 7.3-mile ramble.
