29. Two Dales and around.
- Map: Explorer OL24 The Peak District
- Time: 5 hours
- Distance: 20km/12.5 miles
- Ascent: 400m
- Inset: Two Dales, Potter Dam
Off the beaten track with the odd challenge but none the worse for that. An excellent outing on the hills above Matlock.
Parking is available at SK270624 on the Darly Bridge road from the A6 north of Matlock. Cross the main road into the village of Two Dales and after about 500m take a smaller road on the right. Follow this to a footpath leading into the woods. Walk up through the pleasant woods, undulating at times to a footbridge. Cross this and climb the hillside to Sydnope Hill road. Turn left for 100m then take the lane on the right.
Follow the track, turn right at the junction and continue for some 1.5km to join Flash Lane, a small road. Continue up the road for about 700m to a footpath on the right just past Darley Forest Grange. The path is poorly defined in places but after 1Km cross Screetham Lane then the B5057 to enter a minor road opposite, Hodge Lane. After 700m at a kink in the road take the footpath on the right towards Shooters Lea Farm. Pass the farm and either continue in the same direction for 500m to a road where we turn right of hack through bracken jungles on the right to meet the same road by a junction.
Take the redirected footpath at the junction across fields and around the end of a forestry plantation. After a further 200m find a footpath on the right which leads steeply down over a footbridge and past a golf course. Join a lane and follow this for a further 1km to the A632. Turn right towards Matlock and after 500m take the road on the right which eventually bends left, passes a church and leads into Matlock at the bridge.
Cross the bridge and take the footpath on the right along the river bank. This is the Derwent Valley Heritage way, follow this pleasant path for 4km to Darley Bridge (Pub), cross the bridge to return to the carpark.