A good mixed terrain walk with great views. The early footpath rising through the woods was not well used so poorly defined.
Calculated time: 4h15[?] 
Distance : 7.08mi
Vertical gain : 1122ft
Vertical drop : 1115ft
Highest point : 915ft
Lowest point : 272ft 
Difficulty : Moderate
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Location : Cromford
Starting point : N 53.10104° / W 1.531405° (D) Start is at car park on Lea road where the road bends to follow River Derwent. Walk up the road towards Lea Bridge.
(1) Opposite the Mill car park follow the footpath sign up the lane behind Mill. Lane becomes footpath and passes left of Splash Farm buildings. Path rises through woods quite meandering and indistinct at first.
(2) Path soon improves and continues to rise eventually following edge of escarpment to Bilberry Knoll. Soon after catching first glimpse of Riber Castle ahead the path begins to descend to Heartstone Farm. Pass through buildings and take footpath on right alongside last buildings.
(3) Soon join Carr Lane. Turn left then right onto Riber Road. In 200m take footpath on right towards Tansley. Keep straight forward toward Tansley until shortly before Daisy Bank farm where you fork left downhill to the main Matlock road.
(4) Immediately turn sharp left up lane behind houses. Carry on to Hilltop farm and drop down hill on footpath to left passing the farm buildings.
(5) At end of third field turn sharply back up hill in fourth field to enter woods. Follow path up hill through woods until you are traversing the hillside below a wall.
(6) An obvious path through wall is taken shortly after passing first house in Riber. Follow road previously walked in opposite direction and continue past Riber Castle.
(7) At left turn to Heartstone Farm enter lane and quickly take footpath to right with views Matlock Bath and Abraham's Heights. Cross fields and over stile to follow footpath down bank side eventually to a road.
(8) Turn left for 150m and take footpath on left behind houses (easily missed). Follow footpath through pretty woods and eventually descend to farm track.
(9) Follow for 100m before forking right on footpath and shortly enter woods. Leave woods and continue along bankside until joining road.
(10) Follow road until joining footpath on right below houses on left.
(11) Follow footpath through woodland and don't deviate until you join the road at Lea Bridge opposite the Mill car park. Turn right down Mill Lane to return to car park.
Waypoints :
D/A : mi 0 - alt. 276ft - Lea Road car park
1 : mi 0.29 - alt. 315ft - Take lane behind mill
2 : mi 1.6 - alt. 915ft - Bilberry Knoll
3 : mi 2.28 - alt. 801ft - Left on Carr Lane
4 : mi 3.21 - alt. 541ft - Sharp left behind houses
5 : mi 3.74 - alt. 571ft - Turn sharply back uphill
6 : mi 4.07 - alt. 797ft - Turn left along path
7 : mi 4.56 - alt. 820ft - Turn left along lane
8 : mi 5.09 - alt. 528ft - Turn left on road
9 : mi 5.43 - alt. 440ft - Join farm track for 100m
10 : mi 5.99 - alt. 371ft - Turn left along road
11 : mi 6.16 - alt. 449ft - Turn right along path into woodland
D/A : mi 7.08 - alt. 272ft - Lea Road car park
Muddy in places so choose a dry spell.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Global average : 3.9/5
Number of opinions : 7
Description quality : 4/5
Routemap quality : 3.29/5
Walk interest : 4.43/5
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 18/04/21
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Good
Walk interest
: Very good
This walk has beautiful vista throughout the elevated sections plus great woodland to walk through.
Global average : 3 / 5
Date of walk
: 04/04/21
Description quality
: Disappointing
Routemap quality
: Disappointing
Walk interest
: Very good
This is a really lovely walk thank you for whoever identified it but you need to get a proper map, the description numbers and map numbers are out of sync and there are many crisscross paths so you need your own map to work out which one to take, no mention of really obvious things like correct path is one with steep steps and the wording is ambiguous, passing does not mean go past for example.
Global average : 3.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 27/07/20
Description quality
: Average
Routemap quality
: Average
Walk interest
: Good
Had a lovely walk with some fantastic scenery, however some of the directions were very confusing and not clear, we took some wrong turns due to this confusion, and missed some vital turns, which meant we had to back track a few times and need up finishing in the wrong location and added another mile and half to the walk.
But over all had a fantastic day, so not too disappointed.
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 04/11/19
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Good
The walk up through the woods was very muddy and slippy. A decent pair of boots is needed after rain.
The pub Tansley is now a restaurant so only open evenings. However there is a pub further into the village apparently.
Rather that walk the final leg through more mud we went via Cromford Wharf where excellent tea and cakes are available.
Thanks for the feedback, good information.
Summiter
Global average : 3.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 24/06/19
Description quality
: Good
Routemap quality
: Average
Walk interest
: Good
As we were staying at Allen Lane, Tansley we walked down into Tansley and picked up the route there, making it a 10 mile walk. The directions were fairly comprehensive, although it is essential to have a good map as there were quite a few instances where you emerge onto a road or track and are told to follow it but not whether to go left or right. However it was an excellent walk with good views of Riber Castle.
Global average : 4 / 5
Date of walk
: 01/06/19
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Disappointing
Walk interest
: Very good
Directions were confusing in places but otherwise a great walk!!
Glad to hear you're enjoying the walks! 
Global average : 4 / 5
Date of walk
: 22/10/18
Description quality
: Good
Routemap quality
: Good
Walk interest
: Good
Been doing your walks now for about six months. All have been fantastic. New to walking really enjoyed our new hobby. Can't wait for the next one.
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