Derbyshire Accessible Countryside
Disabled Access, Wheelchair walks, Easy Access, Access for All, Mobility, Walks on Wheels, Miles without Stiles - whatever the term the following is all about accessibility to the countryside and green spaces of Derbyshire
Walks Greenspaces and Countryside
Carr Vale - Bolsover - "This wetland reserve is a great place for birdwatching. The mixture of open water, marsh, wet and dry grassland, scrub and trees attracts a rich variety of birds throughout the year." "To reduce disturbance, the reserve is accessible only on the concessionary paths. Full disabled access around all the paths on this reserve and to all three viewing screens. There is no access to the fishing platforms for wheeled vehicles. There are no stiles." - from the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust website
Carsington Water - "Most of the tracks around Carsington Water are surfaced and suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. 2 Trampers for hire from reception £2.50 (available on a first come, first served basis. Wheelchairs are available from Reception, refundable deposit needed." "The Visitor Centre is fully accessible for wheelchair users and can cater for a variety of access requirements individuals may have." - from the Severn Trent Water website
Castleton Peak Miles Without Stiles - From Castleton Visitor centre 350m to the start of the ascent to Peak Cavern. "Consider exploring underground with a mobility-friendly entrance tour at Peak Cavern. The path steepens up to the cave entrance" - from the Peak District National Park Authority website
- Download the leaflet from the Peak District National Park Authority website
Chesterfield Canal - "The canal towpath is multi-user so whether you are walking, cycling, have a pram or a wheelchair you can enjoy the scenery and wildlife. Look out for the elusive water vole or the brilliant blue flash as a kingfisher darts past" "Easy access for all" - from the Derbyshire County Council website
Chesterfield Greenways - "Much of the route is easy access, so if you're pushing a pram, using a wheelchair or a mobility scooter you can enjoy exploring the Greenways" - from the Derbyshire County Council website - "Greenways are generally level and surfaced. Gradients are kept to a minimum and you'll find rest places and benches. Entrance structures are designed to discourage motor bikes and other unauthorised access but let you get through with most wheelchairs and mobility scooters. You can borrow our Tramper mobility scooter from Tapton Lock Visitor Centre." - from the leaflet
- Download the leaflet from the Derbyshire County Council website
Conksbury Miles Without Stiles - "A gentle route following the River Lathkill through an area immersed in history" "510 m one-way" "Start from the disabled parking space just above the medieval Conksbury Bridge to follow the surfaced path" - from the Peak District National Park Authority website
- Download the leaflet from the Peak District National Park Authority website
Coombs Dale Miles Without Stiles - "Discover a world apart in an area once roamed by highwaymen" "1.6 km one-way" "Start at Conksbury Bridge" - from the Peak District National Park Authority website
- Download the leaflet from the Peak District National Park Authority website
Cotmanhay Park - "This is a linear park created through the Cotmanhay area by the removal of a disused railway embankment. It's an urban green space, with a level surfaced path and street lighting, suitable for pedestrians and cyclists." "Easy access for all" - from the Derbyshire County Council website
Cramside Wood - Cressbrook - "This area of majestic ancient ash woodland above the River Wye is in the beautiful Wye Valley." "The path that runs alongside the river and reserve is suitable to those with limited mobility and offers good views of the reserve" - from the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust website
Cromford Canal - "The canal can be explored from the towpath between Cromford Wharf and Ambergate, a distance of just over 5 miles. The walk from Cromford Wharf to High Peak Junction is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs." "There's a Changing Places toilet for use by the public in the car park at Cromford Wharf." - from the Derbyshire County Council website
Curbar Gap Miles Without Stiles - "260 m to the viewing area" "A short route to an extensive panorama of the Derwent Valley from one of its renowned gritstone edges" - from the Peak District National Park Authority website
- Download the leaflet from the Peak District National Park Authority website
Derwent Dam Miles Without Stiles - "600m to base of the dam tower, an additional 3km along the reservoir" "Explore the drama of the Derwent Valley and the home of the Dambusters with the option of tramper and cycle hire" - from the Peak District National Park Authority website
- Download the leaflet from the Peak District National Park Authority website
Dovedale Miles Without Stiles - "A popular excursion along the beautiful River Dove to its famous Stepping Stones at the foot of Thorpe Cloud." "640 m to the stepping stones" - from the Peak District National Park Authority website
- Download the leaflet from the Peak District National Park Authority website
Elvaston Castle Country Park - many surfaced footpaths but the unsurfaced paths can be muddy, we understand that there is a Tramper all terrain mobility scooter available for hire (tel: 01629 533870) - "approximately 321 acres of open parkland, woodland and more formal historical gardens" "Elvaston Castle and Country Park now has a permanent Changing Places toilet on site"
- from the Derbyshire County Council website
Five Pits Trail - "This 5.5 mile off-road surfaced route takes you from Grassmoor Country Park to Tibshelf Ponds." "Steeper slopes may limit some people’s access in places (look out for the slope symbol on the map). But there are no stiles or steps and you will find seats along the way to stop and rest and enjoy the views. The trail mostly follows the route of the Great Central Railway." "Easy access for all" - from the Derbyshire County Council website
- Download the leaflet from the Derbyshire County Council website
Foremark Reservoir - "Foremark Reservoir is a 230 acre nature reserve ideal for walking, fishing and sailing" "Some of the paths around the car parks and play area are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs." "The trail is 400metres long. The trail has a hard surface. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats" "A scenic footpath heads past the café and through a small woodland from the southern end of the car park. The path has some slight slopes, but none that are steep. There are stunning views of the reservoir is on the right. The path continues but becomes unsuitable for wheelchairs once you reach the cascade, an area with a large green fence and a steep slope just past a left-hand bend." - from the Severn Trent Water website
Gang Mine - Middleton by Wirksworth - This reserve is part of an ancient lead mining area" "Among the species that thrive here are the nationally rare spring sandwort, and alpine pennycress. Both are locally known as leadwort. The lead spoil grades into other open areas. In some, lichens dominate the ground cover, while in others colonising species such as kidney vetch and thyme dominate. These open areas provide ideal conditions for ground-hunting invertebrates such as wolf spiders and ground beetles" "There is limited parking for disabled visitors, by agreement with the neighbouring land owner, adjacent to the recreation ground and adjoining the reserve on the western boundary. All paths are uneven but several should be accessible to wheelchairs (accompanied) and people of limited mobility in dry weather." - from the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust website
Goyt Miles Without Stiles - "A former railway line providing elevated views across the moors and woodlands of the Goyt Valley" " Start at car park at Goyt’s Lane, via the A5004 north-west of Buxton" "1 km to the embankment" - from the Peak District National Park Authority website
- Download the leaflet from the Peak District National Park Authority website
Ladybower Miles Without Stiles - "Drop down to the dam at Ladybower to link the shores of the Peak District’s largest expanse of water. Section on pavement." "400 m for views of the dam, 1 km along the dam, 1.5 km to extend" "Consider taking out the wheelyboat at Ladybower Fisheries" - from the Peak District National Park Authority website
- Download the leaflet from the Peak District National Park Authority website
Linacre Reservoir - "Explore the ancient woodlands and wildlife at the Linacre Reservoirs" "Some stretches of the paths are accessible by wheelchairs and pushchairs" - from the Severn Trent Water website
Longshaw Miles Without Stiles - "Discover old highways and a ducal fishpond on Longshaw’s moorland estate" "360 m and 160 m to the fishpond, 660 m and 1.3 km to the road" - from the Peak District National Park Authority website
- Download the leaflet from the Peak District National Park Authority website