[1] Leave the car park by the road entrance and turn left past Buckingham Insurance. Follow the pavement as it turns left in front of the parade of shops and continue round the corner until you come to "The Sidings". This is the local skateboard park. Pass through the squeeze stile and follow the tarmac path round to the right, keeping close to the fence.
Directly in front of you is the entrance to Clowne Linear Park, which follows the route of a disused railway line.
Enter the Park via the squeeze stile and follow the tarmac footpath. After a short distance the tarmac path forks left. Go straight on along the hard cored path for about 500 metres. Just beyond a timber seat fork left and continue to a road.
[2] Pass through the kissing gate and turn right down the hill. After 50 metres you will come to a flight of steps on your right. Cross the road and take the dirt footpath opposite to soon rejoin the disused railway. Proceed for about 600 metres, pass beneath the overhead wires and after a further 100 metres turn right, passing a waymark post to join The Archeological Way, which descends into a wild and pretty little valley.
(A) The 20 km Archeological Way passes through some of the area’s most attractive and sometimes unusual countryside, with archeological features ranging from stone age shelters to the coal mines and steam railways of the 19th century.
Pass over the stile and turn left through the tunnel.
(B) The tunnel originally passed under the now demolished Markland Grips Viaduct, which used to carry the Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway line across the gorge. Various masonry relics of the viaduct can be seen around the immediate area.
On emerging from the tunnel you will see a small stream in front of you. Turn right over a stile into Markland Grips Nature Reserve.
(C) Markland Grips is a gorge in the magnesian limestone which it is believed was formed by receding glaciers at the end of the Ice Age. In some areas the sides of the gorge are near vertical. "Grips" is a local term for such a feature. Markland Grips has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Follow the path as it meanders through the Grips, with the limestone rock face to your right until you reach the stone wall of a farmyard. Follow the path left and turn right along the tarmac road passing the Landmarks Trust Farm.
[3] Turn right and follow the public road (no footpath) for about 1km to a junction. Turn right at the seat through the hedge and follow The Archeological Way across fields and join the road into Elmton.
(D) Elmton (Hemeltune) was described in the Domesday survey as a farming village. The Elm Tree Inn to the left at the road junction (closed Tuesdays) dates back to the 17th century when it is believed to have been used as a Blacksmith's Workshop and farm. Adjacent to the junction you will see a Blue Heritage Plaque dedicated to self-taught mathematical genius, Jedediah Buxton, born in Elmton in 1707. Despite being unable to write this humble farm labourer had an incredible talent for calculation and even addressed the Royal Society. Less than 5 minutes beyond the pub at a junction on the right is a 16th Century pinfold.
Turn right at St Peter's Church and descend the hill to a pond, water pump and information panel.
(E) The well was restored in 2003. At the end of June each year, this well along with two others in the village is decorated in accordance with the tradition of Well Dressing.
Take the block-paved farm road, ignore the track going left and continue on the bridleway for 1km.
[4] Turn right at the junction and left after 50 metres alongside the little stream. Continue ahead along the lane at New Direction stables. Cross Ridgeway West and turn right at the public footpath sign. Follow this path until it meets the road and continue towards the row of terraced houses. Turn right then left to Clowne Junior School and follow the tarmac walkway between fences. Cross Church Street into Rectory Road and follow this back into Clowne.