[1] From the Visitors Centre proceed down to the lake. Turn right and follow the footpath, going around the lake in an anti clockwise direction. Go over the bridge at the far end of the lake and continue on past an electrical pylon before forking right at a sign saying "Horses this way". Pass through a squeeze stile, and after a few metres join another path.
Turn right such that the second lake is on your left. After 150m turn right, uphill, onto a bridle path. Both sides of this bridle path are clearly defined by hedges or fences. Continue on this path until you meet the public road at Duckmanton. Cross the road, go left and then bear right to travel the length of Duckmanton Road. Turn right and travel the full length of Rectory Road.
[2] Cross the Chesterfield / Bolsover road to join Longcourse Lane. After 930m the lane turns sharp left and goes up hill. On the right, just after this bend, take the footpath down hill and through two fields, keeping close to the hedge on your right. Continue to the gate adjacent to a cottage at the far end of the second field. Turn right along a surfaced road.
[3] Near the fishing pond, follow the road as it turns left and climb up the hill. At the top of the field turn right. Pass through the farmyard keeping the farm buildings on your left, and the large, detached, house on your right. Continue to the public road at the corner of the farmyard. Do not stray from this path as the rest of the yard is private property.
Turn left and walk 100m to the gates of Sutton Scarsdale Hall. Go down the drive to the Hall.
(A) Sutton Scarsdale Hall was built in the 1720s, to a splendid standard, by the 4th Earl of Scarsdale. Unfortunately this contributed to his bankruptcy. It was later owned for almost 100 years by the descendants of Richard Arkwright, inventor of the Spinning Jenny. The Hall passed down the generations of the family until 1919, by which time it was falling into disrepair. It was bought by speculators who stripped out and sold the grand internal fittings. Ruined it came close to demolition before being saved by Osbert Sitwell of Renishaw Hall who bought it. It is now owned by English Heritage. Built on raised ground, the Hall allows sweeping views across the old estate deer park toward Bolsover Castle.
(B) Bolsover Castle was founded in the 12th century by the Peverel family, who also owned Peveril Castle in Derbyshire, and it came under royal control in 1155. The site is now cared for by of English Heritage and is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
After enjoying the Hall retrace your steps back to the entrance gates and turn right to follow the road. Go down the hill, take care as no pavement, and pass the entrance to the ‘Hall Farm Fisheries’ on the right. The road curves left and continues downhill before curving back right.
[4] After this right curve walk forward for about 500m and pass through the kissing gate which is set back into the left hand hedge. Take the path that goes right and down hill and follow it as it migrates over to the pond (can be very muddy here).
This was the site of Arkright Colliery.
Continue on the path as it curves around the pond before climbing up hill, parallel to a drainage ditch and dirt bank, toward the distant signpost and the cutting on the skyline beyond.
[5] Ahead is a very obvious trail formed on the bed of a disused railway.
(C) The disused railway cutting to the left is the remains of the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway. Promoted by William Arkright of Sutton Scarsdale Hall the original, very grand, plan was to link the Manchester Ship Canal at Warrington to Sutton on Sea on the east coast, to provide a transportation route for the distribution of coal. The stretch from Chesterfield to Lincoln, of which this cutting formed part, was completed in 1897 however the rest of the scheme was never completed.
Follow this to Staveley. After about 2km you will come to a large housing estate on your left. Go past the artificial turfed football pitch and after 860m turn right at the brown Poolsbrook Park sign. Follow the footpath and cross the caravan site access road. Go straight ahead. You are now back to Poolsbrook Park.
(D) Poolsbrook Country Park covers 180 acres of which 42 acres are water. Built on the former site of Ireland Colliery, the park is now a haven for bird life and boasts Great Crested Grebe, Cormorants, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Pink Footed Geese, Wheatears, Yellow Wagtails and on rare occasions the Red Throated Pipit and Siberian Chiffchaffs, amongst its feathered visitors. The Visitors Centre houses a Community Café, which is staffed by volunteers, serving a selection of hot and cold snacks at very reasonable prices. This is a good place for refreshment after your walk but beware the opening hours are seasonal.
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