Brookside Country Circuit

By bus: There is a half hourly bus service (No 84) between New Beetwell St, Chesterfield, and Holymoorside, which passes Brookfield Community School. There are also less frequent buses between Chesterfield and Baslow (No 66).

By car: There is roadside parking in the vicinity of the school.

This route largely follows public rights of way shown as dotted green lines on Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 269 - Chesterfield and Alfreton.

[1] Standing with your back to the entrance to the school, turn left and shortly afterwards - opposite a sign for the Terminus Bowling Club (A) - turn left and go straight on past the school gates. Follow the enclosed path past the Sports Hall and continue beside the trees beyond the scout hut and mast. When the field opens up fork right diagonally across to the corner and follow the path to a metal kissing gate. Bear left and pass by another metal kissing gate on your left to a stile in the corner. (This is your return point). 

[2] Turn right, cross a footbridge and bear left alongside the hedge. Go through a squeeze stile and straight on. At the field end turn right over a wall stile, go ahead past two field gates and turn left over a stile. Go straight ahead on the left hand edge of the field, through a squeeze stile and past a 4 way signpost. Keep ahead over a wooden stile to the wall stile beside a bungalow. Keep straight on alongside the hedge beyond the next stile (B) and through a gateway towards the house.

[3] Turn right along Westwick Lane. After Peakdale views of Old Brampton are on your left (C). Go straight on down the lane past Westwick Farm on your right. After a descent there is a bridleway sign on your left (D) but keep straight on beyond Broomhall Farm until you cross over a river bridge and start a gentle ascent.

[4] Turn right to the next signposted footpath through a squeeze stile and go straight ahead on the right hand field edge to a metal kissing gate. Bear slightly left across the field, pass through another metal kissing gate and cross the farmtrack. Bear slightly left to a stile adjacent to a field gate, continue across the field and through another metal kissing gate. Follow the top of the slope on your right  to reach the steps descended earlier as you approached Point 2. This time fork left and go straight on to an enclosed path which leads to Westbrook Drive. Cross over and turn left along Chatsworth Road (A619) to return to the start.

(A) The bowling club used to be the Western tram terminus of Chesterfield. Stephenson Court, the block of retirement homes on your right, has a plaque in the entrance giving details. The terminus was the start of 'The Brampton Mile' which once had over 20 pubs along the route into Chesterfield. It was traditional to have a drink at each pub on the way. This task has been made easier by the closure of several pubs but there are still plenty. 

(B) Turn round and admire the view back into town.

(C) On your left is a view of Old Brampton with the top of the church spire just visible. Westwick Farm on your right has a black post box and a dove cote on the former barn. This building has the date 1792 on the lintel.

(D) If you go 40 yards down the bridle way on your left  you'll see a Parish Millennium Boundary Stone before the bridge. This represents the Northern boundary of Holymoorside and Walton Parish. There are eight Boundary Stones for the parish , and a central stone, each with a short bit of text which form a puzzle for those with a sense of curiousity. On their own the engraved words 'high over' mean nothing.

Trams in Chesterfield - Operated up to 1930 between Brampton terminus and Whittington. Chesterfield tram numbers 7 and 8 are now in the National Tramway Museum at Crich, Derbyshire.  www.tramway.co.uk and britishtramsonline.co.uk

The Brampton Mile - Lost Pubs of Brampton by John Hirst records there were once 24 public houses between West Bar in Chesterfield and Somersall Lane. The leaflet is available in the Local Studies section of the library.

'It is more than a a boundary - the secrets of Holymoorside and Walton stones revealed'.  Produced by the Millennium Project Group of Holymoorside and Walton Parish - available for purchase from their Historical Society. Designed and printed by North East Derbyshire District Council in 2000.

Walton and West Green walk - there is a free leaflet on this 4 mile easy connecting circuit which heads to near Walton Rd, produced by the Wallton and West Community Forum of Chesterfield Borough Council. This leaflet should be available from Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre.

Map: OS Explorer 269

In the event of any problems being experienced with public rights of way en route please report them to esprow@derbyshire.gov.uk (or 08456 058058 asking for the Rights of Way unit) with the location, and full details.

This route has been produced on behalf of Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Group of the Ramblers'. The Group already produces a leaflet of The Chesterfield Round Walk (a 34 miles circuit of the town), and The South Chesterfield Way (an 11 mile route connecting Chesterfield to Clay Cross). Dronfield Footpaths and Bridleways Society produce leaflets connecting Dronfield to Chesterfield - The North
Chesterfield Way (9 miles) and the Drone Valley Way (7.5 miles). Three alternative East Chesterfield Ways, with directions from Chesterfield to Bolsover, and vice versa, are available on Ramblers' Routes.

To obtain more information on the Group please see www.chesterfieldramblers.com. Contact can be made via cnedra@btinternet.com.