[1] Leave the lay-by at the end farthest from the pub. Follow the road as it curves around to the left.
(A) Over the field to your left you will see Barlborough Hall which is a Grade 1 listed building. It was built in the 16th century by Francis de Rodes and remained in the family until 1935. In 1938 the hall was purchased by the Jesuits, who still own it. It is presently used as a Preparatory School for Mount St Mary's College at Spinkhill. During World War 2 it was requisitioned by the army. The Hall is believed to be haunted.
100 metres past the grass covered, reservoir take the path on the right, going diagonally across the field, to the hedge opposite. Keep the hedge on your left and go past the houses to the road. Cross the road and take Walls Lane opposite.
[2] After 800m take the tarmac drive, left. At the farm go to the right of the house, keeping the tennis court on your right. Go over the stile, and cross the first field to the gap in the hedge directly opposite. Take the path at 30 degrees to the right, across the second field. At the far hedge turn right. Follow the hedge to the corner of the field. Turn left over the stile and walk to the farm.
(B) The three, 95m high, wind turbines were erected in 2010 and after a public naming competition are called "Silent Avenger","Corus" and "New Horizons" respectively. Each turbine is rated at 1.5 mega-Watts and can generate enough power to serve 800 homes, but only when the wind blows.
Go over the stile onto the farm drive. Turn left and walk to the end of the grey, concrete, wall. Turn hard right and pass by the two black corrugated silos. Beware, this is a working farm yard.
[3] Go straight across the farmyard to the passage between the two buildings opposite. Turn right and go over to the hedge. Follow the hedge to the far end of the field. Just before the road, transfer into the adjacent field and pass over the stile. Turn left and walk for about 600m along the road.
[4] At the foot path sign and gate, turn left and pass down hill, through two fields to the road. Turn left and take the next right turn into Firvale.
At the far end of Firvale turn left at the footpath sign. Enter the field, go right, and follow the hedge down to the reservoir. It should be noted that this path has only recently been rerouted and hence does not appear on the OS map.
(C) Constructed in the 1760s, Harthill Reservoir was a strategic part of the Chesterfield Canal. It provided a store of water which was fed to the canal at Kiveton via a 2 mile long dyke. The section around Kiverton is at the highest elevation on the whole of the canal, hence due to operation of the locks and residual leakage, water drained both eastward and westward. The water from the reservoir continuously replenished the canal and, along with the River Rother at Chesterfield, was the main feed of water into the system. Today Harthill Reservoir is used for the leisure persuits of fishing and sailing.
[5] At the waters edge turn left and go past the bridge. Follow the field boundary keeping the woods on your right. At the small clearing the way post points to the bridge.
[6] Pass over the bridge, walk up the field and pass to the right of the farm. Just after the farm the path passes into the adjacent field. Keeping the hedge on your right proceed to the road.
[7] Beware of the blind bend as you cross the road, and take the farm track opposite. Pass into the park and follow the path forward. Look out for a distant way marker adjacent to two very large logs. At a second way marker, which is just in front of the small wood, turn hard left on to the path, which is parallel to the motorway. Proceed to the road and follow it to Barlborough.
On entering the village pass by the junior school and Village Hall before turning left at the main road. Follow this road as it threads through the village and arrive back at the De Rodes Arms.
(D) En route through the village you can see many examples of Barlborough's rich heritage, including -
The Golden Gate Memorial, erected in 1869 by William Hatfield de Rodes in memory of his departed wife, with its Hebrew inscription "MIZPAH" meaning ‘The Lord watch twixt me and thee whilst we are absent from one another.’
The 17th century Village Cross complete with its much more recent plaque to commemorate Barlborough's success in fighting boundary charge.
The "Hospital", Alms House, built in 1752 to accommodate 6 poor parishioners.
The De Rodes Arms which was an 18th century coaching house known as the 'Horns Inn' before being renamed in respect of the local gentry.