Walton Woodlands Wander

The hourly bus service X17 runs between Sheffield and Matlock via Chesterfield Coach Station. There is a stop close to The Blue Stoops on Matlock Road. Alternatively the number 2 bus operates frequently from New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, to Walton shops and continues to Foljambe Avenue where there is a stop. A further alternative is the less frequent number 63 to Ashover.

There is roadside parking, with care, on Foljambe Avenue.

Ordnance Survey Explorer map 269 - Chesterfield and Alfreton covers the route.

[1] Standing with your back to The Blue Stoops (A) cross the A632 Matlock Road using the traffic island and go down the hard surface path. As you proceed note the footpath on your right, adjacent to a house called Redroofs - this is your return point. Continue past the Chesterfield Golf Club on your right, pass through the car park and take the waymarked path through woodland.

[2] Passing by an old stone gatepost on your right you enter largely open land. To visit the viewpoint (B) go straight ahead on an informal path, ignoring the signposted path to the left, pass through a strip of trees and veer right to a bench seat on the brow of the hill. Retrace your steps and turn left on a narrow path about 20 yards before reaching the stone gatepost. This soon joins the golf club fence on your right. At the foot of the hill turn right alongside Birdholme Brook to a footbridge.

[3] Cross the stream and fork right diagonally across a large field, aiming for the furthermost point of the tree line. Cross a small footbridge and go through a metal kissing gate into Widdowson Spring Wood (C). Keep straight on up the broad woodland path and keep ahead to a stone squeezer stile on your left. Fork right diagonally across a field to a stone stile and fork left along an enclosed woodland path through Emmet Field Wood. Cross a stone wall stile and go ahead across a large field, over a footbridge and straight ahead with the field edge on your left. Pass through a gap and keep straight on to a short enclosed section of path.

[4] Turn right at the metal signpost (signed to Walton on the reverse ), over a wooden stile and turn left  (D). Cross a  wooden stile and bear right. Over a further wooden stile and continue between taped-off horse paddocks. Pass through a stone squeezer to enter Walton Wood (F).

At the metal signpost at point 4 you can extend the walk using public footpaths if you're carrying the OS Map. Continue straight ahead, over the road, straight on, and then circuit the Great Pond of Stubbing to return to point 4. This adds less than 1.5 miles and extra interest. 

Stubbing Court was the birthplace of Olive St Clair Soames. She became Lady Baden Powell and chief guide in 1918. The pond in its idyllic setting is noted for waterfowl.

[5] Pass through a gap, proceed 10 yards (sign on tree trunk) and turn right down a broad woodland path. Keep straight ahead to an enclosed path crossing the golf course, over two footbridges to join an improved path which becomes enclosed beyond the practice range. Turn left along the hard surface path back to the start.

(A) The Grade II listed Walton Hall on Foljambe Avenue was once the home of Sir Francis Foljambe, former High Sheriff of Derbyshire. The present building dates from the late 18th century with 20th century alterations. It is now a private house - please respect the privacy of the occupiers. At the junction is the Blue Stoops. Chesterfield contains a number of black and white buildings and arcades which date from 1904 to 1933. The suggestion is Chesterfield tried to put Chester into Chesterfield in a process of 'Chesterisation'. Originally public houses were often in ordinary buildings. To denote they sold ale the door posts were painted blue (customers were often illiterate).

(B) Worth a short diversion to see the view over Wingerworth, Swathwick and beyond.

(C) The name Widdowson Spring Wood indicates this was once an ancient coppice wood.

(D) Note the mobile phone mast disguised as a fir tree to blend in, and the distant views of Sheffield on the horizon with Norton Water Tower and Herdings flats visible.

(E) Depending on the time of year you are likely to see wild flowers like wood anemone and bluebell and a selection of woodland birds. Woodlands of this type and size are rare in a rural location close to a mid-sized town. The trees are mainly Corsican Pine, Scots Pine, sycamore, beech, Japanese larch and oak. The deciduous trees were planted to provide a 'nursery screen' when the pine were planted between 1961 and 1967.

Walton Hall -  www.english-heritage.org.uk   Listed by entry number 1116949

Sir Francis Foljambe, 1st Bt - 1590 to 1640. www.historyofparliamentonline.org

Black and White Buildings - 'The Chesterisation of Chesterfield' - www.interestingtimestours.co.uk

Chesterfield - www.visitchesterfield.info

Walton Woods - www.waltonwoods.co.uk

Maps: Ordnance Survey Explorer map 269 - Chesterfield and Alfreton covers the route.

This route has been produced on behalf of Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Group of the Ramblers'. The Group already produces leaflets for 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.

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.