Denby, Dikes and Gunthwaite

Leaving the car park we walk up Dry Hill Lane to Exley Gate, continue along a track passing Bagden Park, and ascend through fields and woodland to join Brow Lane, from where we have wide-reaching views across the valley. We pass Denby Hall Farm and continue through woodlands, crossing Flat Wood Dike and Cuckold Carr Dike to reach Coach Gate Lane. We pass Hazel House Farm and descend through fields to cross Rons Cliff Dike, which we follow through Rons Cliff Wood. We leave the Dike to climb steeply to the top of the wood, carry on to Gadding Moor, from where we have magnificent views, and descend to Gunthwaite Mill. Passing the mill pond we continue to Gunthwaite Dam and Gunthwaite Spa before climbing through Clough Wood to reach Gunthwaite Hall Farm and its 16th century listed cruck barn. After rejoining Coach Gate Lane, we walk through Burnt Cole Wood and Farm, recross Flat Wood Dike to Denby Lane and continue through fields of crops to our starting point at the Dunkirk Inn.

This is a moderate walk of 6.75 miles which will take approximately 3.5 hours plus lunch stop. It is an undulating walk on a combination of meadow and woodland paths, farm tracks, short sections of minor roads. There are several unusual stiles, all of which are passable with care, and one particularly steep ascent which we will take at a leisurely pace. There are extensive 360-degree views throughout the walk.