Hardwick Hall

This is a moderate walk of approx 8 miles. It will take around 3.5 hours plus lunch stop.

Starting from the overflow car park of the Hardwick Inn we walk along field edges and through woodland adjacent to the M1. We cross through open countryside to the hamlet of Stanley, and continue over fields to Silverhill Country Park. Going uphill on a rather indistinct path we reach the impressive sculpture ‘Testing for Gas’ which is dedicated to the Nottinghamshire miners and has been claimed as the highest point in Nottinghamshire. Hence there are extensive views in all directions.

We continue along further indistinct paths through pine trees and woodland and join a pathway leading to the Teversal Track, part of a network of disused railway lines on the Nottinghamshire / Derbyshire border. Climbing steps away from the track we pass along a hedged path and fields to Norwood Lane to join Lady Spencer’s Walk which undulates through pleasant woodland and ascends to a double avenue of trees and our first view of Hardwick Hall.

Hardwick Hall is one of many homes, the first being Chatsworth, commissioned by Bess of Hardwick. She married four times and at the time of her death in 1608, aged 81, was reputedly the second wealthiest woman in the country.

We pass through the grounds of the Hall before descending steeply beneath Hardwick Old Hall and follow paths alongside the Great Pond and Miller’s Pond to return through the fields to the Hardwick Inn.

As always there are a number of ups and downs, several stiles and sections of road walking along quiet country lanes.

Some paths are quite overgrown and shorts may not be advisable!