Walks near Derby by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Derby and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Derby.
Duffield Circular via the Chevin (Derbyshire)
7 minutes direct from Derby.
Undulating countryside with several steep climbs.
Warnings: Several steep climbs.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Belper Circular via Kilburn (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Derby.
Hilly countryside with several steep climbs. Alport Heights — a 314 m peak five miles away — is visible from the route on clear days. Route passes Holbrook.
Warnings: Several steep climbs.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Ambergate Circular via Pentrich (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Derby.
Mixture of hilly and flat terrain with stiles along the way. Telling the story of the Pentrich Rising of 1817, exploring the local men who took part. Route passes through Fritchley and South Wingfield.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Nottingham Circular via Attenborough Nature Reserve (Nottinghamshire)
30 minutes direct from Derby.
Off-road walking and cycling alongside canal and river — a waterside network of paths. Passes the historic Trent Bridge.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Cromford Circular via Lea Bridge (Derbyshire)
30 minutes direct from Derby.
Historic cotton mill, former railway track to High Peak Junction, canal towpath, deer park, bluebell woodland in Lea Wood, riverside fields and crossing of the River Derwent.
Walk details: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Similar walk: East Midlands Railway.
Grindleford Circular via Surprise View (Derbyshire)
45 minutes from Derby, with one change.
Quite possibly the best views in the whole of the Hope Valley. Ancient mixed woodland with rocky brook and footbridges, open moorland and gritstone edge. Detailed route map, photographs and route preview video available.
Hilly: a quarter on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 2h–4h
Walk details: Let's Go Peak District (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Hathersage Circular via Stanage Edge (Derbyshire)
45 minutes from Derby, with one change.
Green valley, gritstone escarpment edge, open moorland plateaus, ancient hill fort, narrow wooded gorge with tumbling waterfalls and quiet river pastures.
Time: 5h30
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Oakham Circular via Manton (Rutland)
1 hour from Derby, with one change.
Villages, churches and views across the Vale of Catmose.
Time: 5h–10h30
2 lunch spots: the Horse and Jockey Pub (2h–3h30 in), or the Blue Ball (3h30–6h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Royal Duke, or the Grainstore Brewery
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.
Hope Circular via Hope Cross (Derbyshire)
1 hour from Derby, with one change.
The most magnificent views of the Hope Valley, the Edale Valley and even into the Derwent Valley. Hill trails over moorland and an old Roman road. Detailed route map, photographs and route preview video available.
Time: 3h–6h
Walk details: Let's Go Peak District (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Belper to Ambergate (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Derby.
Footpaths, wooded valley paths, fields, stiles and tracks and a ridgeline route.
Warnings: Knee-trapper stiles; two steady climbs make this a more demanding route.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Belper to Duffield (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Derby.
Superb views over open country. Footpaths through ancient deer park, farm tracks, a tarmaced lane and bridleway across fields and river-bank path. Passes through the historic settlements of Bargate and Holbrook and follows the Midshires Way for part of the route.
Warnings: The right of way cuts straight through the front yards of a row of cottages — this is the right of way.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Ambergate to Langley Mill (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Derby.
One of the world’s oldest industrial regions. Overgrown canal towpath, woodland and field crossings and ironworks remains. Follows the route of the disused Cromford Canal. Butterley Tunnel (nearly 3 km) collapsed in 1900, severing the canal into two sections.
Waterway: two thirds along the Cromford Canal.
Time: 4h30–9h
Warnings: Substantial tree blockages on overgrown sections; busy A610 road crossing.
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).