Moss Valley walks

There are so many Moss Valley walks so I have just added two here that take you through some of its loveliest spots. But I recommend just getting in there and exploring all over.

The first is a linear walk from Unstone to Graves Park. The 43/44 buses to Chesterfield stop at Unstone, near the Post Office.  It's a walk of around 5 miles with roughly 220 metres of cumulative ascent.

From the Post Office carry on along the main road and take the first road on the left towards Apperknowle. About 300 metres up the road, before it bends round to the right, take a footpath on the left past a community centre. Keep going Northwest for about 250 metres and where path forks keep left. Soon you come to a permissive path into woods and the area of old colliery sites - now just pretty wetland areas. The path goes along board walks and past interpretation boards and eventually ends at a track where we go right. Keep uphill across fields and over a couple of stiles until reaching Summerley Farm. 

At the road turn right and soon left. When you meet the next junction turn left uphill and look out for a gate on the right. (You might have to climb over it). Keep ahead until you see the airstrip on your right and eventually cross another stile by a large house. Another 200 metres along take a path left - not clear on the ground as I remember, but just keep going north and climb a couple of stiles, to eventually reach the road. Turn left. 

Soon on the right is a track going down to Sticklebrook Farm. Go past the farm and keep in the same direction going downhill. Cross a track and take the stile opposite into a field. The path goes round to the left and soon you find a little bench for a welcome sit and view down to Moss Valley. Take the path downhill to the wood and then a footbridge. Cross the bridge and go left. Keep going in this direction following the River Moss westwards, through a clearing which is a favourite picnic spot, and back into more woods. In the wood cross a footbridge to follow the south bank of the Moss river. 

Follow the river for about half a mile until a path crosses it. Turn right uphill, crossing a wide track and on up to a stile and path that takes you to Hazlebarrow Farm. At the Farm go left along the wide farm track to reach the busy Ring Road. Crossing this can be a bit treacherous, but cross it you must! A footpath opposite takes you onto a residential road. Keep straight on and take the second turning left. At the end of this road you meet Norton Lane, where you turn left and cross over. The south east entrance to Graves park, by the Church, can be found. Go into the park and the rest is up to you!

                                                    Rhododendrons in Graves Park

Marsh Lane to Charnock

This is a 4 mile linear walk with more descent than ascent and fairly easy walking. Occasional careful navigation needed.

The 252 bus goes from town, through Heeley and Gleadless to Marsh Lane. Get off at the top of Ford Lane. 

Walk back down Ford Lane about 250 metres to a footpath on the left. Find the path over a stile hidden in the trees rather than taking the main track. Walk down this path across the field and crossing into the next field. Continue down the edge of this field and cross a stile on the left near the bottom, then walking down to meet a lane. Across this look for a stile opposite, which is often a bit hidden by vegetation. Go over this and down the cultivated field, keeping straight down to woods. Slightly to the right a path goes into this wood. Follow the path down to a delightful spot by an old mill pond. It's definitely worth lingering here. Cross the pond dam and go steeply up the other side. 

Walk past Fold Farm and out onto the road to Troway. About 400 metres along on the right the path known as Doe Lane goes downhill, across the Moss on a bridge, passes fishing ponds and arrives at Geerlane Farm. Here go straight up ahead and as this path turns right look for the footpath on the left going into Ryall's Wood. Keep going down through the wood to its northwest corner and a little footbridge which take you out onto the track below Povey Farm (the one up to your left with a wind turbine).

Go ahead beside the next wood, which will be on your left. About 250 metres up the hill a gap in the trees allows you into the wood. None of this is clearly marked on the map, so take care. Walk through the wood on a path which is clear on the ground until you reach a footbridge with steps going up either side of the steep sided valley. There are choices here, but I like to stay in the woods, continuing to follow the stream valley, which turns gradually northwestwards into Stoneley Wood. There are various ways out of the wood, and they all end you up in the Charnock Estate. It's not easy to describe the way I generally go, but there is a point where you can see a channel running down to the stream where you can cross and climb steeply up a path the other side, (about 500 metres from the footbridge).

At the top of the wood keep on with the wood on your right and keep with this path as it bends round to the left and end up on an open area with hummocks for BMX bikes to ride over. I've never seen anyone using this.Beyond this the path continues towards the estate. At the footbridge you can either go out into the estate and find the 51 bus stop, or go left round the back of houses and out at the Ring road opposite the Herdings tram stop. I usually walk down from here through Rollestone Wood back to Heeley. And if you want a longer walk you could do the same. But you don't have to and there's plenty of transport available here.