DerbyshireWalking.co.uk
Hartington Meadows (Short Walk)
| Walk Area Distance OS Map Start Point Altitude Information Start Point Low Point High Point Other Information Tea Shops Parking Last Walked | : : : : : : : : : : | Hartington 2.00 Miles Explorer OL24 1:25000 White Peak Area Hartington Signal Box (SK 1495 6701) 1053 feet (321 meters) 1053 feet (321 meters) 1154 feet (352 meters) One Pay and Display Feb 20th 2010 Duration 1h 15m |  | This Walk. |
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| A gentle short walk, ideal for those with less energy. In the winter the track is less well defined in places, but in spring and summer wild flowers can be enjoyed along the length of the walk. The timing for this walk (1 hour 15 minutes) is based upon the weather conditions shown in the images displayed. Tea and coffee for this is available from Hartington Signal Box during peak periods, as well as from the Beresford Tea Rooms the Charles Catton Hotel in Hartington it's self. (It may be advisable to check opening times during winter months and off peak periods.) |
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Getting There:
Hartington can be reached by taking the A515 north from Ashbourne for around twelve miles, turning left onto the B5054 shortly after passing through Newhaven. Around a half a mile after joining the B5054 the Old Station car park is signposted on the left immediately before the impressive viaduct that now carries the Tissington Trail over the road. Parking at Hartington Station is pay and display (£2.50 for four hours at the time at the last visit). There are also toilet facilities available in the building next to the Signal Box. | |||
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The Walk:
Leave the car park to the south, (opposite end to the car park entrance) past the line man's hut and onto the Tissington Trail. Continue along the old railway track bed past the disused quarry to the left and on until the track passes under a road bridge. Pass under the road bridge and look to the left for a path leading from the trail up to the road above; take this path to join Heathcote Lane. |
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On reaching the road, turn right and walk up the slope away from the bridge for a distance of around half a mile, a electricity substation to the left roughly marks the half way mark of the road section of the walk. The exit from the road into the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (DWT) Hartington Meadows reserve is marked by a steel gate with a wooden plaque, between the trees and the telegraph pole in the image to the right. If the main gate is locked, look to the left for a smaller wooden gate for walkers set into the wall. After passing through the gate, follow the track towards the disused silica sand pit.
On reaching the pit, there is a marked stile leading down into the workings directly ahead. Do not descend into the pit as the sands are quite soft and deep in places. Turn right and follow the fence line along the top of the quarry. |
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| Silica sands and clays were extracted from this quarry in the 19th century for use in making refractory lining bricks for the lime kilns associated with many local limestone quarries. Today this and other nearby disused quarries are used as favoured nesting sites by Ravens. Wildlife abounds in this area, although it is not often seen. One of the advantages of walking after a fresh fall of snow is the clearly visible trails left by animals. In many places during snowy February walk rabbit tracks were seen along this section of the walk, often with fox tracks running parallel. The flora of this area is noted for Early Purple and Fragrant orchids as well as Fly Argic mushrooms famed for their supposed relationship with the fairy folk. |
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Continue along the top of the quarry with the fence to the left. Then head for the corner of the wall that appears from the far side of quarry and follow it down the slope to the first of three gates (see annotated image above). Pass through the first gate marked 1 in the illustration to the right, then follow the wall down the slope to a well maintained gated stile shown as point 2. This area is often populated by a flock of rather black sheep. If you stand still, they will creep closer; they will then probably follow you until you leave via the gated stile at the foot of the slope. From this point continue in a direct line across the field to the exit gate in the wall at the edge of the wooded area, point 3. On passing through the third gate, continue in the same direction keeping the fence to the left and head towards a wooded area. Once in the woodland, follow the obvious path through the trees continuing in the same direction. Upon leaving the trees, the final wall stile (with thoughtfully constructed handrail) should be visible directly ahead. Climb the stile and descend the stepped path on the other side back down onto the Tissington Trail. It has been my experience that in wet or snowy conditions this last stepped descent to the old track bed is the most treacherous part of the walk. On rejoining the Tissington Trail, turn right and the car park and start point should be visible around fifty yards or so down the track. |
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GPS Track Of Walk |
| Other Walks in Postcode Area: SK17 | ||
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