6.5 mile walk over undulating countryside around Holbrook, passing near 5 pubs.
Start point: Spotted Cow/Calf (free or on road if full)
Distance: 6.25 miles
Time: 3.5 hours (plus pub time!)
Stiles: yes
Livestock: Fields may have livestock
Accessibility: For some. Squeeze and gate stiles and some steep sections, so walking boots/ wellies recommended.
Route
Huge thanks to Holbrook Community Society and the Spotted Cow & Calf for this route. Three detailed route maps with fascinating facts about the places you pass along the routes can be purchased for £1 each at the cafe and are highly recommended.
Cross the road from the Spotted Cow/Calf and turn left along Town Street. Look for Stoney Lane , opposite the Gaslight Gallery. Follow this steep track down for 200m, passing allotments on the right.
Carry straight over the junction with Nether Lane and continue down Watering Lane to the old Midland Railway line. Continue along the old track-bed and, after about 30m , turn right and travel along by a wide culvert for around 250m emerging by the north bound slip road of the A38. Carry along the pavement of the B6179 with views of Bottle Brook and the old railway bridge on the right.
Turn right to Holbrook Crossing (by Manx Engines – the old Coxbench Lighting Depot) and carry along Alfreton Road to the junction with Portway. Cross to the other side of Alfreton Road and turn left past Coxbench Station level crossing to the pedestrian crossing.
Cross the road and walk under the A38 then turn right up Quarry Lane then follow the footpath signs over stiles up and around Treetops Kennels. On exiting the path and gate by the kennels, turn right and head up the hill to a gate into Castle Wood.
Go through the gate and through Castle Wood, carefully exploring the beautiful medieval castle remains. Once through the woods, turn right at a stone edged lane (Park Lane) for around 170m to a gate, then turn left and follow the path as it bears left down the hill. Turn right/west before the stile and down through gorse bushes and trees and over Park Brook to Coxbench Road.
Carefully cross road and bear right for 15m then head left up Horsley Lane to signposted footpath track on right. Take this for 30m and turn right just past Rock Cottage up steps and follow path across several fields to St Clements Church at Horsley and admire the gargoyles! Turn right onto Church Street and carry on to footpath next to number 39A, heading up to the Coach and Horses pub if you wish.
Head under the pylon to Dovecote cul-de-sac and take path on right next to number 35 to stile. Keep hedge on your right for two fields then turn right at footpath sign and follow signs across fields to jitty between houses in Kilburn,
Turn left on Woodhouse Road and right round bend to Hunters Arms pub. Turn right for 30m then cross road to footpath. Head down through fields to B6179. Turn right for 70m, carefully cross road and head up track, bearing left through the A38 underpass.
Look for a footpath on right with steps to gate, and head over fields to Booths Wood. Take path right then left up hill to stile then follow path up hill through fields to squeeze stile next to Methodist Chapel on Town Street.
More refreshments can be found at Holbrook Village Store or Dead Poets Inn (a short way up Chapel Street) then head left down Town Street back to the Spotted Cow & Calf.
thespottedcowholbrook.co.uk Spotted Cow/Calf, Holbrook facebook.com/thecoachathorsley Coach & Horses, Horsley thehuntersarms.business.site Hunters Arms, Kilburn
facebook.com/Deadpoetsinn Dead Poets Inn, Holbrook
Map
