Beeley village, Rabbit Warren, Chatsworth Park

2 Hrs 31 mins

6.45 miles (10.38 Km)

Near village hall, Beeley village

SK266676

Head uphill from grass triangle (next to village hall) passing village hall on your left.
Continue up the quiet lane, through metal gate and after 150 mtrs take footpath straight on as lane bears right over stream.
Follow path uphill through another gate (stream is on your right).
150 mtrs past the gate take stile on right and follow path up through wood, stream on your right to begin with then on your left.
Eventually path bears rightwards away from stream. As path tops out, take path on left almost doubling back on yourself.
When track forks, take left fork, back over stream and on to edge of plantation.
Path exits plantation onto wide track; straight over track and take style opposite.
Follow the wide track across Rabbit Warren with superb views over the Derwent Valley and on to perimeter wall of the Chatsworth Estate.
Over stile into the woodland and at cross roads by signpost, “Robin Hood”, continue straight on.
Follow track for some distance passing Swiss Lake on right then Emperor Lake on left.
Take 2nd path on left after Emperor Lake (approx 300 mtrs after lake) when it’s possible to see the Hunting Tower through the trees at end of path.
Down steps beyond the cannons in front of Hunting Tower to estate road and turn left onto the road.
After approx 150 mtrs take steps on left behind 2 wooden barriers and follow path which runs parallel and above the estate road.
Pass the steep stone steps on your left with the chain handrail and continue straight on to the viewing platform above the incredible water chute.
Continue uphill from the viewing platform to the pool above top waterfall, OR take the path on the right before the stone steps to the right of the top waterfall.
If you've climbed to the pool at the top of the steps, then take the steps above the pool and at the wide track turn right and follow the wide track to the estate road.
If you've turned right onto the path before the final stone steps, continue along the path to meet the estate road at the apex of a bend.
At junction with the estate road turn left and after 100 mtrs (150 mtrs if you've taken the lower path) when road bears left, take narrow path on right.
Turn right over stream when you meet the wide track and head back to the stile to exit Chatsworth Estate.
Continue on the wide track and after 100 mtrs (20 mtrs beyond the telegraph pole), take the path on your right downhill.
Continue downhill to lane just before farm.
Turn right onto lane and immediately left by footpath sign.
Follow signs through farmyard (the ground surrounding the gate exiting the farmyard is unfortunately thick in cow manure and is unavoidable).
Continue straight on, well signposted, then downhill towards Beeley village.
After crossing stile at bottom of the large field, path heads diagonally leftwards across a smaller field.
After the next stile turn right and continue down to the village.