Time: 3 Hr 18mins
Distance: 7.94 miles (12.77 Km)
Parking: Free car park on Old Station Close (if heading towards Matlock on A6, it's the lane on right just beyond East Lodge Hotel)
OS Grid Ref: SK259659
Note: This is a slightly longer route than my guideline of 3 hour max but I feel I must include it for its superb views including one of the best of Chatsworth House. It does involve a significant amount of uphill but the rewards I think are worth it.
Turn left out of car park and follow the A6 over bridge then turn right onto Church Lane immediately after Peacock Hotel.
Follow Church Lane uphill and continue on the track when the road peters out. Quite a lot of uphill!
Continue past metal barrier when steepness relents.
At the next metal barrier (and junction of tracks), take the bridleway right uphill signposted “Chatsworth”(sorry, I did say there was quite a bit of uphill).
At the “Haddon Estate Woodland Walk” sign, turn right uphill (not too much more uphill).
Through the beautifully tranquil wood at the top to style and gate (that view alone is worth the slog up).
Downhill now trending left (not directly left) towards wood at the bottom. Follow the blue signs here not the yellow one.
Farm track near bottom leads you to a gate and style splitting the wood.
The path turns right here then left uphill but its possible to head directly uphill trending rightwards to meet farm track.
Follow farm track rightwards to gate left of metal barn.
Through gate and down track to another gate/style. Superb view of Chatsworth House.
Head downhill following waymarkers passing 2 copses on your right (be careful not to follow the blue waymarker off right. You should now be following the yellow markers).
From the second copse aim between the church spire and the cluster of large trees to its left.
A waymarker leads to stone steps and a metal gate right of the row of houses.
Down the steps/path to the road and the village of Edensor.
Turn left uphill (it's a steady climb; not quite as steep or long as your first climb up from Rowsley).
Continue uphill, first on road, then track and finally road.
As road is heading downhill and bends to the right, take the path/track to the left.
Follow this to another gate/style then follow track for about 100 mtrs and then head right before bench seat.
Follow the track to a waymarker which directs you on a well defined track towards the right hand end of the lake in the distance.
At the lake take the 5 bar gate about 100 mtrs right of the small wooden gate which is just right of the lake.
Follow the tractor tracks to another gate/style.
Then aim for left corner of nearest wood ahead.
On reaching the wood follow it's left edge to the gate/style you came through earlier.
Retrace your earlier steps:-
Through wood and downhill to “Haddon Estate Woodland Walk” sign.
Left and continue to junction of tracks/bridleways.
Left through metal barrier and follow track back to Rowsley.