The Five Pits Trail in Derbyshire is great for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Part of a 5.5 mile off-road surfaced route that takes you from Grassmoor Country Park to Tibshelf Fishing Ponds or extend your route to 7.5 miles by exploring the route through Williamthorpe LocalNature Reserve and Holmewood Woodlands. There are car parks at various points along the trail so you can plan your route to take in the full trail or a shorter route.
The trail mostly follows the route of the Great Central Railway. Since the large collieries and smaller pits along the railway closed, the landscape has changed dramatically. Parts of the land were opencast and most of the original railway line removed. You can listen to tales of history, heritage and wildlife with downloadable audio trails for the Five Pits Trail, Holmewood Woodlands and Grassmoor Village. Visit www.hidden-gems.org.uk/hidden-gems for more information and to download the trails.
Look out for the large site maps showing some of the heritage and wildlife along the trail.
Cycling
The trail is great for cyclists of all abilities butif you want to try testing yourself, there are adventurous cycling routes to be found on the Williamthorpe Local Nature Reserve alongside the trail.
The track is a similar standard to a blue grade mountain bike trail and is suitable for anyone with basic off-road riding skills.
Derbyshire conservation volunteers and local cycling groups spent nearly 300 hours working with countryside staff to create the track. It’s a fabulous facility we are sure you’ll enjoy.
Walking
If you fancy exploring further on foot, there is a network of public footpaths taking in some of the striking countryside in the Derbyshire area. Walkers can explore the surrounding landscape on Public Rights of Way by following one of the Five Pits Trail Circular Walks.
These walks are between 2.5 and 5.5 miles in length and each walk is waymarked with a coloured disc.
The Williamthorpe nature reserve is designated as a Local Nature Reserve, this means it is special for both people
and wildlife. The mosaic of ponds, reed bed and woodland are a wildlife haven, hidden from the surrounding bustle of industry. It’s a great place for bird watching, wildflowers and enjoying the countryside.
Facilities available
- Bridleway/Horse riding trailBridleway/Horse riding trail
- Cycle paths
- Easy access for alll
- Footpath
- On-site information
- Parking
- Picnic areas
- Wildlife areas
- Woodland with public access
For more information, contact Derbyshire County Council countryside service on tel: 01629 533190
Email: countrysideservice@derbyshire.gov.uk or download the trail map and walking routes here.