Lea Riber Tansley

A good mixed terrain walk with great views. The early footpath rising through the woods was not well used so poorly defined.

Technical sheet

n°937666

Creation:
19 Jan 2018

Last update:
21 Feb 2018

Last review:
3 May 2021

Activity: Walking
Distance: 11.39 km
Average duration: 4h 15
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 345 m
Vertical drop: - 340 m
Highest point: 280 m
Lowest point: 79 m

Country: United Kingdom
District: Cromford CP
Start/End: N 53.10104° / W 1.531405°
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk bulletins

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Description of the walk

(S) Start is at car park on Lea road where the road bends to follow River Derwent. Walk up the road towards Lea Bridge.

(1) Opposite the Mill car park follow the footpath sign up the lane behind Mill. Lane becomes footpath and passes left of Splash Farm buildings. Path rises through woods quite meandering and indistinct at first.

(2) Path soon improves and continues to rise eventually following edge of escarpment to Bilberry Knoll. Soon after catching first glimpse of Riber Castle ahead the path begins to descend to Heartstone Farm. Pass through buildings and take footpath on right alongside last buildings.

(3) Soon join Carr Lane. Turn left then right onto Riber Road. In 200m take footpath on right towards Tansley. Keep straight forward toward Tansley until shortly before Daisy Bank farm where you fork left downhill to the main Matlock road.

(4) Immediately turn sharp left up lane behind houses. Carry on to Hilltop farm and drop down hill on footpath to left passing the farm buildings.

(5) At end of third field turn sharply back up hill in fourth field to enter woods. Follow path up hill through woods until you are traversing the hillside below a wall.

(6) An obvious path through wall is taken shortly after passing first house in Riber. Follow road previously walked in opposite direction and continue past Riber Castle.

(7) At left turn to Heartstone Farm enter lane and quickly take footpath to right with views Matlock Bath and Abraham's Heights. Cross fields and over stile to follow footpath down bank side eventually to a road.

(8) Turn left for 150m and take footpath on left behind houses (easily missed). Follow footpath through pretty woods and eventually descend to farm track.

(9) Follow for 100m before forking right on footpath and shortly enter woods. Leave woods and continue along bankside until joining road.

(10) Follow road until joining footpath on right below houses on left.

(11) Follow footpath through woodland and don't deviate until you join the road at Lea Bridge opposite the Mill car park. Turn right down Mill Lane to return to car park.

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 79 m - Lea Road car park
1 : km 0.47 - alt. 95 m - Take lane behind mill
2 : km 2.57 - alt. 280 m - Bilberry Knoll
3 : km 3.67 - alt. 243 m - Left on Carr Lane
4 : km 5.16 - alt. 167 m - Sharp left behind houses
5 : km 6.01 - alt. 173 m - Turn sharply back uphill
6 : km 6.55 - alt. 246 m - Turn left along path
7 : km 7.33 - alt. 250 m - Turn left along lane
8 : km 8.18 - alt. 161 m - Turn left on road
9 : km 8.74 - alt. 134 m - Join farm track for 100m
10 : km 9.64 - alt. 111 m - Turn left along road
11 : km 9.91 - alt. 137 m - Turn right along path into woodland
S/E : km 11.39 - alt. 80 m - Lea Road car park

Practical information

Muddy in places so choose a dry spell.

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5

Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5

Clarity of route map
3.3 / 5

Route interest
4.4 / 5

EDWARDWOOD

May 03, 2021 at 05:07 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This walk has beautiful vista throughout the elevated sections plus great woodland to walk through.

Sassie

Apr 05, 2021 at 03:50 EDT

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This is a really lovely walk thank you for whoever identified it but you need to get a proper map, the description numbers and map numbers are out of sync and there are many crisscross paths so you need your own map to work out which one to take, no mention of really obvious things like correct path is one with steep steps and the wording is ambiguous, passing does not mean go past for example.

plodfather

Jul 27, 2020 at 05:29 EDT

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Had a lovely walk with some fantastic scenery, however some of the directions were very confusing and not clear, we took some wrong turns due to this confusion, and missed some vital turns, which meant we had to back track a few times and need up finishing in the wrong location and added another mile and half to the walk.
But over all had a fantastic day, so not too disappointed.

kenclegg

Nov 04, 2019 at 03:32 EST

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The walk up through the woods was very muddy and slippy. A decent pair of boots is needed after rain.
The pub Tansley is now a restaurant so only open evenings. However there is a pub further into the village apparently.
Rather that walk the final leg through more mud we went via Cromford Wharf where excellent tea and cakes are available.

Summiter

Jun 24, 2019 at 07:27 EDT

Thanks for the feedback, good information.
Summiter

Pauline Franks

Jun 24, 2019 at 07:03 EDT

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

As we were staying at Allen Lane, Tansley we walked down into Tansley and picked up the route there, making it a 10 mile walk. The directions were fairly comprehensive, although it is essential to have a good map as there were quite a few instances where you emerge onto a road or track and are told to follow it but not whether to go left or right. However it was an excellent walk with good views of Riber Castle.

robertdonnan

Jun 01, 2019 at 09:12 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 31, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Directions were confusing in places but otherwise a great walk!!

Sarita J

Oct 30, 2018 at 17:35 EDT

Glad to hear you're enjoying the walks!

nick smith

Oct 22, 2018 at 03:52 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Been doing your walks now for about six months. All have been fantastic. New to walking really enjoyed our new hobby. Can't wait for the next one.

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.

Author

Summiter
1 walk

Walker

Walk map

Bigger map and chart