Recommended map: The Peak District White Peak Area 1:25000, Outdoor Leisure 24

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This is a superb and varied walk, OK in any weather but particularly good in spring with the bluebells and new leaves. Watch out for the rare Toothworts in the woods above Matlock Bath. Park at the large free car park near Matlock station at SK296602. Rejoin the main road, turn left over the bridge and cross to the park on the far side of the river. Walk alongside the river then continue past some rather stern victorian houses to a steep road on the right. Go up this, turn right, pass the church to a lane on the right giving access to High Tor grounds. Follow the path steeply up (excellent views right) to where it divides near the top, turn right and walk up to the edge of the main cliff of High Tor (care!). Turn left and follow a well used track gradually descending, past Fern Cave (actually a mined out rift) to a track zigzagging to the village of Starkholmes on the left. Turn right along the main road and after 100m take a very steep road on the left which zigzags up the hillside. After it levels off take the track on the right to Hearthstone Farm, pass through the farm and before the cattle grid branch right and follow the lane first up then down through woods and open fields. Ignore any tempting signs either side of the track. After several gates the track joins a steep surfaced lane, take this left for a few meters then a footpath on the left below Sunnyside. This path crosses Bow wood, eventually to emerge at Lea Bridge, famous for its nearby gardens. Turn right down the road and after 200m on a bend take the path on the left over the river and railway to the little cafe at High Peak Junction. Following the canal towards Cromford offers a pleasant short cut.

From here, don't follow the incline but take the lane leading to the busy A6, cross this to the stile almost opposite and follow the path up through the woods and over fields crossing two lanes on the way. The path is initially well waymarked but where you enter a large field walk up the centre towards the obvious gate, don't follow the far wall. Continue in the same direction past Wigwellnook farm to Oakerthorpe Road. Turn right and after 150m on a sharp bend take a steep narrow lane which soon leads to easier going across a meadow. Head for the woods, cross a stile and once in the woods go up and turn left, soon arriving at a white trig point. Right, in the woods is a thoughtfully placed telephone mast. Follow the blue markers down past Black Rocks to the car park on the High Peak trail. A small path exits the right side of the car park just over the wall, follow this trending right to spoil heaps and a track leading to the B5023.

From here it's necessary to walk about 1km down the road into Cromford. In the village cross the road to Market Place and take the lane left by the Chemist. This goes past a pleasant pub The Ship Inn, past the village ponds and where the road dips suddenly (400m) take steep cobbled lane on the right. This zigzags right then left (sign post) and traverses behind some allotments to eventually joins another track coming down from the right at an acute angle. Take this, the path now rounds the shoulder of the hill traverses the hillside, with Masson Mill down to the right. The path climbs steeply, ignore diversions and eventually join a surfaced road between cottages. Follow the road for about 800m to where it starts to drop steeply. Pass the entrance gates to Masson Heights and a little further down on the left take the narrow entrance to a path. This contours then rises, crosses a wooden bridge then joins a lane which joins a small road that leads back to Matlock. Follow the road 400m to the car park. Allow 4.5 hours.

Particular interest: High Tor, Lea Woods, Cromford canal, Black Rocks, High Peak Trail, Masson Heights woods.