Opening my latest copy of WALK DERBYSHIRE the seventh no less, I realised that the first walk in the guide took in much of Kedleston’s parkland, but less than half of its beautiful woods and plantations. As enjoyable as the walk maybe, it would be a great pity to exclude the extensive woodlands covering North Park and Hay Wood just across the ponds in front of the hall. A signposted path starting near North Lodge on the back road from Derby, winds its way in and out of woodlands.
This is where mature oaks have grown for so long that the Ordnance Survey has confidently marked them on its maps covering the area between Quarndon and Kedleston.
Starting from the National Trust car park to the rear of Kedleston Hall, at first the walk follows the hall’s access drive, round the front of the hall, and then down to the graceful bridge designed by Robert Adam to make a perfect foil for the view of the hall built to architect Paine’s plans.
A long stretch of narrow lakes created by damming Blind Brook reach out on either side of the bridge, with the drive continuing, past a golf course before joining the main road at North Lodge, the main entrance to Kedleston Park. A path starting on the edge of woodland enclosing North Lodge, bears left along the edge of the wood before swinging left to follow the boundary of Bracken Wood.
A narrow belt of trees shelter a side track which is crossed, (it leads to the estate‘s saw mill). On the far side of the track, the path continues, slightly uphill through Hay Wood for about three quarters of a mile in order to reach the head of the long line of narrow ponds. At this point the walk ignores a footbridge and bears left along the side of Upper Lake, where a seat offers both a resting place and a view opposite an attractive old boat house.
Continuing beside the ponds, the bankside path reaches the Adam Bridge, and then crossing it to continue along the opposite side of the lower pond, as far as woodland sheltering the park. Entering Shady Oaks Wood, the way continues through what has been called Derby Screen and then winds its way upwards towards Vicar Wood with its attractively screened views of the south side of Kedleston Hall, continuing above its Pleasure Grounds where the privileged once took their ease. From here the path continues all the way back to the car park.
Kedleston is one of the oldest stately homes in Derbyshire. Its founding was created by generations of Curzons who began to build in 1215, but only the Norman-style doorway into the church remains from that time. Loyal to King Charles 1st, John Curzon still managed to be made a baron. Under the family name of Scarsdale, the first Lord Scarsdale set about building what we see today after his elevation in 1761. Paine a prominent eighteenth century architect was employed to design the exterior and general layout of the rooms, and Robert Adam for the interior. In the manner of the time Lord Curzon had the old village of Kedleston moved away from the hall, only leaving the church door in memory of the old settlement.
George Nathanial Curzon is the most distinguished member of the Curzons. He is best known as the Viceroy of India where he acquired many fabulous treasures such as the silver and ivory howdah and Lady Curzon’s fabulous Peacock Dress embellished with thousands of glittering beetle wings. It was designed for a special durbar held at Delhi in honour of the Viceroy. Normally these treasures are on display in the hall, but currently the National Trust has removed them for restoration. Lord Curzon was a keen supporter of the National Trust – he even bought an ancient castle in Sussex just to please his wife.
Time should be allowed on this walk, in order to visit the magnificent stately home, one of Derbyshire’s finest. Please note that the museum is temporarily closed while many of its treasures, including the Peacock Dress, are being restored.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
A 5½mile (8.8km) of easy woodland and riverside walk on well-maintained paths. Chance of muddy sections around Vicar Wood after heavy rain.
RECOMMENDED MAP: Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale, Landranger Sheet 128: Derby and Burton upon Trent. The National Trust also have a free map of Kedleston Park’s walks available at the Visitor Centre near the main car park. This walk combines parts of two of them.
PARKING: Next to the Visitor Centre. National Trust members have free parking and entry into the hall,
ACCESS: Minor side roads from Belper or Derby via Mackworth are signposted ‘To Kedleston’.
REFRESHMENTS: National Trust café in Kedleston Hall close to the car park and Visitor Centre.
THE WALK STEP BY STEP
From the car park walk back towards the hall and then bear left down its access drive. Go past Bentley’s well in its surrounding iron fence, the last remnant of a failed attempt to create a fashionable spa at Kedleston.
Cross the attractive bridge and admire the views up and downstream, plus the great hall topping the gently rising grassland grazed by the estate’s sheep.
Walk on down the drive, with the estate golf course on your right – please note there is no access to the golf course, however tempting it might look.
Within sight of the North Lodge entrance to Kedleston, look out for a footpath on the left, following the boundary of a small wood. Keeping with the path, bear left and leave the wooded boundary to cross an open field. Continue as far as a second wood and, on reaching it, turn left along its edge.
Cross a minor side track and go forwards into Hay Wood.
A reasonably straight path continues forward for about a quarter of a mile in order to reach the northern bank of the upper pond. Do not cross the little footbridge, but turn left alongside the pond. There is a convenient seat and picnic table near this point, use it to both rest and also admire the eighteenth century boathouse on the opposite bank. There is also a small island close by that is a popular nesting place for both local and migrating water fowl.
Walk on past the island in order to reach the main access drive into Kedleston.
Turn right at the road, cross the bridge and turn left to continue alongside the pond for a little under a mile and then turn right to climb gently uphill into the first of a series of mature woodlands.
Reaching a four-way junction of paths, bear right, uphill into woodland that will accompany the walk all the way back to the car par.
Follow the path for a mile, all the while being on the lookout for wildlife such as badgers and foxes and views also of the south side of Kedleston Hall over to your right.
Begin to bear right again with the path, following it through Vicar Wood and the Mount, an excellent place to stop and admire the view across Kedleston’s Pleasure Grounds.
As the path descends, look out for three unusual features on your right alongside the path. The first is a simple thatched roof circular stone building known as the ‘Hermitage’ – a popular children’s attraction. Next comes, still on your right, what looks like the start of a quarry, but it marks the home or sett, of a family of badgers; and lastly two stone gate posts, one on either side of the path; they once stood at the entrance to the House of Lords, but were discarded when Parliament was being rebuilt after a disastrous fire in Victorian times.
Carry on along the path, around the side of Keddleston church and into the car park. The National Trust café is quite close, you will find it in the nearby corner of the main house.
