4.6 miles / 7.4 km
The highlight of this short section of the Way is the impressive Chatsworth Estate, with its house set in an extensive deer park landscaped by Lancelot (Capability) Brown. The Emperor Fountain, which sends up a 290ft (88m) jet of water, is one of the park’s striking features. Both the grounds and the house itself, which contains superb examples of art and craftsmanship, deserve prolonged exploration. As the route winds through the estate south to Rowsley, there are close views of the Derwent. At the end of this section Caudwell’s Mill, a 19th-century grade II- listed roller flour mill with pre-1914 machinery powered by two water turbines, is also well worth a visit. The displays and hands- on models make it particularly child-friendly and there are several craft outlets as well as a shop selling different types of flour.
Terrain
Tracks and paths, sometimes muddy in places.
Public transport
To the start at Baslow, buses from Sheffield, Chesterfield, Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock. From the fifinish at Rowsley, buses to Manchester, Sheffield, Buxton, Matlock, and Derby..
Accessibility
The path from Baslow to the Chatsworth House entrance road is wheelchair accessible, but includes a 12ft wide gate and a circular revolving gate 57” diameter.
From the entrance road, after crossing the bridge, there is a well surfaced path to the road at Edensor. There is no accessible entrance to the village though.
The whole section is suitable for a sturdy child buggy, with a lift required in a couple of places.
