The Peak District & Derbyshire

New woodland walk at Calke Abbey

A child among the trees at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire — Exploring the new woodland at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire | © Chris Lacey

This peaceful three-mile walk takes you along the historic driveway and Tramway Trail of the Calke Abbey parkland into Casey's Plantation, a new area of woodland where over 10,000 young trees are beginning to thrive. Discover oak varieties, hornbeam, cherry, hawthorn, spindle and blackthorn.

Near to

Calke Abbey

Start point

Calke Abbey car park, grid ref SK366226

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 3 (km: 4.8)

Duration1 hour to 1 hour 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*The route is on footpaths through parkland, woodland and fields. For further details, see Terrain section.
**Includes uneven ground, steps and stiles. For further details, see Access section.
***Dogs must be kept under close control. For further details, see Facilities section.

Address
Calke Abbey, Ticknall, Derby, South Derbyshire, DE73 7LE
Directions via Google Maps
By train
The nearest stations are Derby 9 1/2 miles away and Burton-on-Trent 10 miles away.
By bus
Take the Number 61 service, Derby to Swadlincote (passing close to Derby Station), and get off at Ticknall. It's then a 1 1/2-mile (2.5km) walk through the park to the start of the route.
Cycling
National Cycle Network traffic-free route 5 miles (8km) away.
National Cycle Network
By road
Calke Abbey is 10 miles (16km) south of Derby on the A514 at Ticknall, between Swadlincote and Melbourne. You can access it via exit 13 on the M42/A42 and from the A50 Derby South.
Postcode for satnav: DE73 7JF.
Dogs
Dogs are free to roam the parkland under close control. In the gardens and stableyards, they must be kept on a lead.
Car park
The route starts at the main car park at Calke Abbey. There is also parking at Calke Explore.
Toilet
The are toilets at Calke Abbey in the stableyards, gardens and at Calke Explore.
Café
There is a café serving light refreshments at Calke Abbey.
Shop
There is a gift shop, a plant shop and a second-hand bookshop at Calke Abbey.
Restaurant
There is a restaurant at Calke Abbey serving light meals, snacks and drinks.
Total stages: 7
Total stages: 7
Start point
Calke Abbey car park, grid ref SK366226
Stage 1
From the main car park, follow the red waymarked route until you reach the historic driveway, opposite the green gates. Please take care walking alongside the driveway.
Stage 2
Turn right onto the historic driveway and continue down the path until you reach a pedestrian gate, with a field gate to your left. Go through the pedestrian gate and follow the Tramway Trail. You'll soon pass through two pedestrian gates, before the path winds down into Heath End wood. Continue along the tramway, parallel to the road.
Stage 3
You'll soon reach a large dip in the path, with a field and a pedestrian gate on your right. Go through the gate and immediately turn right through a gap in the hedge and up a small bank. You are now in Casey’s plantation. Follow the mown path through the plantation. There are several steps on this section of the walk.
Stage 4
At the end of the plantation, you'll see a waymark and hedgerow in front of you. Turn left and follow the hedge line until you reach another hedgerow. Go through the gap in this hedge, where you'll see another waymark post.
Stage 5
Turn right here and go over the stile. Follow the path directly ahead, keeping the hedgerow and trees on your right-hand side. Continue until you reach another stile, which takes you onto Staunton Lane. Please be aware of traffic on the lane.
Stage 6
On Staunton Lane, immediately turn right and you'll see another field gate and a pedestrian gate onto a narrow track. Follow this track. Go through two more gateways before you emerge back into the parkland of Calke Abbey.
Stage 7
Keep to the right of the main drive and follow it along the meadow. This will take you back to your starting point at the stableyards and main car park.
End point
Calke Abbey car park, grid ref SK366226
Trail map
The new woodland walk at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Trail

The Tramway Trail at Calke Abbey

The Tramway Trail at Calke Abbey is an accessible, multi-use trail with a figure-of-eight route, so you can explore the wider estate at your own pace.