The Peak District & Derbyshire

The Tramway Trail at Calke Abbey

Starting at Calke Explore, enjoy a leisurely walk or cycle through woodland, farmland and pasture, and discover some of the old horse-drawn tramway that linked Ticknall to Ashby. With an accessible figure-of-eight route suitable for cyclists, walkers, wheelchairs and pushchairs, you can tailor your adventure to suit you.

Near to

Calke Abbey

Start point

Calke Explore car park, DE73 7JF

Trail information

View route

Print trail

Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 6.3 (km: 10.08)

Short trail

DistanceMiles: 3.7 (km: 5.92)

Duration2 hours

Dog friendly***

*A relatively flat walk on country lanes, woodland paths and stoned paths. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**The Tramway Trail is Calke Abbey's accessible route. For further details, please see Access section.
***Please keep dogs on leads near livestock and roads. For further details, please see Facilities section.

Multi-use trail

The Tramway Trail is a multi-use trail, so please share the paths with other visitors and don't forget to ring your bell when passing on a bike.

Address
Calke Abbey, Ticknall, Derby, DE73 7JF (if using satnav please use postcode DE73 7JF)
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Derby, 9.5 miles (15.2km)
Burton-on-Trent, 10 miles (16km).
By bus
Number 61, Derby to Swadlincote (passing close to Derby Station), alight Ticknall then 1.5 miles (2.5km) walk through the Park to Ticket Office.
Cycling
National Cycle Network – traffic free route 5 miles (8km) away.
By road
10 miles (16km) south of Derby on A514 at Ticknall.
M42/A42 exit 13 and A50 Derby South.
Brown signposts from A42.
This walk will take you on country lanes, woodland paths and stoned paths. We recommend wearing sturdy footwear if walking, as some paths may get muddy during wet weather.

The Tramway Trail is a relatively flat route, making it a great cycle route for families and beginners, and is suitable for buggies and wheelchairs.

Please be aware that the trail passes through farmland where livestock may be grazing at certain times of the year. The trail also crosses some roads and runs parallel to roads at certain points – please take care if you're walking dogs or exploring the trail with young children.
Total stages: 10
Total stages: 10
Start point
Calke Explore car park, DE73 7JF
Stage 1
At Calke Explore, join the Tramway Trail just beyond the main car park, and then turn left onto the hard path. Here, you’ll find the Tramway Trail map situated to the right of the path.
Stage 2
When you reach the trail map, turn left to follow the path through the woodland. Continue along this path to the end of the woodland, and then up a slight incline towards a gate at Hogg’s Close corner.
Bluebells in spring
In spring, look out for a carpet of bluebells in the woodland. Although we're very familiar with bluebells in Britain, in the rest of Europe they're very rare and not found anywhere else in the world. It's thought that it can take up to 200 years for a continuous carpet of bluebells to develop on undisturbed ground. This slow spread means they are often an indicator of ancient woodland sites. Trampling by animals and people can damage the leaves and seeds of the bluebells, so please stick to the paths on your walk.
Visitors walking their dog in the woodland at Calke Abbey. | © National Trust Images/John Millar
Stage 3
At Hogg’s Close corner, pass through the gate and bear left towards the driveway (be aware of cars approaching from the left). Take the track on the right, away from the driveway, with the dry-stone wall to your right.
The carriage drive
The track you're now walking along was part of the original driveway, which offered a sweeping view of the house as visitors arrived by carriage. Follow the bend to the left to see it. On your right, you'll notice what remains of the deer shelter. It was built here so the deer could be seen from the house, and provided a feeding point for the red and fallow deer. You'll need to retrace your steps back up to the bend in the historic drive – known as Lady's Close Corner – to continue this walk.
Cycling the Tramway Trail at Calke Abbey | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey
Stage 4
Continue until you reach a bend in the track, then look for a gate to your right. Pass through the gate and follow the path until you reach two pedestrian gates near a brick barn. Pass through the gates and continue along the path through farmland and woodland.
Cycling the Tramway Trail at Calke Abbey | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey
Stage 5
When you reach a squeezer stile on your left, do not cross the road but continue along the Tramway Trail to the right, which runs parallel to the road. Eventually, you’ll reach a road crossing. Cross the road and continue along the trail under a small bridge.
Cycling the Tramway Trail at Calke Abbey | © National Trust Images/John Millar
Stage 6
When you reach a sharp bend in the path, continue to your right along the Tramway Trail.
Stage 7
Pass under another small bridge and continue along the trail until you reach a gravel track with some cottages on your right.
Stage 8
Continue along the path until you come to a road crossing. Cross over, then pick up the Tramway Trail and continue until you reach a small tunnel. Pass under the tunnel, then continue to follow the path through another gate.
Stage 9
When you reach another tunnel, take the right-hand pathway up to the trail (do not go under the tunnel this time). Turn right at the top, and pass a pond on your left.
Stage 10
Continue to follow the trail alongside the main driveway until you reach Middle Lodge, where you will find two gates. Pass through the right-hand gate and continue along the hard track until you reach Calke Explore.
The Tramway Trail is a multi-use route | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey
End point
Calke Explore car park, DE73 7JF
Trail map
The Tramway Trail is a multi-use, accessible route at Calke Abbey | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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