The Peak District & Derbyshire

Exploring Bess’s grounds trail

A longhorn cow in the Park at Hardwick — Hardwick's resident herd of longhorn cattle enjoy the new spring grass | © National Trust / Sarah Mann Photography

Discover this trail across the estate at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, once home to Bess of Hardwick, and enjoy views of the historic Elizabethan house and explore Lady Spencer’s Wood.

Near to

Hardwick

Start point

Hardwick visitor reception, grid ref: SK463638

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 3 (km: 4.8)

Duration1 hour to 1 hour 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*Steep hills and steps, with mostly grassland and woodland paths. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Steep hills and steps. For further details, please see Access section.
***Please keep dogs on leads near livestock. For further details, please see Facilities section.

Admission fees

Admission fees apply for access to the garden and Stableyard areas. Please buy your tickets from the visitor reception before you start the walk.

Total stages: 11
Total stages: 11
Start point
Hardwick visitor reception, grid ref: SK463638
Stage 1
Starting from the visitor reception, take the path into Lady Spencer’s Wood.
Stage 2
Walk down the steps and turn left at the gap in the handrail (approximately three steps from the bottom) and follow the path until you come to a gate.
Stage 3
Through the gate, bear slightly left and walk across the grass towards the trees.
Stage 4
Cross the road and walk through the pedestrian gate. Follow the fence line towards the woods. Walk down the steps and over the concrete bridge. Follow the path up the woodland boundary. At the gate, turn left into Park Piece Wood and follow the path through the wood.
Stage 5
When you come out of the wood, walk straight down the hill through the field to the road heading for the gate.
Stage 6
Cross over the drive and continue through the field to the gate into the next wood.
Stage 7
Bear left on the main path through the wood. When you reach the track, turn left, and follow until you reach a big blue gate.
Stage 8
Go through the blue gate and walk straight ahead, following the grass path downhill, until you get to the drive.
Stage 9
Cross the road and start to go downhill, bearing left towards the pedestrian gate near the Row Ponds.
Stage 10
Go through the gate and walk between the ponds to the gate on the other side.
Stage 11
Bear left up the hill towards the house, you are now walking up Buttress Walk. Go through the gate at the top on the left. At the top is the Gatehouse. At the road turn right following the stone wall, bearing left at the end to arrive back into the Stableyard.
Hardwick Hall views
'Hardwick Hall, more window than wall', says the popular saying, and you’ll soon see why. From the Gatehouse there is a spectacular view of the hall. The Old Hall can be seen as you walk towards the Stableyard on the right-hand side. Bess was born in the Old Hall in 1527. The far grander Hardwick Hall was completed in 1597. It has Bess’s initials, ES (Elizabeth Shrewsbury) emblazoned along the top, with a coronet to show she was a countess. Hardwick symbolises Bess’s achievement in moving up through Tudor society – from the daughter of an obscure gentry family, to countess and the second richest woman in the country.
End point
Hardwick Stableyard
Trail map
Exploring Bess' grounds trail map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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