South Derbyshire District Council

South Derbyshire has large areas of picturesque open countryside that is popular with those who want less strenuous walking. For those seeking more challenging terrain, the Peak District is just a short drive away.

Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre is the best place to start if you want to find out more about Walks and Trails in South Derbyshire and The National Forest. As well as stocking a wide range of free leaflets, the friendly staff can also supply a number of commercially produced books, and Ordnance Survey maps are also available.

Currently available leaflets include:-

Five Country Walks in South Derbyshire
More Country Walks in South Derbyshire

These popular circular walks are mostly based on local villages and can be combined with visits to local attractions and/or eateries, making a great trip out. The routes can be walked one at a time, or, in some cases if you are feeling energetic, several routes can be combined to make a single longer walk. The five walks contained in each pack are full colour and include interpretative material as well as clear instructions to guide you around the route.

Published by South Derbyshire District Council, the two packs of five walks each are available to purchase from Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre at a very reasonable £2.00 for both packs (or £2.75 if ordered by post). Alternatively, individual walks may be downloaded here as a lower resolution PDF for you to print out yourself. The documents are available in the related documents section.

Watch out for further walks due to be published by the District Council during 2012 - please contact Swadlincote TIC for further details.

Walks from the National Forest Company

A series of 17 walks are available in PDF format to download from The National Forest Company or on request from local tourist information centres and the National Forest Company, Bath Yard, Moira, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE12 6BD (Tel: 01283 551211).

Audio trail

Launched alongside the Footsteps in the Forest Walking Festival. Listen to the soundtrack available for download below using your mp3 player as you enjoy the walk.

Rosliston Forestry Centre

Environmental Education Project

If you missed the Environment Education Project summer walks, here's one to try yourself - with appropriate care and attention of course! Every Trail - Bretby Walk - thanks are due to walk participant Alan Cooper for putting it online for us.

Other walks leaflets for South Derbyshire

Aston on Trent Historical Walk, published jointly by Derbyshire County Council, South Derbyshire District Council and the Aston-on-Trent Local History Group, available free from Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre.
Walks Around Melbourne, published by Melbourne Civic Society, is a book of fourteen walks in and around Melbourne which can be purchased from Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre priced at £5.
The Bonnie Prince Charlie Walk 1745-1995 is a waymarked route from Ashbourne to Derby now available as a leaflet from by the Ramblers' Association.
Repton Trail, published by Repton Village History Group and available to callers at Repton Church. Ticknall Village Walk is on sale at the Village Store in the village, price £1, or by post from Ticknall Preservation and Historical Society, 3 Harpur Avenue, Ticknall, Derby, DE73 1JS
Shardlow Village Trail can be purchased for 25p from the sales area at
Shardlow Heritage Centre, London Road, Shardlow, Derby, DE72 2GA
Walks from Highfields Happy Hens (nr Etwall) costs £2.50. For your copy, contact
Highfields Happy Hens, The Paddocks, Highfields Farm, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derby, DE65 6LS Tel: 01283 732083.
The National Heritage Corridor is a long distance walk from Derwent Mouth to Howden Reservoir along the entire length of the Derwent Valley. Within South Derbyshire it passes by Shardlow Heritage Centre and Elvaston Castle Country Park. Further details of National Heritage Corridor and Jarrolds have published a guidebook, which describes the route in ten stages and is available from bookshops at £11.99
Findern - A series of walks in and around Findern has been devised by the Findern Footpaths Group and can be found on their webpages.
Calke Park and Abbey Wildlife Walk - A short wildlife walk in the grounds of the National Trust property at Calke Park. Download the Calke walk.

If you are aware of other walks in South Derbyshire that could be featured on this page, please contact us at tourism@south-derbys.gov.uk or on 01283 595 755. In addition, a number of commercially produced books featuring walks in the area are available from bookstores.