Central England – Derby, Derbyshire
Distance: 51⁄2km/31⁄2 miles
Time: 2hrs
Type: Town and country
Where: Return walk from Derby city centre to Darley Abbey.
Start/End: Market Place, Derby (SK353363).
Terrain: Good pavements and riverside paths throughout.
Maps: Landranger 128; explorer 259.
Although Derby’s image is justifiably that of an industrial city, it is one of just five UK cities that can boast a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of the historic mills that line the River Derwent, which are within car- free walking distance of the city centre. This walk – a there-and- back-again stroll – follows the river upstream, exploring the city’s industrial legacy and its unexpectedly strong green credentials. There’s a resounding sense of history as you walk this route, for the mills along the Derwent Valley were part of an 18th-century global shift in how we lived. Derby lays claim to the world’s first factory, and it was here that the factory system was introduced and mankind began working to a clock. Derby also holds a special place in the hearts of those who cherish the protection of urban green spaces: it is home to 300 green spaces and gave the country Derby
Arboretum – the first and oldest surviving public park in England.
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