Strutting the Ancient Tracks of Beaurepaire

About trip

Before Jedediah Strutt came to Belper, it was just a mere backwater of Derbyshire, and according to Dr Davies, writing in 1811 was ‘backward in civility’ and considered as the insignificant residence of a few ‘uncivilised nailors’. The land around Belper was part of the Norman hunting grounds of Beaurepaire, which meant beautiful retreat. The land was first handed to Henri de Ferrieres and the family ruled here until 1266, when Henry III handed them over to his son the Earl of Leicester, known as Edmund Crouchback. Strutt’s Legacy. Jedediah Strutt had earlier partnered Richard Arkwright in the building of the world’s first water-powered cotton mill, sited upriver at Cromford (see Walk 45). The success of that project prompted him to build the South Mill, here at Belper. By 1786 he had built the timber-framed North Mill. Jedediah died in 1797 but his three sons, William, George and Joseph built on his successes. In 30 years there were five mills in the town, though the original North Mill had to be replaced in 1803 after a damaging fire. The Strutts took an active interest in the welfare of their community, providing good housing for their workforce and schooling for the children. As you walk past the North Mill you can see a b ridge connecting it with the mill across the road. Note the gun loopholes in it. They were to protect the mills from Luddites, but fortunately the expected trouble never materialised. Rural Scenes: Most of the walk is rural, and you’re soon tramping through woods and across fields. The small lake you see is now a nature reserve, well known for wildfowl. Farm tracks that wouldn’t look out of place in a Gainsborough or Constable landscape take you up the hillside to Belper Lane End. At the top of the hill you reach Longwalls Lane, which was part of the Saxon Portway road. Archaeological finds show that the lane was in use, not only by the Romans, but prehistoric man. In such times the ridges made safer routes than the swampy forests of the valleys, with their dangerous wild animals. The old highway starts unpromisingly as a tarmac lane, but soon becomes a splendid thicket-lined track, with oak trees, wild flowers and wide views up the Derwent Valley. The monument-topped cliff in the distance is Crich Stand (see Walk 46). Coming down to Blackbrook the route discovers a delightful woodland track above Lumb Brook. Known locally as Depth o’ Lumb the wood is coloured by great swathes of bluebells in spring and Himalayan balsam in summer. After descending the slopes of Chevin Mount, the route returns to Belper by the banks of the Derwent, the river that supplied the power for Derbyshire’s role in the Industrial Revolution. While you're there: Why not learn more about the town and its fascinating history. There are two short, self-guide walks around Belper. Leaflets are available at the visitor centre Where to eat and drink: En route you can get bar snacks in the Bull’s Head at Belper Lane End. Belper has several good pubs, including the George and the Lion Hotel on Bridge Street, also there are many cafés and restaurants to choose from. What to look out for: Visit the Derwent Valley Visitor Centre at North Mill. It has exhibitions illustrating the development of the region during the Industrial Revolution. You’ll see Hargreave’s revolutionary Spinning Jenny, Arkwright’s Water Frame and Crompton’s Mule. In 2001 the Derwent Valley Mills area was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its industrial heritage Directions: From the car park at the visitor centre, turn right on to Belper Bridge over the River Derwent. Cross over the bridge then, when you reach the Talbot Hotel, take the right fork following the signpost for ‘Belper Lane End and Alderwasley’. 2 Ignore the next right fork, Wyver Lane, but where the road swings sharply left, go straight ahead on a short, unsurfaced lane, called The Scotches. Continue over a stile at the end of the lane for a cross-field path. It finally descends through woodland to reach Wyver Lane opposite a wetlands nature reserve. 3 Turn left along the road for a few paces, then left again on a bridleway track, which arcs left to pass straight through the yard of Wyver Farm before continuing to the road at Belper Lane End. Turn right along the road, passing the Bull’s Head pub and then take the left fork to Gorses Farm. Here a farm track climbs past some chicken sheds before reaching a T-junction of country lanes. 5 Turn left along Longwalls Lane, which soon degenerates into a stony track. Continue to follow the track downhill and keep straight ahead along a less well-defined track. In time this becomes a walled path before returning to a proper lane again beyond a large house. The lane then meets Ashbourne Road at Blackbrook. 6 Turn right along the road for about 200yds (183m), then turn left over a footbridge by a ford. Follow the lane for 600yds (549m) to a footpath on the left, highlighted by Midshires Way waymarkers. Go through the squeeze stile and follow the welldefined field path climbing to the south-east. The path enters an area of delightful woodland through Lumb Grange, then turns left at a stile in a wall, aiming for some houses at the far end of a field. Take the right-hand of two parallel tracks, past the houses to reach the road at Farnah Green. 7 Turn right along the road to walk through the village. After 150yds (137m) follow the Midshires Way along an unsurfaced lane by Chevin Mount. Just beyond the sharp right-hand bend in the lane turn left along a footpath. This descends directly through sloping fields eastwards to Chevin Road. 8 The continuing path is staggered 200yds (183m) to the north and follows a short driveway to the stile at the end. Beyond this go left on a clear footpath across fields and down to the River Derwent. Follow the various riverside paths and tracks back to Belper Bridge and the outward route.