Carsington Water

Walk 28: Carsington to Brassington

A beautiful circular walk from Carsington Water. Highlights include the High Peak Trail, Harboro Rocks, mining history, and the quaint villages of Brassington and Carsington.

Starting at the edge of Carsington Water, you head north to the village of Carsington, over to the High Peak Trail, past Harboro Rocks, and back down to the beautiful village of Brassington. From Brassington, you head east over the hills back to village of Carsington.

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Essentials

  • Distance: 6.5 miles
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Minimum Duration: 3 hrs
  • Refreshments: Pub
  • Route: Download .gpx file
  • Start Grid Ref: SK248527

Parking

Paid parking is available at Sheepwash Car Park – Carsington Water, B5035, Carsington, DE4 4DD

Weather

Derbyshire, UK

Route Map

Guidance

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Safety First

Please do not rely on this walking guide to solely navigate the hike. Always take a paper map and compass with you and make sure you know how to use them. Hiking is generally safe, but there are always potential risks. Use common sense, plan your route beforehand and make a reasonable judgment at all times.

Directions


  1. Head north out of Sheepwash Car Park, taking the path clockwise around Carsington Water.
  2. After around 350 meters, head through the gate to cross the road leaving Carsington Water behind. Continue along Pingle Lane for about 200 meters to meet the edge of Carsington Village. Continue straight until meeting the Miners Arms.
  3. At School Lane, opposite the Miners Arms, turn left and continue until reaching a sharp bend left on Main Street.
  4. At the bend, take the small lane, Mining Lane, on the right heading up and out of the village.
  5. After the steps, ascend up the steep hillside as it passes Carsington Wood on the right.
  6. Upon reaching the stile in the wall at the top, turn left and continue with the wall to the right.
  7. Follow the path past the large wind turbines on the left, cross Brassington Lane to eventually meet the High Peak Trail.
  8. Turn left, and continue on the High Peak trail for 1.5 miles, passing Harboro Rocks on the right – a worthy explore. Harboro Cave is a natural cavern in the rocks where archaeologists have found evidence of human occupants since the Ice Age.
  9. Follow the finger post, signed Brassington, on the left off the High Peak Trail. Continue on the path through the horse stables until meeting Coach Road. The High Peak Trail is a 17-mile (27 km) trail for walkers, cyclists and horse riders in the Peak District. Running from Dowlow, near Buxton, to High Peak Junction, Cromford, it follows the trackbed of the former Cromford and High Peak Railway, which was completed in 1831 to carry minerals and goods between the Cromford Canal wharf at High Peak Junction and the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge.
  10. Turn left, and after about 200 meters on the road, take the path on the right heading over the fields following the Limestone Way for about 600 meters.
  11. Upon meeting Lots Lane, turn sharp left to head towards Brassington.
  12. Head through Brassington, taking the path right, down past St James church. Brassington was once an important centre for lead mining, there are still many remnants of the old industry to be seen in the area and some mineral extraction continues nearby.
  13. Turn left at Church Street and continue past the Miners Arms pub.
  14. At the junction, turn left and follow the finger post to the path up and out of Brassington.
  15. Continue on the path for about 1.5 miles, crossing several stiles and a farm to the right, back to Carsington Village.
  16. Upon meeting Mining Lane again, turn right and take Main Street back to the Sheepwash Car Park.
  • Carsington Village
  • Mining Lane
  • Carsington Water
  • Wind Turbines, Carsington
  • Harboro Rocks
  • High Peak trail
  • Leigh on High Peak trail
  • Fingerpost to Brassington
  • Horses
  • Brown horse
  • ROC
  • Mine Shaft
  • St James Church, Brassington
  • Miners Arms, Brassington
  • Rolling Green Fields
  • Rocky Outcrop
  • Derbyshire Countryside
  • Deep Mineshaft
  • Carsington Water
  • Brassington Village
  • Track to Carsington

Questions or comment about this route? Leave them in the comments section below.

Leigh Walker

View posts by Leigh Walker
Hi I'm Leigh, the creator Walk In Derbyshire. I've been walking in the Peak District National Park for over 30 years and have a huge passion for connecting with nature and hiking in the outdoors. I write up the all the walks for Walk In Derbyshire and am also the lead on our group hikes.

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