Longshaw and Padley Gorge

A combination of open parkland and moorland, dense woodland and a beautiful steep-sided gorge makes for a walk of great scenic variety. Add to that the historic interest of a 19th-century hunting- lodge and the remains of a 14th-century manor-house, now converted into a chapel, plus fine panoramic views and well- constructed National Trust paths throughout, and the result is not only a varied walk but one which, though undemanding and of modest length, is totally absorbing.


Longshaw Country Park comprises around 1600 acres (650 ha) of woodland, grassland, farmland and moorland owned and main- tained by the National Trust. It was formerly part of a much bigger estate of over 11.00 over 11,000 acres (4450 ha) owned dukes of tland, which was sold and broken up in 1927. Fortuna 1927. Fortunately, the part of it part of it adjacent to the lodge was bought by the Council for the Preservation of of Rural England and Sheffield Council of Social Services, and later handed over to the National Trust, who have subsequently extended it to its present size.

From the car park take the path ahead to the National Trust information centre next to Longshaw Lodge. This palatial-looking building was put up in 1827 as a shooting- lodge for the dukes of Rutland. After the sale of the estate it became a guest house; it is now divided into private flats. Cross a stream, and just before the lodge turn left along a woodland path that passes around the back of the lodge. Continue at first through most attractive woodland and then, after passing through a gate, across open grassland below a line of gritstone edges on the left. At a path junction bear left, following the slightly higher path to a road A.

Here bear right (bisecting the two roads on the right), go through a gate, at a National Trust sign for White Edge Moor, and along a track. After passing White Edge Lodge, the track becomes a grassy path that heads across the moor down to a road B. Cross over, turn left for a few yards and then turn sharp right through a gate, at a National Trust sign, and along a broad track. At the first group of trees, turn left over a stile and follow a grassy part, ahead into a shallow valley. Here turn right and, keeping by a stream on the left, drop down steeply through the woodland that clothes the eastern slopes of Padley Gorge, to a road C. Cross over, turn left for a few yards and then. sharp right down through more woodland to Grindleford Station.

Cross the railway bridge and keep ahead over a stream to a path junction. Here keep straight ahead for just over 1/4 mile (400m). parallel with the railway line, to Padley Chapel. This was the gatehouse of a 14th- century manor-house which, in Elizabeth I's reign, was owned by Sir Thomas Fitzherbert, a devout Catholic nobleman. In 1588, the year of the Spanish Armada, when rumours of Catholic plots were rife and when suspicion of English Catholics was at its greatest, two priests, who were caught hiding in the house, were arrested and sent to Derby where they were hanged, drawn and quartered. Sir Thomas was imprisoned and died in the Tower of London in 1591.

The house fell into ruins and the gatehouse was even used as a cowshed until bought by the Roman Catholic diocese of Nottingham in 1933 and converted into a chapel. Return to the path junction and turn left along a broad uphill track. After passing through a gate you enter the National Trust property of Padley Gorge, one of the few places in the Peak District where ancient woodland survives. The path continues through this beautiful wooded gorge, mainly keeping to the high ground above Burbage Brook on the right, which surges over the rocks in a series of small falls. Finally, after passing through a gate, you emerge from the wooded gorge and ahead is a superb view of Burbage Rocks. Rocks

Shortly afterwards turn right over a foot- bridge and up to a gate that admits you to a road. Turn right along the road for a few yards, and turn left through a gate and along the edge of Granby Wood. Soon, Longshaw Lodge can be seen to the left. The path skirts a pond and bears left across grassland, by trees and rhododendrons, back to Longshaw Lodge and the National Trust information centre. Retrace your steps to the car park