Pets

5 1/2 MILE CIRCULAR WALK FROM MORTON VIA PADLEY WOOD

This month’s walk first featured in the magazine nearly eight years ago! We re-walked the route in December and brought it up to date with a few minor tweaks. Rafa wouldn’t have even been five years old at the time of this walk, so it was lovely to take him back over old footsteps and to still see a spring in his step. There is nothing as wonderful as sharing a walk with your furry friend and this is a lovely walk to share. A moderate walk with a varied terrain. The route should take around 2 1/2 hours. There are some stretches along country roads, so take care. And of course, as usual at this time of the year there are some uneven and muddy parts so a good pair of boots or wellies is highly recommended.

START: HOLY CROSS CHURCH, CHURCH LANE, MORTON, DERBYSHIRE, DE55 6GU

1. Begin at the church on Church Lane in Morton. On street parking is normally available nearby. With the church on your right head along Church Lane, before following the road around to the right to continue along Higham Lane. 2. Walk along this country road for just under 600 meters, taking care to watch out for traffic as there are no footpaths. The road bends right then left twice, on the second time take a footpath sign for ‘Mickley Lane’ on your right, between a road sign and a gate.

3. Follow this path into a field a cross the stile and pass through a gate, keep ahead to pass through another gate. Continue ahead past a pylon on your right and at the corner of the field pass through the hedge and carry on ahead to cross three fields via the stiles available.

4. At the end of the third field go through a gate and keep ahead, with the hedge on your right. Cross a stile and then at the corner of the next field pass through a gate before turning right to pass through another gate. Carry on ahead towards a metal gate marked ‘footpath’. Walk straight ahead through the farm yard following the clearly marked ‘footpath’ signs in white paint. Take caution here as there may be a loose, barking dog in the farm yard.

5. Carry on ahead through a field with a caravan park on your left to reach a wooded area. Join the path straight ahead of you and follow this to reach Morton Road. Pass through the gate and cross with care. Carry on ahead following the footpath sign. Keeping to the main path until you reach a stile at a cross roads with a rough farm road. Carry on ahead with the wooded area on your right then turn right at the first opportunity to keep the wooded area on your right and solar panels on your left.

6. Follow this track straight ahead to cross a stile, then keep to the right-hand path to cross the rail bridge and pass into Padley Wood. Keep to the main track and cross a small footbridge. When you meet the fields join the path straight ahead with the hedge on your right and follow it uphill.

7. Carry on along this path for a fair distance entering into the edge of a wooded area. After leaving the wood carry on the corner of a field. Here you will meet a crossroad of paths. Take the gate on your right and follow the path alongside a field with the hedge on your left. (Take care not to take the path downhill and through a gate.)

8. At the corner of the field turn right and continue with the hedge on your left. At the next corner pass through the hedge, take a gate on your right and turn left along a farm track. At the bottom of the track you meet Padley Wood Lane. Turn right here.

9. Carry on along the lane as it bends left and then follow it ahead until you get close to a farm. Take a path on your left straight ahead as the lane bends right towards the farm. Follow the path, keeping the hedge on your right. Part way down the side of the field keep to the right and follow the path into another field and continue ahead.

10. Pass through a gate and continue along the path as it takes you over a rail bridge and then back onto to a hedge lined track. Carry on along this track as it joins Evershilll Lane. Walk along the lane for a fair distance as it brings you back into Morton. Keep to the lane until you meet the B6014 Stretton Road.

11. Cross the road and turn left on the road and follow it back towards the church. Turn right after a red brick house to pass through the Church Yard and bring you back to where you began.

FINISH: HOLY CROSS CHURCH, CHURCH LANE, MORTON, DERBYSHIRE, DE55 6GU

This walk is for illustrative purposes only. Voice Magazines takes no responsibility for anyone who chooses to follow this route and encourages all walkers to obey all byelaws and signs and to respect the area they are walking in, ensuring they pick up all dog mess and obey the countryside code at all times.