One of the pleasures of staying at Hazel Tree Lodge is being able to leave the car behind. Step onto the bridleway from the lodge and head out into a network of countryside trails, with time to talk, look around and enjoy being outdoors.
The Five Pits Trail is a favourite in our HostyGuide. Step out from the lodge and you are on the trails. You can make it a short stretch of fresh air, choose a circular walk around Tibshelf Ponds, or set aside more of the day to explore further. Here’s how to plan a walk that suits your stay.
The Five Pits Trail at a glance
The large map in the hallway of the lodge shows the surrounding area and trails.
- Main trail: 5½ miles (about 8.9 km) between Tibshelf Ponds and Grassmoor Country Park, one way.
- Longer option: a 7½-mile route taking in Williamthorpe Local Nature Reserve and Holmewood Woodlands.
- Shorter walks: four colour-marked circular routes are shown in the leaflet, from 2½ to 5½ miles.
- Underfoot: a surfaced, shared-use trail with some long, steep slopes. The main trail has no stiles or steps, but it is not flat throughout.
Start with a walk around Tibshelf Ponds
For a gentler outing, make Tibshelf Ponds the focus rather than trying to cover the whole trail. At its southern end, ponds, woodland and meadows give you plenty to enjoy over a shorter wander. Take something for a picnic or simply pause by the water before heading back.
In spring and summer, look for wildflowers and butterflies around the meadows, and listen for the birds in the trees. The songs are beautiful.
Choose a circular walk
If you prefer to follow a loop, the council map shows four walks branching from the main trail. Look for the coloured discs on the waymarkers and use the map to choose your start point.
| Walk | Distance | Waymark |
|---|---|---|
| Tibshelf | 2½ miles | Purple |
| Pilsley | 3 miles | Red |
| North Wingfield | 3 miles | Brown |
| Astwith | 5½ miles | Blue |
The Tibshelf circuit is the shortest listed loop. The other circular walks use public footpaths beyond the main surfaced trail, so expect conditions to vary but it’s mostly easy walking. Allow extra time for stops, wet ground and the walk to your chosen starting point.
A longer walk to Silverhill Wood
The trails connect, so you can also walk all the way from Hazel Tree Lodge to Silverhill Wood. Allow around 2 hours to get there from the lodge, depending on your pace and stops, and plan time for the return journey too.
Our HostyGuide includes our favourite Silverhill Wood walk (you can drive and park there with your car), with a route map you can follow on your phone. The views are stunning at the top of the hill looking out on to Hardwick Hall.
Favourite walks in your HostyGuide
Every stay includes your own HostyGuide, bringing our favourite walks and local recommendations together on your phone. Browse the Five Pits Trail, Silverhill Wood and other nearby options, then open a walk for useful information and its route details.
It’s a useful companion for deciding what kind of day you want: a short wander, a longer walk or a day out with somewhere good to eat afterwards.
From railway lines to countryside
The Five Pits Trail largely follows the former Great Central Railway through a landscape shaped by coal mining. Today, woodland, grassland and ponds occupy places once associated with collieries and railway workings. Information boards along the way help put that changing landscape into context.
The wildlife guide link below highlights habitats for orchids, butterflies, wetland birds and other wildlife. What you see will depend on the season and a little luck. At Williamthorpe, reed beds and open water offer a different feel from the woodland stretches around Tibshelf.
Explore the council’s wildlife guide
If you enjoy seeing how countryside changes with the seasons, you might also like our story about haymaking on the smallholding.
A few practical things to know
- Wear comfortable walking shoes. Surfaced paths can still be wet or muddy, and the circular footpaths may be softer underfoot.
- Plan for the slopes. If you use a wheelchair or pushchair, check the marked gradients and choose a suitable section rather than assuming the whole route is level.
- Share the trail. Expect cyclists and horse riders as well as walkers, and leave room for others to pass.
- Bring water and a layer. Choose a route and turnaround time that leave enough daylight for your return.
- Look after the countryside. Take litter home, leave gates as you find them and avoid disturbing wildlife. Barbecues are not permitted at the council’s countryside sites.
Back to the lodge
A walk doesn’t need to fill the whole day to make a break feel different. Come back for a coffee on your private patio, put your feet up, or enjoy the hot tub overlooking the fields as the evening settles in.
Hazel Tree Lodge sleeps up to four in two bedrooms, with countryside walks from the door. See more things to do nearby, or send us your dates and enquire about a stay.
Route information: Derbyshire County Council’s supplied leaflet and current Five Pits Trail, Tibshelf Ponds and Silverhill Trail pages. The approximate Silverhill Wood walking time is our local guidance from the lodge.