Froggatt Edge is bridleway heaven! Sandy tracks and stunning views – what more could you want! This is a fabulous lollipop route with a spectacular mid-way vantage point overlooking Chatsworth house, probably the best view of Chatsworth without a hellicopter. This route really shows off the very best of the dark peak landscape and although a popular tourist spot, is well worth a visit.
Route Description
1. Leave the car park via the access road you entered on, onto the main road. Turn right and ride a short section down this road, making use of the grass verge. Just before the sharp right hand bend, there is a bridleway gate to your left. This is a recent addition to make these bridleways safer and avoid vulnerable users having to negotiate the bends. Take this bridleway and follow the path heading right as it follows the line of the road and brings you out onto the main froggatt edge bridleway. This path is well surfaced and holds up even in winter.
2. Follow this sandy path along Froggatt Edge, taking in the views and being mindful of the drop below. This trail is popular with runnings, dog walkers and climbers. Keep to the main track until you arrive at Curbar Gap car park. There’s usually a coffee van here! Ride to the right of the car park, done some rocky steps to the road. Cross the road and ride up the other side onto Baslow Edge. There’s even more sand on this side of the road and it’s good going for a canter usually. There’s a friendly herd of Highland cattle that roam across this area. Ride all the way to the end for an amazing view over to Chatsworth. If you look hard enough you can even make out the fountain!
3. Turn right and follow the restricted byway slightly downhill. Turn right again into what looks like an old disused quarry with large boulders scattered and follow this bridleway back to Clodhall Lane and the car park, only a bit further down. This bridleway can get boggy so take care.
4. At the road, turn left and then as the road bends sharply left, take the gate on the right. Follow this path into the woods below Froggatt Edge. NOTE – this is a permissive route for horses and should only be used in dry weather. It gets very wet in winter and we wouldn’t want to loose it! Follow the path through the woods, staying low until you see a large fin shaped boulder and a wide track heading up to the right. Follow this track which will bring you back out onto the main Froggatt Edge path. Take extra caution with which path to follow back to the top. This area is very craggy and you could be led into steep, rough ground. Once back on the top path, retrace your steps back to Haywood car park.
Parking
Use the National Trust Haywood car park which doesn’t tend to get particularly busy even at weekends due to the layby parking available just by the entrance. Even so, do your mxanuveouring when you arrive to avoid getting stuck because it is a long, thin car park with not much turning room once it’s full of cars.
Address: National Trust Haywood CP, Grindleford, Hope Valley S11 7TZ
Cost: Free if you’re a National Trust member or £3.50
