Walk 4 - Holbrook and Makeney (5.5 miles)

This walk starts at the Black Bulls Head Pub.  From here walk downhill away from Belper on the A609 a short way until the road bears left with a small pull in on the right and a sign for Glen’s Hens.  Go through a stone squeeze stile and then head right up a slight hill.  Follow the path through three fields and as you enter the fourth turn left and follow the path into High Wood.

Walk through the wood and then through a double gate.  Head straight across the paddocks to a stile and turn left onto a tarmac drive.  As you head down the drive look for two footpaths on the right.  Take the lower path that follows the hedge rather than the path that heads uphill.  Follow this to a road and turn right to follow the road past Ben’s Farm and into the village of Holbrook. Walk through the village and past The Spotted Cow community pub/café.

At the next junction head right uphill and past a playground to Makeney Road.  Turn left and then look for a footpath on the right.  Follow the footpath downhill across fields and then down steps to The Holly Bush Inn. At the Inn turn right and then bear right again to ascend stony Dark Lane.  Where Dark Lane emerges onto a stony track continue straight on to Shaw Lane.

At Shaw Lane turn right and then look for a footpath on the left to Wildersley Farm.  Follow the obvious path and as you approach the farm buildings head to the right and across an open area to take a footpath uphill that ends in a small park.  Turn right out of the park and follow the road to a mini roundabout.  Turn left and follow Sandbed Lane to return to the starting point.