Walking Lumsdale Waterfall Derbyshire.

Walking Lumsdale Derbyshire is a small walk starting at Tansley, Matlock and walking up into the woods and then walking back down through Lumsdale back through the old mill and following the river as it cascades over rocks and down through the mill providing small waterfalls and a glimpse of an era lost.

Starting at Tansley just off the A615 park at either the Tansley Tavern pub car park or on church street Tansley just the second right coming from Alfreton heading towards Matlock. Starting from the car park walk down the main road towards Matlock and take your second right onto Church street Tansley and walk up Church street until you turn left onto the road The Knoll follow the road around and to the end as you walk round you can see the woods up at the top of the hill and a single house called Oakedge farm. This is where you are heading towards, as you walk along the Knoll you pass a footpath labelled Lumsdale and this is the path you will return on and the walk can be done in reverse to shorten the walk and come out at the bottom of the waterfall you could turn left here and walk straight to the waterfall and bottom of the old mill.

As you get to the end of the Knoll you are provided with a choice of paths take the road around to your left over the river and walk up the hill and up Oakedge lane heading towards the farm house and the start of the woods.

At the top of the Lane turn right up into the woods there are two paths do not take the first one on your right but take the second one that goes straight upwards slightly further on . As you walk up the path you will pass an old Quarry on your right hand side used for quarrying mill stone, just after this take the path around to your left and notice how the path falls away to you left hand side and looking out you can see Riber Castle on a clear day.

Follow the path along the edge through the trees and after a while you are presented with two paths one sharply up on your right and another that crosses over a small wall and follows along a fence. Take the lower path along the fence line and follow to the end.

Follow the path around to your left keeping the edge on you left side and views of Riber castle.

Follow the path over the wall and along the fence line.

As you get towards the end of this path a solid stone wall on your left bends round and a path joins you from your right hand side, follow the wall around to your left and in a short while the path forks into two take the path on your right and walk down the path to the river. As you start on the right hand path the land on your left that is fenced of is the UKs first landfill and remnants of glass bottles and tins are visible on the surface from looters looking for collectable glass bottles and tins. At the end of the path you will cross a small wooden bridge and turn left along Lumsdale road with High Field school on your right.

Follow the wall around to your left.

As you walk to your left you are going to follow the river all the way to the mill pond, walk along Lumsdale road or follow the river and pass some small old mill cottages once used by mill workers and the lane opens out on to the mill pond and the start of the waterfall.

Continue to follow the river as it cascades down the face through a route of manmade mill wheels and small natural waterfalls and look at the warren of buildings and tunnels used to power the mill using natures natural resources. The mill has been restored by the Arkwrights trust and provides stunning backdrops and during winter is popular with photographers taking iced waterfall photos. At the bottom of the path you join back on to the main road Lumsdale and follow the road to your left.

 The housing for one of the mill wheels and visible the exit route for the water to be redirected back to the river.

The housing for a giant Mill wheel with the inlet visible in the background as well as the mounting points.

Old mill wheel left as an industry collapses.

Looking up the waterfall from Lumsdale and the way you would come if doing the walk in reverse.

At the main road Lumsdale turn to your left and follow the road past the bend with a footpath on your left and another footpath on your right across the road and over the river that takes you back up to the A615. The other path on your left takes you back towards Oakedge lane. However follow the road along and past the Old pottery barn and the road bends sharply to your right back towards Matlock. On the bend on your left side is a small metal gate and a well established footpath which again follows the river, take this path and follow to the end.

Footpath on the bend of Lumsdale heading back to Tansley.

At the end of the path you come out at the Tansley Scout Hut and cross the river over a little bridge and under an arch way of trees heading back up the Old Coach road. As soon as you pass the arch way turn up the path on your left and walk up the wooden steps standing at the foot of a small fishing pond.



Follow the path around the pond to your left and continue through the trees straight on and eventually uphill back to the Knoll.

From the top of this path you are back at the start and you are standing on The Knoll where you first started and depending on where you parked it is a short double up back to the car park and as first stated if you only want to see the Old mill and waterfall it is a much smaller walk to turn down this path. It is also possible to drive through Lumsdale and park at the bottom of the Mill in a small lay-by. This is a small walk and enjoyable walking from the woods taking in the higher view points and walking back down watching the river cascade and open up in front of you with little warning. The walk its self can easily be walked in three hours and much quicker for the more serious walker, but there are many options for the more serious walker to extend the walk up over Riber and back through Matlock along High Tor. As this is a short walk it is suitable for taking the family and Matlock baths is just round the corner to visit for a fish and chips dinner and enjoy the attractions on offer.

A small map giving the general route up church street, the knoll, oakedge lane, the woods, lumsdale road, old mill, waterfall, lumsdale and the old coach road.

Enjoy !!