Alfreton Walks
The town of Alfreton is located in the Amber Valley district of Derbyshire. There's some nice woodland and country trails to the west of the town and a local reservoir which is great for wildlife watching.
This circular walk from the town visits Alfreton Park, Shaw Wood, Pentrich village and the Oakerthorpe Nature Reserve. There's attractive parkland, peaceful woodland trails and countryside views to enjoy on the way.
The walk starts on the western edge of the town where you can pick up footpaths on the northern side of Alfreton Park. These will take you west to Oakerthorpe before heading south west past the golf course to St David's Hill in Shaw Wood. In the springtime this area is covered with carpets of bluebells.
The route then heads south east past the site of a Roman Fortlet to the village of Pentrich. The village includes a noteworthy Norman church with a tower dating back to the 14th century.
After exploring the village the route then heads north east back through the Oakerthorpe Nature Reserve. This Local Nature Reserve has a short circular trail with a pond dipping platform provided for school groups. The pond platform is an ideal location to spot frogs, toads and common newts.
Footpaths will then take you back to Alfreton Park where you can follow footpaths through the park back to the start point.
Alfreton Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Alfreton Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Alfreton OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Alfreton Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Walks near Alfreton
- Ogston Reservoir - This beautiful reservoir near the Derbyshire village of Brackenfield is one of Derbyshire's premier bird watching sites
- Five Pits Trail - This is a super off road cycling and walking trail running from Grassmoor Country Park to Tibshelf
- Carsington Water - This route follows the circular cycling and walking trail around Carsington Water in Ashbourne, Derbyshire
- Matlock - The county town of Matlock is a great base for exploring the south eastern edge of the Peak District
- Ashover - This circular walk around Ashover explores the countryside around the village
- Midland Railway Centre - This heritage railway in Derbyshire's Butterley has a delightful 35 acre country park with a wide range of wildlife areas and great views of the passing steam trains
- Cromford Canal - Enjoy a waterside stroll along the Cromford Canal on this easy walk in Derbyshire
- Crich - This pretty village in Derbyshire is known as the location for the setting for the ITV series Peak Practice and the Crich Tramway Village
- Codnor Park Reservoir - This walk visits the Codnor Park Reservoir in Derbyshire
- Wingerworth - This attractive Derbyshire village is located just to the south of Chesterfield.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Near the southern end of the route around Pentrich you could take a small detour to visit the Midland Railway Centre. Here you'll find a 35 acre country park with a heritage railway and nice trails around Butterley Reservoir and Codnor Park Reservoir.
Head north west from the town and you will soon come to expansive Ogston Reservoir. This large lake is located near the village of Brackenfield and is notable as one of Derbyshire's premier bird watching sites.
A few miles west of the town you can pick up the Cromford Canal near Crich. You'll also find the excellent Tramway Village in this area too. This fascinating museum contains over 60 trams built between 1873 and 1982 and is set within a recreated period village containing a working pub, cafe, old-style sweetshop and tram depots.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Derbyshire Walks page.
Photos
The Blue Bell, Alfreton
Alfreton Park. The cricket ground can be seen to the left.
Swanwick countryside. On footpath west of Swanwick near Coneygrey Farm
Bluebells in Shaw Wood, Oakerthorpe, Derbyshire
View from David's Hill in Oakerthorpe. The hill is located just to the north of Shaw Wood.
Site of Roman Fortlet. The field in the foreground is actually the site of a Roman camp. This can be seen from aerial shots of the area eg. Multimap. The course of the Roman road "Ryknild Street" ran through the field adjacent to the east of this picture (off picture) past the buildings at Hollybank (seen to the centre right). The woods on Castle Hill can be seen at the northern boundary of the field.
Oakerthorpe Nature Reserve. Footpath and Sign
Footpath View. Looking across the field at the rear of Hollybank House, the white building , centre right is the Anchor Inn.