Shining Cliff Woods
Enjoy waymarked walking trails through this peaceful woodland near Ambergate. In the spring you'll find carpets of bluebells. Wildlife includes warblers, flycatchers and bramblings. The woods are near to the Derwent Valley Heritage Way, so you could pick this up and follow the River Derwent to continue your walk. Our Around Belper circular walk makes use of this trail to take in the river and the nearby Cromford Canal.
This is a walking route but the woods are also popular with mountain bike riders with a selection of trails to choose from. If you'd like to come by public transport then the train station at Ambergate is only about a mile south of the woods.
Postcode
DE56 2HG - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsShining Cliff Woods Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Shining Cliff Woods Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Shining Cliff Woods OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Shining Cliff Woods Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
Head into nearby Ambergate and you could pay a visit to the Hurt Arms. The 19th century gastropub serves high quality food which you can enjoy in the lovely garden area. You can find them at postcode DE56 2EJ for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
As you'd imagine the woodland trails are ideal for dog walking so you'll probably bump into other owners on a fine weekend day. Do be mindful that some of the tracks are used by mountain bikers though.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The Lumsdale Valley Falls are located to the north and are a bit of a hidden gem of the area.
Just to the south east there's a local historic highlight at Heage Windmill. The Grade II listed mill dates from the 18th century and has recently been restored to working order. You can tour the mill and enjoy a stroll through the surrounding countryside before visiting the village of Heage.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Derbyshire Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Bluebells at Shining Cliff Woods
Autumn colours surround one of the ponds in the woods.
View of the woods from the exterior
Betty Kenny Tree at the site. Betty Kenny (Kate Kenyon) and her charcoal burner husband Luke lived during the late 1700's in this huge yew tree, reputed to be 2000 years old. Their house was formed within the tree, probably with a turf roof. They raised 8 children, and are said to have used a hollowed-out bough of the tree as a cradle. Local legend suggests that this is the origin of the nursery rhyme "Rock-a-bye-Baby". Groundwork Erewash Valley have developed the circular Betty Kenny Walk which visits this ancient relic.