Start and finish: Spondon Village Hall and library on Sitwell Street. Toilets available.

Grid reference of start and finish: SK40093 36023

Distance: 6.4 kilometres, four miles.

Time: Allow two hours.

Terrain: Footpaths, fields, pavements and roads in between Spondon and Ockbrook. On the most difficult parts of the route in dry weather you will encounter rough surfaces and fairly steep slopes. There will be easier sections. There are stiles on this walk.

Nearby bus routes: 9, 19, Ilkeston Flyer, Spondon Flyer blue or red route. Ring traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit the traveline  website for details of these services.

Parking: Free car park behind the village hall.

The walk

Many thanks to the Spondon Community Association  for supplying the details for this walk. The route is based upon their suggestion, with a few minor alterations. Erewash Borough Council have leaflets for other walks leaflets around Ockbrook, Little Eaton, Risley and many more areas. Telephone 0845 9072244, or email walks@erewash.gov.uk for copies.

1. From Spondon Village Hall, and the library, turn left and walk along Sitwell Street. Cross over Poplar Avenue - danger, road - and continue as far as the pedestrian crossing. Cross over the road using the crossing - danger, busy road. Then turn left, and after about 10 metres turn right down a footpath, which will bring you out on to South Avenue. Cross over South Avenue - danger, road - and follow the footpath across the recreation ground in front of you. Continue along the path as it goes between properties on Meadow Close and The Covert. At the point where another path joins from the right, continue on for a short distance to a litter bin and then turn sharp left to follow the path alongside the hedge through Gravel Pit Lane Recreation Ground. At the end of the path, cross Gravel Pit Lane - danger, road - and take the public footpath in front of you, just to the right of Hillside Road. Follow this path, which initially runs in between properties, before crossing in front of bungalows on Asterdale View. Beyond the bungalows, the path veers to the left down to Stoney Lane. Turn right along Stoney Lane, cross Ladybower Road, and continue on until you are opposite the last house on the left hand side of Stoney Lane.
2. Cross Stoney Lane - danger, road - and follow the public footpath to the right of the last house. The path turns left along the back of the houses and then right at the field boundary. Carry on to the footbridge over the stream, keeping the hedge on your left. Beyond the stream, turn left and then right at the field boundary. Continue on, keeping the hedge on your left. You will see the houses in Ockbrook in front of you and hear the traffic on the A52 to your right. You will go through three stiles before you get to Victoria Avenue in Ockbrook.
3. Turn left along Victoria Avenue, passing the cricket ground on your left and The Queens Head pub, which is located at the junction with Bakehouse Lane. Formerly called the Horse and Jockey, it was changed to Queens Head during Queen Victoria's reign. Turn left along Bakehouse Lane, up the hill, walking past The Paddock (private road) until you reach The Settlement. Turn right along this road and continue up the hill. The buildings along The Settlement form part of the Ockbrook Moravian Conservation Area, one of 20 conservation areas in the borough of Erewash. The Moravian settlement in Ockbrook was founded in around 1750. Nationally, it is one of only three such settlements. Ockbrook School, an independent school today, was established by the Moravian Church in 1799. Continue on along The Settlement until you reach Green Lane.
4. Turn left along Green Lane, with the Cross Keys pub on your left, and walk down to Homefarm Close. The route turns left here along Homefarm Close, but if you are interested, just beyond Homefarm Close you will find the Royal Oak pub. Dating from the early 1700's, the Royal Oak is the oldest pub in Ockbrook. They used to brew beer at the pub, using water from their own well. Near the front door, you can see a stone slab which caps the well. Returning to Homefarm Close, walk up the road following the track between the two bungalows in front of you. At the end of the bungalow garden on your left, turn left and follow the path in to the next field. Turn immediately right and follow the path across the fields, muddy in places, back towards Spondon. Shortly after passing under the electricity pylons, you will come to Dale Road Recreation Ground. Bear right along the track, which will bring you out on to Dale Road. This track forms part of Derby’s bridleway network.
5. Just before Dale Road, turn left along the path through the recreation ground. Just after the pond on your left, turn right and walk back on yourself towards the housing. This pond is one of 69 ponds found (outside of gardens) in Derby during the survey undertaken in 2004/05. It is an important pond for Common Frog and Smooth Newt. As you enter the area of housing, take the path on your left, which will bring you out on to Holyrood Close. Walk along Holyrood Close, passing Harlech Close on your left. At the junction with Sandringham Drive, turn left and continue on until you reach Hampton Close. Cross over Sandringham Drive at this point - danger, busy road - to the public open space on the opposite side of the road. Keeping towards the fence on your right, walk across the open space towards Lawnside. Continue along Lawnside to Glendale Drive. Turn left, then after a short while turn right into Brackley Drive. Walk to the end of Brackley Drive and then down the footpath on to Moor Street. Turn left, crossing over Stoney Lane - danger, busy road - to reach the White Swan pub on your right, which is located at the junction of Moor Street, Chapel Street and Sitwell Street. At this point, bear left along Sitwell Street, passing the path to South Avenue on your left, used on the outward leg. From this point, retrace your steps, using the pedestrian crossing, to return to the village hall and library to finish the walk.

Spondon Circular Walk leaflet

As part of our rights of way work we publish a variety of walks in the Derby area. You can download a printable copy of the Spondon Circular Walk  1.97mb. Or you can contact us and we will send you the free Derby Walks folder, which contains the Spondon, and other circular walks.

Supported by

For further information contact

Derby City Council
Regeneration and Community Department
Plans and Policies Section
Roman House
Friar Gate
Derby DE1 1XB

Telephone 01332 255024 Minicom 01332 256666 Fax 01332 255989 email rightsofway@derby.gov.uk