It’s a perfect day for a six-mile mosey round lesser walked farmland in what some estate agents like to call South Derbyshire’s Golden Triangle, a sprawling area bordered by the A52 Derby-Ashbourne road to the north, the A50 from Derby to Uttoxeter to the south and the River Dove to the west. Perfect because on this well warm early May morning, with the mercury likely to hit the mid 20s in the shade, it’s an easy going mostly level amble. And perfect as it’s just a hop and a skip from home so as not to tip anyone over the edge with too much unnecessary travel during the lockdown meltdown.
I’ve parked outside one of the most prominent landmarks in the area. Sutton church can be seen from miles around and has an excellent collection of benches for a pack up when we get back including a couple sheltered under the lych gate which might prove more than handy today. Head through the kissing gate virtually opposite and diagonally across the first field then to the right of the cricket ground, the left of a pond and through a gap in a scruffy hedge to a stile that will take you between a couple of houses onto Marlpit Lane. Turn left, left again at the picket fence fronted former pub pictured above, then right at the footpath after about 100 yards. Head up a narrow, grassy field looking out for Fields Farm ahead as you reach the brow of the hill. Look right and you’ll see the twin landmarks at Hanbury on the horizon, church and water tower.
Gamekeeper’s Cottage.
Turn left when you reach Ash Lane then right after about 200 yards. Head diagonally right even though the natural inclination is to go straight on down the grassy track. There’s a stile waiting for you to the left of a gate. Stick to the left hand side of the second field while looking out for the tumbledown Gamekeeper’s Cottage straight ahead. It’s reputedly haunted by a miserable farmer who took Government money to maintain paths and stiles while leaving them to fester and disintegrate unless I just made that up. Go past the left hand side of the derelict buildings then the right hand side of splendidly named Dizzybeard Plantation before going over a stile to cross to the other side of the hedge and proceeding in the same easterly direction.
The approach to Dalbury church.
You’ll spot Baldfields Farm straight ahead on the near horizon. Aim for the left hand side then the left edge of the following two fields. Bear left across a further couple of fields while keeping your eyes peeled for Dalbury church pretty much straight ahead. Turn left through the farmyard just before you get there unless you fancy a break on the bench in the churchyard. It’s worth it. Dalbury’s a belting little backwater with little more than the church and a couple of farms, its modest size probably courtesy of large numbers of villagers being wiped out by the Black Death.
Aim half left after the farmyard and continue in the same direction to cross a footbridge. Head past the left hand side of the farm and straight over the road, again aiming half left before following a track towards the left hand side of farm buildings at Trusley. Turn right at the lane then almost immediately left on a path by the grand entrance to Trusley Old Hall pictured above. You’ll land at the not too pretty yet still strangely charming church, a brick curiosity in a beautiful setting.
Take the footpath on the left before reaching the road, then bear left to go to the right hand side of a young plantation, a cottage and a wood. The path swings right to head across Butterpot Lane. Pay close attention to the yellow waymarkers and take the left fork after a footbridge. Glimpses of Sutton church become ever present as you make your way to the posh house on Back Lane pictured above. Turn left and left again at the T junction then almost immediately right to bear half right across a field to a stile from which point directions are redundant.
Start: Sutton church.
Highlight: Dalbury or Trusley church.
Lunch: Benches at all churches.
Music: It’s exactly 150 years to the day since Die Walkure was first performed donchaknow.
Distance/map: Six miles, three hours including leisurely stops at Dalbury and Trusley churches. You could probably do it in little more than two. OS Explorer 259 Derby.
One last thing: Apart from one slight deviation to see more of Sutton, this route is nicked from the South Derbyshire council website. It’s called Three Churches. Their comprehensive instructions might further assist your progress.
OS © Crown copyright [2020] CS-29042-R6R3Z6
Walks with welf 