Hardstoft and The Five Pits Trail

Route Outline:

Hardstoft, Astwith and Five Pits Trail, returning via Stainsby Mill,  Hardwick Park and Lakes.

Parking:

Please note that the parking shown on Google maps and What3Words is the area immediately after entering the park. This is where the walk will start. You can find alternative parking by carrying on up the road to an area just above the small visitors centre. The visitors’ centre is shown on Google Maps and What3Words as “Hardwick Park Centre”

Directions:

From Chesterfield take the A617 out to the M1 Junction 29. At the roundabout go right round and take the last exit (5th exit) onto the A6175 towards Clay Cross. Continue on this road for approx. half a mile  and then turn left onto Mill Lane, it is signed Stainsby and Hardwick Hall.  Follow this road for approx.. 1 mile and ignore the road on the left signed Stainsby Mill and Hardwick Hall.   DO NOT TURN LEFT HERE. Go straight on for about 200yards and there is a sharp bend to the left, go slow and careful here. Continue on this road for about 1 mile ignoring any turns to the right and you will come to a bridge under the M1 Motorway. Slow down under the bridge as the car park is immediately after the bridge on the left and is signed Hardwick Park.
This is a National Trust car park and is free for NT members. If you are not a NT member and don’t want to pay, there is roadside parking opposite the car par entrance or under the M1 bridge