Derbyshire Portway
The ancient route from the Hemlockstone at Stapleford in Nottinghamshire to Mam Tor with extensions to Sneinton Hermitage, Nottingham, and to Hope Cross on the former Roman Road in the Edale Valley.

Sneinton Hermitage - the start?

Portway

Pennyfoot Street

Fisher Gate

'Long Stairs' & Malin Hill variations
The Long Stairs are currently closed but the Short Stairs a little further east are open and provide more of a traffic-free route.

Hermitage Walk, Nottingham

Lenton Priory

Lenton Priory variation

Arbour Hill

Hemlock Stone
The best known 'start' for the Portway outside Nottingham

Hemlockstone to Stapleford variation

Stapleford - Old Cross

Stanton Road - formerly Ladycroft or Ladycross Lane

Hermitage @Dale

Arbour Hill, Dale Abbey

Dale Abbey footpath variation - avoiding road section

Kilbourne Colliery Site

Butter Cross in Morley Church Yard

Unmarked stile, Morley

Morley Mound
Ancient castle or surveying viewpoint?

Brackley Gate variation

St Anthony's Well

Railway Tunnel Air Shaft

Old Shooting Range Wall

Farnah Green variation

Longwalls Lane

Knaves Cross
No cross now though!

Alport Heights

Stone Circle - possible site
See https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=5471

Standing Stone

Start of Wirksworth Southern Route

Wirksworth - southern route
Statistics computed from imported data
Distance: 4.1 miles

Gorsey Bank

Standing Stone - site of...
This stone appears to have been overtaken by quarrying - or maybe moved elsewhere?

Wirksworth Southern route - alternative avoiding roads
The western end of this route rejoins the Portway sooner than the preferred route and the whole of this alternative is on footpaths or tracks.

Well

End of Wirksworth Southern Route

Site of Upper Golconda Mine

Site of Golconda Mine

Harborough Rocks Cave

Round Low (Brassington)

Moot Lowe (Barrows)

Ible Variation (Bypassing Grangemill)

Grangemill variation

Horsedale Standing Stones (2)

Site of Portaway Mine

Site of Coast Rake Mine

Spring

Castle Ring (Camp)

Mines - sites of

Haddon Fields Bowl Barrow 1
Remains & coins found

Haddon Fields Bowl Barrow 2

Guide Stone

Sheepwash Well

Ashford Variation

Fin Cop - Settlement

Hobs House

Castlegate Lane Barrow

Longstone Moor Barrow

Site of Crossdale Head Mine

Rolley Low

Ravenscliff Cave

Wardlow Hey Cop

Hilltop Mine - site

Tides Low

Chapmaiden Mine - site

Crossing of Batham Gate - Roman Road

Ox Low Barrow

Starvehouse Mine - site

Portway MInes - sites

Clear-the-Way Mine - site

Hollandtwine Mine - site

Hazard Mine - site

MamTor - Iron Age Hill Fort & Barrows
This was the end of the 'traditional' Portway but probably not the actual end...

Hollins Cross - site

Junction with Roman Road

Chapel - site

Hope Cross - Portway meets Roman
Marker on old Roman Road

Hopes Cross to Mam Tor - alternative return path

Old Roman Road Extension To Glossop

Section 1: Sneinton to Hemlockstone

Sneinton Hermitage

Sneinton Dragon

Fisher Gate & Pennyfot Street

Fisher Gate & Malin Hill

Pemberton St - leading to Long Stairs

Malin Hill at foot of Chardlace Walk

Hollowstone & top of Chardlace Walk

Short Stairs - top

High Pavement

Top of Malin Hill & Long Stairs

St Mary's Church from Commerce Square

High Pavement towards Weekday Cross

St Mary's Church

The Royal Children

The Park Entrance

The Park Estate

The Park - exit to Park Road

The Grove & Looking Back

Abbey Bridges

Onto Lenton Lane

Lenton Lane & Church

Lenton Priory Ruins & 'Sculpture Park'

Lenton Priory - More Ruins

River Leen & Queens Medical Centre

Wollaton Park Gates

St Mary's Church Wollaton

Ring Road Crossing

Wollaton Park & Arbour Hill

Oak Tree at summit of Arbour Hill

St Barnabas Church at Lenton Abbey

Heather Rise - start of footpath

Sandy Lane Nature Reserve

From Sandy Lane Nature Reserve

Leaving the nature reserve and approaching the former golf course

Moor Lane staggered intersection

Alongside Moor Farm Inn Lane

Bramcote Hills Park Walled Garden

First View of the Hemlockstone...

Section 2: Hemlockstone to Morley & 2a variation

Hemlockstone

Hickings Lane

Mill Lane Cottage

River Erewash - the county boundary

Toton Sidings Footbridge

Erewash Canal

Sandiacre Pasture

Old stone banked path

Head of path & Churchyard entrance

Stanton Rd & back toward Hemlockstone hill

Motorway & cellphone towers

Stanton Road

Stanton Rd & No Mans Lane Junction

No Mans Lane - views north & south

No Mans Lane - the long straight

Farm on No Mans Lane

Stile off Potato Pit Lane

Boyah Grange path

Dale Abbey archway & Church

House built on to abbey remains

Arbour Hill - old sand pit

Hidden stile

Arbour Hill to Dale Abbey road

Hagg Lane

Hagg Lane to Dale Road path

Former Brickyard near Kilbourne Colliery site - old workings

Stile near Stanley

Stile & Footbridge @junction of 4 Paths

Looking West To GNR Embankment

Looking along the former GNR

Towards Morley Church

Onto Church Lane

Junction of Church Lane with Lime Lane

Morley Butter Cross & St Matthew's Church

Bramcote Hills Park avenue

Bramcote Hills Park

Crow Hill & Standing Stone

Bramcote Hills A52

Bramcote St Michael & All Saints Church

Kings Park paths

Bramcote view north from ridge
With Crich Stand and Alport Height visible

Bramcote A52 Access Bridge

Stapleford Cemetery

Stapleford - The Old Cross

Bob's Rock

Path from Stapleford Cemetery

Across the field!
Not recommended after wet weather

Underground Reservoir

Kings Park entrance

Section 3: Morley to Blackbrook

Leaving the A608

Stile & bridge

Morley Mound

Approaching Morleymoor

Morleymoor Almshouses

Morleymoor Footpath

Waterworks 'Daleks' at Morleymoor

Narrow Stile at Morleymoor

Between the Old Brick Pits

Approaching Morleymoor Farm

Old Railway Waggon at Morleymoor Farm

Looking back to Morleymoor Farm across the route of Ryknild Street

Right-angle Turn Round the Pond at Brackley Gate

Fungal Route Through the Gardens

Fantantasic View From Brackley Gate

Horse Sculpture Near Horsley Park

Views At Horsley Park

In Horsley Park

Quarry Workings & Horsley Castle

Horsley Park to Coxbench

Poo Fairy Sign & Coxbench Quarries

Coxbench Well

Holbrook Old Station

Starting the Portway at Holbrook

Top of the Portway, Holbrook

Footpath West of Holbrook and old 'broken cross'/left-handed swastika motif

View Over Makeney & Milford to Stephenson's Tower

Yes, There Really Is A Path There!

Down to Makeney...

The Holly Bush and Access

Closed Footbridge and Millhouse Pub

The Derwent at Milford, Hydro-electric Sluices and t'Old Mill

Climbing Sunny Hill

Stephenson's Tower, Railway Vent and the Start of North Lane

North Lane - Cobbled Ridgeway

View Towards Belper - South

Rifle Range Wall

Views To Belper - North

Southern Footpath Around Farnah Green

Footpaths Meet At Farnah Green

From Edge Of Woods Above Lumb Brook

On Lumb Lane

Lumb Lane Ford

On The A517 in Blackbrook

Section 4: Blackbrook to Middleton Top

Monkey Puzzle Trees, Longwalls Lane

Longwalls Lane - Rocky & Eroded Cobble Section

Longwalls Lane - Footpath Section

Longwalls Lane - Farm Track

Stile & Tree

"You're My Cow Now!" - looking back towards Blackbrook

Looking Back Towards Blackbrook

Stile & Alport Height

View of Crich Stand

Near Palerow Lane

Coneygreave Farm & Alport Height

Lanes Junction, Stiles & Alport Height

Alport Height

Alport Lane Towards Back Lane

On Hay Lane

Hardhurst Farm

Breamfield

Holly Well Cottage

View of Wirksworth & Quarries

Wirksworth Moor

Wirksworth Moor: Standing Stone

Stoney Lane

Little Bolehill

Stoney Hill to Footpath

Bolehill Railway Bridge

CHPR @Black Rock

Steeple Grange

Old Quarry View

Quarries & Trains...

Foot of Middleton Incline

Middleton Incline: 2020 & 1973

Section 5: Alport Height to Grangemill & Ible variation

View of Alport Stone from Malins Lane

Junction with Taylor's Lane

Horses on Taylor's Lane at Footpath Junction

New Buildings Farm

Folly Well - in this field...

Ford - sometimes!

Pratthall Lane

Entering Gorsey Bank

Gorsey Bank & Providence Mill

Gorsey Bank Church

Water Lane Crossing

Wirksworth

The Dale, Wirksworth

Footpath Junction on The Dale

Children's Playground and Interesting Slide!

The Dale, Greenhill & Footpaths Meet

Middle Peak Quarry

Looking To Wirksworth

CHPR Embankment & Bridge

CHPR Looking West

CHPR @Moor Farm Crossing

Moor Farm

Sheep Pens @Moor Farm Stile

Looking North From Moor Farm

Looking West to Active Hopton Quarry

CHPR Hopton Branch Bridge

At Arm Lees Farm

Arm Lees Farm & CHPR Hopton Branch Beyond

Wind Turbines & Settling Ponds @Working Quarry

Good Track Heading North West

View From Ridge After Losing Path!

Back On Path - New Horboro Farm & Lost Path?

Two Stiles & Harborough Rocks

Harborough Rocks...

Old Mine & CHPR

Stone Chair & Quarry Workings

Cave & Rock Face

Old Workings

Pond @New Harboro Farm & Looking Back Uphill

North From Near Griffe Walk Farm

Good Farm Track

View of Tumulus on Hill to West & Ible to Northeast

Prospect & Grange Mill Quarries and view down Via Gellia

On Descent To Grangemill

Grangemill

Tophill Lane 'Bypass'

My Flock...

Possible Standing Stone Used As Gate Post?

Up & Down Whitelow Lane

The Narrowest Gate - Ever!?

Meeting of Paths & Lanes

Highland Cattle

Wood Lane, Ible

Free Range Chickens @Beeches Farm

Quarry & Farm Views

Zig-zag Path Down to the Via Gellia

A Steep, But Steady, Gradient

Crossing the Via Gellia

Bend In The Path On The Hill

Looking Over The Hollybush To The Route Of The Roman Road Beyond

Section 6: Grangemill to Conksbury

Leaving Grangemill

Tophill Lane & Footpath Divergence

Possible Standing Stone & Footpath Route

Looking Back To Grangemill & Path

Whitelow, Green & Tophill Lanes

View Over Old Lead Workings To Grangemill Quarry

Tracks Diverge

Yes, its a Stile - Very Worn!

Possible Standing Stone Incorporated In Stile?

Almost Missed This Stile

Old Farm Site & Trees

Amongst Old Workings

Staggered Path Junctions On Bonsall Lane

Above Winster

Winster & Lead Ore Store

Limestone Way

Near The Limestone Way

Westhill Farm

Dudwood, Winster & Islington Lanes Meet Chadwick Hill

Footpath Junction

More Portaway Mine Workings

Dudwood Lane

Cratcliff Rocks From Dudwood Lane

Ascent To Cratcliff Rocks

Cratcliff

Cratcliff & Robin Hood's Stride

Caves

Route to Cliff Lane & Robin Hood's Stride

Stone Circle & Old Tree

Back to Robin Hood's Stride From Cliff Lane

Stone Circle From Cliff Lane

Cliff Lane Woods

Youlgreave From Cliff Lane

Upper Greensfield Farm & Cliff Lane

Approaching Alport

2019 Grave Stone

Alport

Old Mill & Bridges

Road Crossing & Old Quarry

Dark Lane

Dark Lane & Stanton-in-the-Peak

Muddy Barns & Footpath Junctions

Footpath to Conksbury Stile

Field Terracing

Stile To Back Lane & Water Trough

Section 7: Conksbury to Wardlow Mires

Nr Conksbury, Looking North & South

Footpath from Conksbury

View North Across Bakewell

Signs of Quarrying

Footpath Away From Road
Local dialect in action!

Narrow Stile With Portway Sign!

Old Tree & Stiles

Cows On A Hill!

Crossing the B5055

Round the Farm

Fine Horse & Donkey

Meeting Crowhill Lane

Looking Down Crowhill Lane Towards Ashford

Crowhill Lane

Crowhill Lane Meets Buxton Road (A6)

Old Ash Tree

Old Gas Lamp Standard in Wall & Path Diverges From Road

Old & New Roads Diverge

Ashford in the Water - Old Bridge

The Lake Feeder

New Road Crosses Old Road

Ashford Church and Chapel

Ashford Green

Ashford Steps

Above Ashford

Meeting Pennyunk Lane

On Pennyunk Lane

Filled in Dew Pond on Pennyunk Lane

Restored Dew Pond & pennyunk Lane Gets Narrower...

Pennyunk Lane - even narrower!

Derelict Farm to South

From Pennyunk Lane to Footpath & Another Dew Pond & View SE

View West to Fin Cop

First Views Over Monsal Dale
With road to Wardlow in distance by the trees

Monsal Dale - & First View of Viaduct

Descent To Monsal Head

Overlooking the Railway Viaduct

Junction of Paths

Monsal Head Viaduct & Fin Cop to South

Views of Fin Cop & Viaduct

Possible Former Standing Stones Used As Gate Posts

Barely Perceptible Tumulus!

View Across Former Quarry Workings

View West to Wardlow Hey Cop

Ordnance Survey Bench Mark

View North Over Wardlow

Entering Wardlow Village

View North Over Wardlow Mires

Section 8: Wardlow Mires to MamTor

Wardlow Mires

Leaving Wardlow

Wardlow & Peter's Stack from Stanley House

Near Stanley Lodge

On Trot Lane

Trot Lane Crossroads

Llamas and a Derelict Barn

Windmill

Towards Windmill & Gt Hucklow

Approaching High Rake

High Rake Mine

Views From High Rake

Tideswell Rake

Towards Bushy Heath & Radio Mast on Tideslow Rake

Tideslow Rake - West

Forest Lane & Site of Chapmaiden Mine

North From Forest Lane

Between Forest Lane & Batham Gate

Bradwell Moor

Bradwell Moor Stile & MamTor in Distance

Views From Bradwell Moor

Views NW of Mine Sites

Mine Workings

5 Ways Meet

W&E From S of Rowter Farm

Old Workings & Views Round Rowter Farm

Lord's Seat & Mam Tor From Rowter Farm

Mam Tor From Nr Oxlow House

Mam Tor From Windy Knoll

Sections 9&10: Mam Tor to Alport Bridge and Glossop

Alport Bridge

Ascending Mam Tor

By the Iron Age Ditch - south side

Mam Tor Summit

Mam Tor - northern descent

Iron Age Ditch - north side

Mam Tor & Old Road from the Ridge

Mam Tor Ridge & the Old Road

Hollins Cross

Railway in Edale & Evidence of 'Stone Worm'? :-)

"Erosion Control"

Stream Crossing nr Back Tor

Covered Path nr Back Tor Farm

Nr Back Tor Farm

Bridge Over the River Noe - and iron laden tributary!

On the Road Again...

Nether Booth

Looking Back to Mam Tor & East Down Edale Valley

Path to Clough Farm

Leaving Clough Farm

Nether Moor - and view South

Approaching Jaggers Clough

Jaggers Clough

Across the Moor + old gate posts with bench marks!

Cross Roads...
Portway meets Roman Road

Hope Cross

Roman Road North of the Cross Roads

Roman Paving at Blackley Clough

A Difficult Path :-/ with View Up Alport Dale

Above Rowlee

Back to a Good Road

Nr Lower Ashop

Old Roman Road at Lower Ashop
Plus remains of quarry workings & view up Alport Dale

Ford, Footbridge & River Works at Alport Bridge

Sunken path at Alport Bridge

Alport Valley

Around Hayridge Farm - looking SE

Sunken Path & Tree Roots Nr Hayridge Farm

Gate & Sunken Path Nr Blackden View Farm

Nr Blackden View Farm

Above Blackden View Farm

Above Blackden View farm

Old Earthworks

Stone Paving Nr Upper House farm

Collapsed Stile Nr Upper House farm

Spring Above Upper House farm

Nr Oyster Clough

Oyster Clough

Looking Back At Oyster Clough

Around the Plantation

Into the Woods & Looking Back

Meeting the Snake Road

Approaching Snake Road

Stream Culvert

Tree Felling Zone

Entrance to lady Clough Wood

Lady Clough Woods

Bridge in Lady Clough Woods

River Ashop in Lady Clough Woods

Emerging from Lady Clough Woods & Snake Road

Doctor's Gate - Southern Approach

Doctor's Gate - missing bridge?

Flagged Path and Oil!

Roman Paving at The Old Woman on Doctor's Gate

Pennine Way 'Crossroads'

Doctor's Gate - all downhill from here...
the start of a difficult descent...

The Zig Zag

The Collapsed Path...

Looking back to the summit and forward toward Manchester

The Descent gets a bit easier...

Another tricky bit down to the bridge...

Bridge over the Shelf Brook - looking E

Easy paths from hereon

The Path Becomes a Track!

Incipient Oxbow and Rejoining Civilisation

Approach to Mossy Lea Farm

Ornamental Bridges Nr Mossy Lea Farm

Mossy Lea Reservoir Bank

Twixt Mossy lea & Old Glossop

Shepley Street

Modernised Farm Buildings and another bridge

Old Glossop - journey's end!