Chatsworth Park and the Hunting Tower from Baslow

The walk starts from the Nether End car park in Baslow. A path leads through a kissing gate into Chatsworth park. The route climbs south-east across the open parkland to Stand Wood and follows the woodland tracks to the Hunting Tower, completed about 1582 for Bess of Hardwick, on the hillside above the house. A track goes on to the Emperor Lake, and a path with steps drops back through the wood to the stables and the north front of Chatsworth House. The return passes Queen Mary's Bower and follows the park beside the river Derwent to the kissing gate.

It is 6.5 km with 129 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy.

The park and Stand Wood are free to walk in all year, on paths the estate allows rather than rights of way; events can close parts of the park, and from 7 November to 13 December 2026 the Christmas market fills the ground near the house. Dogs must be on a lead: sheep, cattle and red and fallow deer graze the park. The paths in Stand Wood are steep in places, with steps. The Hunting Tower is let as a holiday house and is seen from outside.

The Derbyshire Dales car park in Baslow charges and has toilets. There is no station nearby.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.