One thing that I aim for most days is to reach 10,000 steps on my pedometer app, because that’s what supposedly keeps us fit. So, this walk around Eckington at about 9,200 steps nearly ticks that box and is also a perfect and beautiful circular walk through forests and fields.
Plus, there’s the Seldom Seen Engine House to explore. It’s a family friendly walk with easy paths that are a bit muddy in places during rainy weather.
Key Information About the Walk
Type of walk: Circular Countryside Walk
Average time to complete: 2-3 hours
Where to park: Free parking at Pinfold car park (S21 4EX)
Toilets nearby: Facilities available in local cafes at the start of the walk
Dog Friendly: Yes
Kid friendly: Yes, very suitable for families
Recommended Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes or boots
The Walk
The beginning of the walk through Eckington is a bit tricky – but I assure you that the main part of the walk is an absolute breeze!
You can park for free at the Pinfold car park in Eckington (S21 4EX). Before your walk gets underway, wander down into the Market Square. Turn left at T J’s Café and walk up to another café called ‘Delicious’ which has great reviews and is very reasonably priced. From ‘Delicious’ walk up to the main road passing a row of cute Georgian terraced houses on the right.
Castle Hill
Cross the main road over to Castle Hill opposite and continue walking to Castle Hill Close on the right.
Go along Castle Hill Close. On the right you’ll see the spire of St Peter and St Paul Church which dates from the 12th Century.
Take the public footpath to your left and walk along a path between some yellow brick bungalows.
At the end of the path go left past a school and then go right onto a public footpath running alongside the perimeter of the school. Continue onto a narrow trail. At the red litter bin turn left, and suddenly you’re in the countryside!
Into the Countryside
Follow the path down a field. This little path leads to a track at the bottom of the hill.
Go left onto the dirt track and now you’re away from the town centre, and in the peaceful countryside surrounded by Silver Birch and Sycamore trees.
Keep walking along this track through the woods.
The Seldom Seen Engine House
Continue until you reach the signposted entrance to The Seldom Seen Engine House. This is a Scheduled Ancient Monument which means it has legal protection and must be preserved.
It’s abandoned, derelict, and unfortunately you can’t go inside; probably because there is no floor – just the brick foundations! However, the building has had a bit of restoration work to make it safe.
Built between 1855 and 1875, it’s a 3-storey red brick building, it has arched windows and is a rare example of a Victorian engine house used to extract water from the Plumbley Collieries.
There are two possible explanations as to its curious name. One idea is because it’s situated at the bottom of the valley, and was therefore ‘seldom seen’, while the second possibility is that the place was believed to be haunted but the ghost was ‘seldom seen’.
Viewpoint - Wooden Bridge over the Moss
Once you’ve seen the engine house continue along the track to a crossroads.
At the crossroads there is a wooden bridge over the river Moss. This is a pretty viewpoint. Enjoy the scenery but don’t cross the bridge, as the walk continues around and later comes back along the other side of the bridge. On a nice day this is a good place for a picnic.
Continue along the dirt track and carry straight on with a gate on the left-hand side. Follow the track through the Bluebell Woods.
During Spring the forest floor is carpeted with Bluebells and Wild Garlic; white flowers that look like a star and the leaves are big and oval shaped. The Wild Garlic smells – well garlicky and if you sniff the leaves and flowers, they are very pungent!
There is a slight incline. Below on your right you’ll see Moss Brook. Continue along the track until you reach a fork. Bear right at the fork.
Continue along the main track down and out of the woods and into a field.
Keep going along the path at the edge of this sloping field.
A Bridge
Walk to a bridge with a white handrail.
Cross the bridge and go through a kissing gate. Turn right immediately and start walking along the other side of the brook.
Fun Fact: Kissing gates are so called because the gate merely ‘kisses’(touches) the enclosure either side, rather than needing to be securely latched. Older kissing gates have quite a restricted space so a couple would have to go through one at a time. A kiss can be requested to allow the second person to swing the gate and pass through!
Take a few minutes to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Soon you’ll bear left walking away from the brook and up a muddy path and over a stile.
This leads you into an open field. Walk around the edge of the field keeping right with the Bluebell Woods down on your right.
Follow a grassy track towards some more woods and another stile.
Stop, turn around and enjoy the scenery behind you.
Carry on bearing right down to a path and back into the Bluebell Woods.
Gnarled Tree Roots
You’ll notice lots of gnarled tree roots and trees that have fallen and have not been removed, and there’s a very good reason for this:
Fun Fact: There’s a saying ‘Dead trees are dead good’ because they provide an important habitat for rare saproxylic invertebrates which depend on rotten wood for their life cycles. For example, the Darkling Beetle needs wood mould from the centre of a decaying tree to survive.
The Wooden Bridge
Next, you’ll pass the little wooden bridge from earlier on. Keep going as the path narrows. Continue past a pond further along on your right.
Continue walking along the path for a while until you get to a gate. Go through this gate and turn right. This is called Gas House Lane (no road sign).
You’ll walk past a pretty weir on the right, and then you’ll come to a road.
Bear right through a rusty yellow metal barrier.
Back at Eckington
Follow the track up and around to the right and you’ll see the Eckington houses up on the left. You’ve come full circle.
Go left and walk up the track back up the field.
Go left at the houses and back past the red bin and the school.
Turn left and walk back past the yellow brick bungalows and then left at the junction walking past the ambulance station.
When you get to the main road turn right and cross at the traffic lights then turn left back into the car park. The car park is next to Eckington bus station.
Final Thoughts
This was a lovely easy flat walk through the woods with some interesting history and points of interest along the way. In Spring the forest floor is carpeted with Bluebells and Wild Garlic which is beautiful. The walk left me feeling invigorated and pleased that I’d reached my daily goal of nearly 10,000 steps whilst having a pleasant day out in North East Derbyshire.
AllTrails Route
FAQs
What is the difficulty level of this Circular Walk from Eckington?
This Circular Walk is an easy, family-friendly walk. It features mostly flat paths with a bit of mud in some places during rainy weather, making it accessible for most walkers.
How do I get to the starting point of this Circular Walk?
The starting point for this Circular Walk is the Pinfold car park in Eckington (postcode S21 4EX), where parking is free. The car park is centrally located and easy to access for those driving.
Are there any facilities like toilets along the walk?
There are no specific public toilet facilities along the walk. However, facilities can be found in the cafes and establishments around the starting point in Eckington Market Square before you begin the walk.
Is this Eckington circular walk dog-friendly?
Yes, this circular walk is dog-friendly. The paths are suitable for dogs, and it's an excellent walk for a day out with your furry friend. There are only a couple of stiles on this route.
What should I wear for this walk?
It's recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes or boots as the paths can get a bit muddy, especially if it has rained recently.