Kedleston Hall Circuit

Derbyshire has a good selection of stately homes, most now in the hands of the National Trust.
Kedleston Hall is the nearest to the City of Derby, and was built by Sir Nathaniel Curzon in about 1760
This ride, in length some 8 miles, takes us to the Hall through the expansive and beautiful parkland grounds, returning to the start point by a circular route.  Off-road parts of the route are poorly surfaced, so  not recommended for bikes with delicate tyres, and Kedleston Road can have fast traffic, so not suitable for cyclists of a nervous disposition.
Having said that, a great ride over a variety of surfaces, and there are some beautiful views of the surrounding countryside to the South where the foothills of the Pennines give way to the flatter lands of the Trent Valley.
Highlight of the ride is, of course,  Kedleston Hall and it's parkland.
The start is at the entrance to the Mundy Play Centre on Markeaton Lane which runs between Kedleston Road and Asbourne Road.
A map of the route is available free from Cycle Derby and from local Tourist Offices.

Exit right from the car park................................

......turning first left in 75m at this sign.

Follow the lane past Markeaton Stones           

................and past the cottages.



Onto the bridleway.............................

........which can be muddy after rain.

Past this gate.

Across the fields..............................................

........................turning right at the tee junction with the tarmac lane..........................

......and downhill to cross Markeaton Brook on this bridge.

Houses at Allestree on the right.

 

And on to the junction with Kedleston Road, where we turn left, uphill in this direction.

Passing the Kedleston Hotel.

Pass the entrance to Kedleston Park Golf Club.



Prepare to turn off the main road.............................

....................................at the lodge gate ahead.

..................and into the park.

Follow the road through the park, heading towards the lake.

Some beautiful trees in the grounds.



First sight of the bridge and lake ahead.

The lake is quite large and has a couple of waterfalls, one of which is beneath the bridge.

Here.



...................and in the distance is Kedleston Hall.

 



And we approach the Hall itself.

Kedleston Hall is well worth a visit, but the entrance is at the back, where there is a café and a shop. Also toilets to the right here.

After visiting the hall/café/shop/toilets,
return to the path junction and fork left.

To exit the park at the lodge gates here, turning left on reaching the highway.
Follow Mercaston Lane for a short distance, turning left onto Long Lane and climbing the hill..

Long Lane is left here.

A couple of bends before we climb the hill.

Just over the brow, at the end of the wood on the left, and opposite entrance to Priestwood, turn left onto bridleway.



 

Rather muddy after rain.........................

...but OK for horses.

 

Straight on at Upper Vicarwood Farm.

 

Turn right now to re-join the outward route.

And return to the Mundy Play Centre car park.