Walk in Bess’s footsteps trail
Explore the Derbyshire estate of Hardwick Hall, once home to Bess of Hardwick, and enjoy the landscape garden around the historic Elizabethan house. Discover features from Bess’s time, as well as those developed in the 400 years since her death.
Admission fees
Admission fees apply for access to the garden and Stableyard areas. Please buy your tickets from the visitor reception before you start the walk.
Total steps: 12
Total steps: 12
Start point
Park Centre at Hardwick, grid ref: SK454640
Step 1
From the Park Centre walk over the footbridge that runs between the two ponds and up the track.
Step 2
Walk through the kissing gate, continuing up the track. When the track turns into a footpath, bear right between the ponds and through a gate into the parkland.
Step 3
Walk up the vehicle track that bears right up the hill until you reach the road. Start to walk down the road and past a stone building with a chimney that is on your left.
Step 4
At the corner turn left through the gate walking across the field. Walk through the next gate and up a slight incline. You will then arrive in Lady Spencer’s Wood. Turn right following the woodland path.
Step 5
Follow Lady Spencer’s walk and turn left at the bottom of the steps following the path.
Step 6
When you emerge back into the parkland bear left coming in between the lime tree avenues. Cross the road and walk through the pedestrian gate. Follow the fence line towards the woods.
Step 7
Walk down the steps and over the concrete bridge. Follow the path up the woodland boundary. At the gate turn left into Park Piece Wood and follow the path through the wood.
Step 8
When you come out of the wood, walk straight down the hill through the field to the road, heading for the gate.
Step 9
Cross over the drive and continue through the field to the gate into the next wood.
Step 10
Bear left on the main path through the wood. When you reach the track, turn left, and follow until you reach a big blue gate.
Step 11
Go through the blue gate and walk straight ahead, following the grass path downhill, over the drive. Continue until you reach a gate in the fence near the ponds.
Step 12
Once through the gate, turn right to return to the Park Centre.
End point
Park Centre at Hardwick, grid ref: SK454640
Trail map
More near here
Hardwick wider estate walk
Discover parts of the Hardwick Hall estate often missed, on this wider estate walk through beautiful Derbyshire countryside.
A gentle walk around Hardwick
A short walk around Hardwick in Derbyshire taking in the surrounding woodlands and ancient park.
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