Exploring Bess’s grounds trail
Discover this trail across the estate at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, once home to Bess of Hardwick, and enjoy views of the historic Elizabethan house and explore Lady Spencer’s Wood.
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: 11
Total steps: 11
Start point
Hardwick visitor reception, grid ref: SK463638
Step 1
Starting from the visitor reception, take the path into Lady Spencer’s Wood.
Step 2
Walk down the steps and turn left at the gap in the handrail (approximately three steps from the bottom) and follow the path until you come to a gate.
Step 3
Through the gate, bear slightly left and walk across the grass towards the trees.
Step 4
Cross the road and walk through the pedestrian gate. Follow the fence line towards the woods. 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 5
When you come out of the wood, walk straight down the hill through the field to the road heading for the gate.
Step 6
Cross over the drive and continue through the field to the gate into the next wood.
Step 7
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 8
Go through the blue gate and walk straight ahead, following the grass path downhill, until you get to the drive.
Step 9
Cross the road and start to go downhill, bearing left towards the pedestrian gate near the Row Ponds.
Step 10
Go through the gate and walk between the ponds to the gate on the other side.
Step 11
Bear left up the hill towards the house, you are now walking up Buttress Walk. Go through the gate at the top on the left. At the top is the Gatehouse. At the road turn right following the stone wall, bearing left at the end to arrive back into the Stableyard.
End point
Hardwick Stableyard
Trail map
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