This is a lovely circular walk from Matlock Bath via High Tor, Riber and Starkholmes, just outside of the Peak District National Park.
This walk may be inaccessible for young families and those with mobility issues due to some steep drops and cliff edges, as well as quite strenuous uphill sections. It took us just over two hours to do this roughly three-mile walk. However, I would allow three hours for stopping at viewpoints (and also time at the end to stop at the Whistlestop café!).
You start this walk from the Matlock Railway station car park. The postcode is DE4 3NA; grid reference is SK 296 601. Walk out of the station car park, around the front of the station and turn right, heading under the railway bridge. Make your way past the Heights of Abraham Cable Car base station and turn left up the steps through the entrance to High Tor Grounds into the woods. There is an information plaque worth reading at the foot of the steps leading up to High Tor.
Keep to the distinct path through the woods. This stepped path leads up to a grassy area with a fence and a radio mast on your right. Continue ahead to the High Tor summit viewpoints. You will get a good view of Riber Castle and Matlock Town from up here (see photo below).
You eventually emerge through metal gates at the High Tor entrance. Turn right and continue straight ahead along the lane, coming out onto Church Street. Cross over the road and turn right. Soon this becomes Starkholmes Road. On your left, between the Highfields School entrance and Netherclose Farm and Cattery, you will see a footpath and you turn left. You will see Riber Castle up the hill ahead of you. At the end of the path go through the stone stile into the field, you will see an obvious footpath in front of you on the right hand side of the field.
You now have a steep climb. Follow the stone flagged path until you reach another stone stile. Continue up hill, bearing left. You will then pass a waymark post, continue ahead to cross a wooden stile. Continue through another stone stile while following the path which runs round the perimeter fencing of the Riber Castle grounds (Riber Castle is closed and appears to have building work going on). Take the left down the lane. On reaching the cluster of houses by the red telephone box go straight on and then turn right at the junction, by Riber Manor (which is beautiful and dates back to before 1633).
Keep on this road passing the next road junction and the entrance to Riber Hall. Keep going as you pass Hearthstone Lane on your left. Go down the very steep hill until you reach a road signed ‘unsuitable for motors’ on your left (thinking it would be a good place to cycle!). Go down White Tor Road which goes back on to Starkholmes Road. Turn right and go along the road as far as the White Lion Inn.
Look for the footpath sign on your left just before you reach the pub. Go down this tarmac path and when you reach a fairly open piece of ground, keep left. Keep the fence and the more open fields to your left whilst keeping to the edge of the wood. You rejoin a tarmac path and go through a stile. This path takes you back to the Cable Car base station and back to the carpark.
