Ticknall and Calke Abbey
Recommended by
Our view
"Around the parkland of the "unstately" home"
Walk directions
Turn right out of the car park and down to the main road. Turn left and then turn right to enter the Calke Abbey Estate. Go up a tarmac avenue lined with mature lime trees, then at the Middle Lodge Gates you will have to pay an entrance charge for the park and gardens. (There’s an additional fee for the abbey itself, payable at the house.) Continue southeast along the road, passing Betty’s Pond on your left.
Eventually the road turns sharply left at a crossing of paths; leave it here, continuing along a grassy track to the south end of the park.
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Additional information
Terrain
- Estate roads and field paths, a few stiles
Landscape
- Parkland and crop fields
Dog friendliness
- On lead through farmland and abbey grounds
Parking
- Village Hall car park, off Ingleby Lane, Ticknall
Toilets en route
- At car park
About the walk
Calke is not an abbey at all. The Augustinian order of monks did build one here in 1133 and dedicated it to St Giles, but since 1622 it has been the family home of the Harpurs and Harpur-Crewes. In 1703 Sir John Harpur had the present Baroque mansion built on the site of the abbey, keeping some of...
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Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
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Been on this walk?
Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.
Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
About the area
The natural features of this central English county range from the modest heights of the Peak District National Park, where Kinder Scout stands at 2,088 ft (636 m), to the depths of its remarkable underground caverns, floodlit to reveal exquisite Blue John stone. Walkers and cyclists will enjoy the High Peak Trail which extends from the Derwent Valley to the limestone plateau near Buxton, and for many, the spectacular scenery is what draws them to the area.
Nearby places to stay
View all (8)
Nearby places to stay
The Coach House
The Coach House sits in the heart of a conservation area, close to Donington Park and East Midlands Airport. This traditional cottage has been restored to provide good standards of comf...
Firtree Cottage
Firtree Cottage is a beautiful four-bedroom cottage situated on the historic Harpur Crewe Estate in the tranquil village of Smisby, just one and a half miles from Ashby-de-la Zouch. The...
Firtree Cottage
Firtree Cottage is a beautiful four-bedroom cottage situated on the historic Harpur Crewe Estate in the tranquil village of Smisby, just one and a half miles from Ashby-de-la Zouch. The...
The Boot Inn
Recently renovated and refurbished The Boot Inn has some luxurious accommodation, alongside award-winning classic and contemporary dishes, and a selection of its own real ales. The loca...
Mercia Marina
Mercia Marina is at the heart of England’s canal network on the Trent & Mersey Canal, surrounded by 50 acres of countryside, a wildlife lake and holiday-home development. The marina has...
Beehive Woodland Lakes
A small, informal and continually developing caravan area secluded away from an extensive woodland park in the heart of the National Forest National Park. The toilet facilities include ...
The Royal Oak
The Royal Oak is a popular gastro pub with rooms, located in a small village just four miles from East Midlands Airport. All members of the young team offer a warm welcome and service i...
The Post House
You'll get a warm welcome at the The Post House in Ibstock, and all the comforts you'd expect from a family-run guest house. There are six bedrooms, all decorated in a different style a...
