Rudyard Lake Walk, Peak District

Starting along the trackbed of the former railway line, we’re heading for the lake, about 600 yards ahead. Staying with this excellent broad track for two miles to the far end of the lake, accompanied for more than half this distance by the miniature railway alongside us, with stations at Dam, Lakeside and the terminus at Hunt House Wood.

The way is straight, part wooded and needs no navigation whatsoever. At the far end of the lake, we go under a substantial stone bridge to reach a small car parking area, a station on the former railway.

We turn left here at a yellow waymark, along another broad roadway, to a signpost in 70 yards, bearing right to cross a bridge over a waterway. When we reach a surfaced road, we pass a wildlife area, and continue along a ‘private road – footpath only’ with wonderful views along the length of the lake. The road soon bends to the left to a waymarked field gate/stile. This track is part of the Staffordshire Way and the Moorlands Walks; Barrs Lee Farm is above us to the right. We stay with the farm access drive until about 70 yards before a right hand bend, we see a broad track that forks to the left, heading for woodland which we take. In 50 yards, we enter the woodland alongside a waymarked post. The path rises gently, and we soon come to an avenue of mature trees heading towards a castellated house, Cliffe Park, a former youth hostel.

We go past the haha and a cattle grid and then go by the side of the house to the gateway at the far side. The broad track is Reacliffe Road, which now gently takes us downhill, going through/over a waymarked field gate/stile – this is a fine route across wooded hillside descending to a lakeside area which has various properties, businesses, houses and shacks. We go round a right hand bend and, after a few yards, turn left at a ‘Staffordshire Way’ sign. For a short distance the path is narrow; bear left at the next signpost, joining an old walled lane.

We then join a surfaced drive and turn right, head uphill, with Rudyard Vale Caravan Site on the left. At another signpost we continue straight ahead, then fork left after about 10 yards into ‘public footpath, Staffordshire Way’, which soon becomes a narrow walled lane. We continue on the roadway to join a public road, with ‘The Crescent’ on the left. Bearing right for 120 yards we then take the second left at public footpath signs to walk, through a small gate, to the lakeshore, by the dam; here there are public conveniences, slipway and a café if you are in need of some refreshments..

When you’re ready – we pass a Horton Parish millennium stone, cross the dam, then a footbridge, to rejoin the outward route before turning right to return to the car park where we began.