The Shottle Station sign      https://www.e-v-r.com/

This delightful railway is close to the walking route for most of the way.

The local branch line from Duffield to Wirksworth opened in 1867 as part of the Midland Railway.  It closed to passenger traffic in 1947 and freight in 1989.  It has now been restored as a private heritage railway.  The first train ran for just one km from Wirksworth in 2004 (with me, the compiler of this website, on board!), and the line to Duffield fully reopened in 2011.

As well as the railway being a destination in itself, it can also be a practical - and enjoyable - way of returning to Duffield after the walk.  The intermediate stations at Shottle (Cowers Lane) and Idridgehay are both near the route, if you want to walk just a section.

Trains generally run on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from mid-February to November, and other days in Summer and holiday periods, also Santa trains in December.  Currently trains run every two hours, but there are infrastructure improvements in hand which in time will enable an hourly service.

Through tickets are available from both East Midlands Trains and Trent Barton Buses, (but check whether they are suitable if making just a single journey on EVR).

See the EVR website for full details. Calendar and Time tables https://www.e-v-r.com/timetable/

Idridgehay level crossing   Idridgehay Station   Wirksworth Station