Bakewell and the River Wye Loop

This 2-mile (3.2 km) circular walk starts at Bakewell Visitor Centre, follows Brookside and the River Wye, then returns through the town park and Granby Croft. Allow about an hour. It is an easy, short way to combine Bakewell’s riverside paths, old bridges and mill workings; this is a town walk, not a countryside-only hike.

Water Lane and Castle Street lead to Brookside, a millstream where rainbow trout can sometimes be seen. After Mill Street, the route uses pavement beside the A6 before reaching Holme Bridge, built in 1664. Its old sheepwash recalls the local wool trade: farmers washed fleeces here before shearing. Beyond Holme Lane, a gated field path and narrow riverside stretch lead back toward Bakewell Bridge. The walk then follows the Wye through the town park to the grassy area inside a bend in the river. Daubenton’s bats breed beneath Bakewell’s road bridge in summer and may feed below its arches at dusk.

Most of the walk uses surfaced pavements and paths, but one section crosses a field and parts of the riverside path are narrow. The pavement over Bakewell Bridge is especially narrow; take care at the town road crossings and use the marked pedestrian crossing. Dogs are allowed on a lead, and only all-terrain buggies are suitable. The visitor centre at the start lists toilets and cafés; several pay-and-display car parks serve Bakewell.