Walk to The Okeover Arms in Mappleton on Public Footpaths (and a few roads)
Yesterday I posted a walk we had taken to the Okeover Arms in Mappleton on the roads, because we didn’t have more than one pair of boots with us. Walks in and around Ashbourne
So as a counterpoint, today I will show you a walk to the same place on public footpaths, these should be OK to walk in winter, however it was dry and sunny when we did this walk, so I can’t be too sure. This walk is again posted on my “Map My Walk” page. https://www.mapmywalk.com/routes/view/4686002188
Before I describe the walk, I just want to say that the Okeover Arms is a lovely traditional pub, that does great food. They have a carvery on a Sunday, but it gets really busy, so it is best to book. On a nice day there is plenty of room outside to enjoy a meal or a nice cooling drink. I’ll do a review at some point along with a few other local pubs.
To start take a right out of the cottage and head up towards the roundabout, with the cemetery on your right head up the small road, you will see some allotments, keep going and then you will see a large gate, it looks like a dead end, but just before on the left there is a sign for a public footpath and a small gate. Go through and take a right, you should be able to see a path here. Keep going over one stile, and you will see a farm on the left, then through two small gates. You now need to take a right and loop back into the adjacent field, keeping the stream on your left. If you carry on straight it will lead all the way to the river Dove, if you get this far you need to backtrack a short way.
This photo is where you would end up if you go too far, looking back at the fence line you need to keep to, the exit is on the left of the picture.
Enter the next field, and keeping the stream to your left carry on to the corner of the field, here you will see a wooden bridge over the stream, cross the bridge and keeping the hedge to your right carry on to the corner of the field. Carry on through this field with the hedge now on the left. Head to the far corner, it gets a bit overgrown here, but there is a path go through here into the next field. Aim slightly right and you will see a gate and stile at the other side of the field, go through these and follow the path up to the road. You are now on the Mappleton Road, this leads to the Oakover Arms, which is a good place for a refreshment stop. Just before you get to the pub, there is a sign for a public footpath on the right, it goes between a couple of houses, you need to take this on your return.
Take the path mentioned above. At the end of the short path it opens onto a large field, up the hill to your right you will see a break in the hedge line, head towards here and go through the gate. Carry on up the slope keeping the hedge to your left and going straight ahead, and pass through a stile in front of you. Across this field is gate that leads to Callow Top Holiday Park. Keep straight on this path through the next few fields, and at the bottom of the steep field, go over the stile and climb the steps onto the Tissington Trail. Take a right onto the trail and follow it. You will see the tunnel of the old railway line ahead. Go through the tunnel and this leads you to the car park at the rear of the leisure centre.
From here you can go either left and back on to Mayfield Road, or right and round the car park, and head towards St Oswald’s Church and through the church yard back to Mayfield Road.
If you like this walk or any others posted here, please head over to our Facebook page, and click like and follow us, also if you have any amendments to this guide please let me know. https://www.facebook.com/LetsLive-Holidays-103806115442908
Holiday Cottage in Ashbourne 