D228: Riber - Hearthstone - Lea circuit

Circular route

Go to the junction of Riber Road and Carr Lane outside Riber Hall.  Take the footpath off Carr Road going south.  Follow it across fields to pass a house on your left at Hearthstone and turn left on Hearthstone Lane.  Follow the lane SE past the farm until the track splits.  Ignore the track straight on (to High Leas Farm) and take the rough track (still Hearthstone Lane) bending right and climbing.  Go south on this rocky track, passing woods on either side until you reach a crossing footpath at 311574.  Below you on your right is Cromford Station.  Turn left and go eastwards (apart from short dogleg right) downhill past Coumbs Wood on your right.  Cross stream at bottom and go up to the road at Lea.  From here it is a short diversion to visit either the rhododendron gardens / cafe at Lea or the Jug & Glass pub.  Other wise turn left along the road.  Walk NNW up this road, past junction where road from Lea joins and pass a sign announcing that you are entering Matlock.  The road continues past the east end of Coumbs Wood and then turns WNW.  Just after this bend, take the footpath on the right.  Walk NNW across the fields to meet Carr Lane at a slight bend in the road.  Cross over and take the path opposite.  When it meets a crossing path, turn left (west) and follow this track back to Riber.