Shipley Country Park lies close to the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire border and was opened in 1976 as a community resource following the previous closure of the surrounding local coal mines, but before the Miners’ Strike of 1984-85. Miners in the remaining Nottinghamshire coalfields voted not to join the strike, causing deep divisions within the labour force which, judging by a comment from a local resident spoken to during the recce, still run deep today.
This is a pleasant walk on mostly solid paths through the surrounding countryside of grassy fields and quiet lanes, with one or two challenges through stretches of woodland. Although of modest distance and ascent, some of the woodland walking is hard-going, not so much with mud but the need to limbo-dance occasionally beneath fallen branches and later to find our way through short stretches of untrodden ground, nothing impenetrable but all manageable with care and trusty walking poles in hand.
From the Visitor Centre we head south then west through the narrow stretch of John Wood and Manchester Wood before turning south east to avoid joining the busy A608 road to Derby. Emerging at Simonfield close to Smalley Common, we now head south east through the short stretch of Mapperley Wood to reach the hamlet of Mapperley, immediately across from the Old Black Horse pub where we can have our lunch in the picnic garden to the rear, so long as we all buy a drink.
From here our way is east and then north around a knoll as we walk along the Nutbrook ‘Sculpture Trail’ of impressively carved woodland animals. We later emerge at the attractive Nutbrook Café which not only has indoor and outdoor seating but is only open at weekends, which suits us perfectly should we choose to call.
Soon we see the odd tempting glimpse of Shipley Lake as we head north through the old pit area which has now given way to a rather large sardine-like housing development, to the obvious disgust of local dog walkers. Our way back to the Visitor Centre is now north west 
through woods close to Shipley, before dropping back to the top side of Shipley Hill and Derby Lodge, which although marked as a public convenience stop on the OS map is now definitely closed. There again we’ll have already taken advantage of the facilities in Nutbrook Café.
North again alongside Cinderhill Coppice takes us straight back to the Centre.
This is a good walk of contrasts and local historical and contemporary interest, with one or two woodland challenges along the way to add a note of adventure to the day.
'B' Walk - Leader - Sheila Francis. Distance - 7.8 miles. Ascent - 466 feet. Mod. Clockwise.
This walk offers plenty of variety on paths, bridleways, fields and country lanes, some woodland walking and some open landscapes. We will also walk both banks of Mapperley Reservoir. There is definitely the potential for mud but on the recces I encountered nothing to cause any serious difficulty.
Starting from the Visitor’s Centre on the well-maintained paths of Shipley Country Park we skirt the northern side of Shipley Hill. We soon pass the delightful Derby Lodge tearoom which, unfortunately, comes too early in the walk for a stop. We turn south from Shipley Lake, passing Lodge Farm before joining the lane heading for Mapperley. We pass through a wooded area which includes a dense reed bed and a few bird hides before finding the northern bank of Mapperley Reservoir. Here there is a suitable stop with seating and access to toilets.
We proceed east of John Wood before turning west up a quiet
country lane towards Whitehouse Farm. This lane is barred at the entrance to the farm so, apart from possible farm vehicles, it is very unlikely that we will encounter any traffic. Just after the farm we begin to cross a few fields and it is on this stretch that we have the benefit of a few stiles to exercise those hips! When we reach Mapperley we may wish to stop at the picnic benches in the playground for a break.
From Mapperley we turn back towards Mapperley Reservoir, this time taking the southern bank. Very observant walkers may notice that they have trodden the path east of John’s Wood earlier in the walk but, this time, we will turn east to take a footpath past Flatmeadow Farm and back to the Visitor’s Centre.
This is a scenic walk giving a last chance to admire the beautiful shapes of winter trees before the welcome new leaves of spring. I saw my first snowdrops of 2025 on this walk and there was much twittering in the hedgerows. I hope you will find this an uplifting walk!
'C' Walk - Leader - Jane Taylor. Distance - 5.6 miles. Ascent - 387 ft. Easy. Clockwise.
Shipley Park in Derbyshire was created in the 1970s following the closure 
of the surrounding coal mines. The area adjacent to Shipley Lake there was also the location of the American Adventure Theme Park, which some of you might remember, with its white- knuckle rides and other attractions, before it closed down in 2007 and the land was sold off to make way for a housing development.
Nowadays the park covers 700 acres of attractive countryside 
with numerous good wide footpaths and tracks used for walking, cycling, horse riding, bird watching etc. It is another successful example of what can be achieved when our industrial past, in this case historical coal mining areas, are returned to nature.
Our walk today begins at the Visitor Centre but the café there is closed so we will start with a short 15 minute or so walk to the café at Derby Lodge where the staff are expecting us for our morning refreshments. We might not want to leave the cosy dining room, with an open fire and welcoming staff, but we must. Back on the move we meander through the park, along good footpaths and quiet roads, skirting around Shipley Hill and past Shipley Lake until we encounter a carved wooden snail and then a mole.
At the mole we leave the road and, after a slight climb upwards, we enter a meadow which was quite wet and boggy on our recce. At the other side we meet our one and only stile and a footbridge into the woods at which point we encounter a little mud before once again walking on a quiet lane.
Soon we reach the village of Mapperley where we will have our lunch stop at some picnic benches in the village playground. There is likely to be time while we are here for anyone who would like to pay a visit to The Old Black Horse pub, before we head off back in the direction of Mapperley Reservoir, John Wood, Flatmeadow Farm and finally the Visitor Centre back at Shipley Country Park. This is a particularly nice section of the walk even on a cold winter’s day. The visitor centre will still be open for a browse and a hot drink (and toilets) before we join everyone on the coach for our journey home.
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