Walk stats
- Distance3.5 km · 2.2 mi
- Elevation+78 m
- Duration60 min
- DifficultyEasy
- Route typeCircular
- TerrainGentle parkland paths and estate tracks
- Best seasonSpring to autumn
- DogsDogs welcome on leads
About this walk
The Purple Walk is a gentle 3.5 km circular route through the Calke Abbey estate in south Derbyshire, taking around an hour with only 78 m of ascent. It's an easy waymarked trail that makes a fine introduction to the parkland, its ponds and its ancient trees.
Starting near the Calke Abbey Cafe, the path winds past China House Pond and out towards the Old Deer Shelter, a reminder of the estate's long history as a deer park. The route passes close to the hamlet of Calke before returning by Little Dogkennel Pond, with quiet stretches of pasture and woodland along the way.
If you have time to linger, there are more corners of the estate to explore nearby, including Thatch House Pond, Betty's Pond and Church Plantation. A short trip further afield brings you to Staunton Harold Reservoir and Spring Wood Nature Reserve, both easy add-ons for a fuller day out in this quiet pocket of the National Forest.
Route map
Route line drawn from OpenStreetMap footpath data. Numbered markers are waypoints on the route; amber star markers are points of interest a short detour away.
Waypoints along the route
5 waypoints along the way
- 1
China House Pond
- 2
Calke Abbey Cafe
- 3
Old Deer Shelter
- 4
Calke
- 5
Little Dogkennel Pond
Worth a short detour
Points of interest just off the route, look for the amber markers on the map.
Thatch House Pond
~216 m off the route
Staunton Harold Reservoir
~343 m off the route
Spring Wood Nature Reserve
~456 m off the route
Betty's Pond
~498 m off the route
Church Plantation
~212 m off the route
Route & waypoint data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).