Derbyshire Portway Explained

The Derbyshire Portway is a pre-historic trackway that runs for over 40 miles across the Peak District of England.^[1]

History

The well-known section of the trackway runs from Mam Tor in north Derbyshire through the Peak District via Wirksworth^[2] to the Hemlock Stone near Nottingham and is said to have existed since the Bronze Age before falling out of regular use in the Middle Ages.^[1] However, there is evidence to suggest that the trackway originally extended to Manchester at the northern end and to Nottingham in the midlands.^[3]

The trackway takes in several historic locations, amongst others:^[4]

• Mam Tor
• Robin Hood's Stride
• Nine Stones Close
• Alport Height
• Dale Abbey
• Hemlock Stone

The Portway was the subject of a 2017 episode of the Channel 4 programme Britain's Ancient Tracks with Tony Robinson.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Derbyshire Portway. derbyshire-peakdistrict.co.uk. 7 October 2017.
2. Web site: Wirksworth Archaeological Society Portway Report. www.wirksworthromanproject.co.uk. en. 2017-10-07.
3. Book: Bailey . Stephen . The Old Roads of Derbyshire : walking into history : the Portway and beyond . Troubador Publishing Ltd . 978-1789018431.
4. Web site: Derbyshire Portway. The Long Distance Walkers Association. 7 October 2017.