Three Norman treasures, Parwich, Derbyshire

Walk in a nutshell
A gentle saunter that takes you through undulating countryside, often with extensive views in all directions, and into three pretty Derbyshire villages.

Why it's special
There's a church in each village, starting with St Peter's in Parwich. This was substantially rebuilt in the 19th century but carvings above the west door attest to its Norman origins. The large unbuttressed tower and carvings above the south door at the church in Bradbourne also date back to Norman times, and in the churchyard you'll find a Saxon cross depicting scenes of the crucifixion. Your final stop is the church in Ballidon, also Norman in origin, which served as a chapel-of-ease for people who lived far from the main parish church. The decoratively carved font appears to have survived the Reformation by being covered in thick plaster and whitewash, which weren't removed until well into the 19th century.

Keep your eyes peeled for
The remains of a medieval village surrounding the chapel at Ballidon. The earthworks, mounds and ridges are evidence of the houses that once stood here.

But bear in mind
There are lots of stiles along the way, so you may want to leave the dog at home.

Recover afterwards
At the Sycamore Inn in Parwich, where you can have a pint and a bite to eat then stock up on your groceries. The pub turned one of its rooms into a store in 2008 when the only village shop closed down.
01335 390212

If it's tipping down
The Toys of Yesteryear museum in nearby Rowsley has a large working Hornby 00 layout, a reproduction 1950s toyshop and a full-size model of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

How to get there

By car
From Manchester, head south on the A6 then the A5004. Turn on to the A515 at Buxton and after 20km take a left to Parwich just after Back Lane on the right.

By public transport
A few buses from Ashbourne stop at Parwich village green on weekdays, but they're infrequent. Ashbourne is another bus ride from Derby, the nearest train station.

Step by step

1. Exit the car park to the south of St Peter's church and turn right, with a field on your right behind a low wall. At the end of the road there's a gap in the wall.

2. Go through the gap, keeping to the left boundary with a stile in front. Follow the stream on your left for the next few fields.

3. Cross a stile on to a rough lane. The next stile is opposite, next to a barn. At the far side of the field the path crosses the stream near a tall tree. Continue across four fields, keeping in the same direction and crossing over a farm drive and a timber bridge. Follow the yellow markers on tall posts you'll see along the route until you reach a stile near a large tree.

4. Cross the stile and make for the five-barred gate. Cross the stile here on to the road.

5. Follow the road until the next lane (Mill Lane) off to the left, signposted "Bradbourne". Walk 100m further down the road to a stile on the left with a signpost on the opposite side of the road.

6. Go over the stile and across the field to another stile in the hedgerow. Once over this, the path goes towards the houses in the distance.

7. Go over the stile and head to the left corner of the field, next to the two tall trees, where you'll find the stile. Turn right along the lane to Bradbourne church. At the alley to the church is an unusual lamppost on the left. Turn along here. The church is ahead of you.

8. Go into the churchyard and veer right to pass around the church. Follow the right-hand boundary until you reach the stile in the lower corner.

9. Go over the stile and veer slightly to the left, keeping the bushes on the right as you go downhill to reach another stile.

10. Keeping in the same direction, make for the large tree at the bottom of the hill. As you approach the tree, you'll see a stile to the right that takes you in the same direction. There's a farm ahead, with a long concrete wall.

11. Pass to the right of this, over another stile. Ahead is a large, lone tree in the middle of the field with a white marker on the trunk. Pass to the right of the tree and continue forward until the fence on the left joins a fence coming in from the right. The stile is in this corner.

12. The next stile is to the left of the zigzag road sign ahead. This drops you on to a lane.

13. Go right and take the next footpath on the left side of the lane, about 50m further on. Cross the field, keeping to the left-hand hedgerow. When you reach a rough farm track going in the same direction, follow it. It will go through a gateway and onward. The Norman Ballidon church will soon come into view ahead.

14. From the church go down to the left of its boundary wall where you'll find a concrete path near the gate around the corner. Go along the path to a stile, which drops you on to a lane. Note the raised earth banking on the right as you go down the path. This is where the old village was situated.

15. Turn right and follow the lane, which eventually leads to the entrance to the Ballidon quarry. Continue on until you see two lanes ahead.

16. The left lane goes into the quarry works. Take the right lane, signposted "Royston Lane", and continue on until it takes a hairpin bend to the right.

17. Continue up the wide, more acceptable path. When the wall on the left goes inward towards a five-barred gate, you'll see a stile on the right.

18. Cross the stile and follow the path. As the valley turns to the right, the path will ascend a slope through trees to the lane. Cross over the stile and turn left.

19. Ahead is a road junction. Take the lane to the right. This is a long straight lane that will eventually bend sharply to the left. About 20m before the bend is a five-barred gate to your left.

20. Go over the stile here and across the sloping ground keeping slightly to the right. The path slowly descends to a stile that drops you into a small field. Continue on to a five-barred gate and stile.

21. Go through the stile and turn right on to the lane which drops downhill. On the right is the old hospital, now privately owned. When the lane reaches a junction, turn left.

22. Keep following this lane, which is the main route through Parwich, and St Peter's church will soon come into view.

23. Keep on this same lane, passing the village pond on your right and the pub on your left, until you're back at the car park.

Map of Parwich walk
Map of Parwich walk. Photograph: Guardian