If you're starting your walk from the free car park above the free toilets follow these directions...
- Walk down the hill from the car park - check to the right of you and check out the "Hall Hill Troughs" these were established in 1558, providing water for domestic and agricultural use. The system is said to be one of the first public water supplies in the country.
- Turn left at the end of the road and turn onto Church Street, please take a good look around there is so much history, you have the stocks to the right of you and Eyam Hall to the left, however take note of the "Brick House" The only house in Eyam made out of Brick as all other houses are made out of stone, was once an Inn called "The Stags Parlour" and was converted into a private residence in 1828
Eyam Hall
- A little further down the road just past the Red Brick house and on the opposite side of the road is the church, now I'm not a church goer myself but find church yards quite interesting, if you have time take a look around all the interesting graves and the sundial clock on the outer wall.
- As you are walking through the village look out for "Plague Houses" where most family members died due to the plague.
- Pass the school on the left just after the church where you will see the nursery rhyme "Ring 'o ring 'o Roses" which relates to people who had the plague.
- Walk through the village keeping left passing the "Bull Ring" and some lovely cafes.
- Follow the road as it sweeps round to the left and a slight incline,
- When you reach the end of the houses choose the track to the left and ignore the road to the right of this, this is a good viewing point.
- Follow the track and pass the entrance of Riley Farm on your left, a short distance along this track you will see some beautiful scenery with old quarries and varied landscape. To your Left you will see "Riley Graves" worth taking a moment to visit.
- Follow the track up and continue ignoring any paths off until you come to a right turn into the woodland, turn right here.
- Walk through woodland for a short distance until you reach a dip, here turn right and continue down track, stay on the path until reaching the road.
- Cross the road and slightly to the left is a stile, go over this and continue straight down the field until you reach another road. Cross this road and take the lane straight ahead of you, there should now be a house to your right side called "Stoke Toll House
- Continue down this lane until you reach a bridge, just before the bridge turn right into the woodland keeping the river to your left, go through a couple of gates until you see where the path runs diagonally through the field, continue up the field until you reach the road (the same road you crossed earlier).
- Head through farm keeping main farmhouse to your left, pass the main building and then shortly after passing turn left and go through a metal gate and walk diagonally right toward a stone wall with a stile, go over Stile and stay on what can be quite a muddy path and through bushes.
- Keep following path until you are in an open field, follow path diagonally right across field until you pass some house on your left and you are on a tarmac track.
- Turn left at the track and notice the "Roman Baths" on the right.
- You are now in Stoney Middleton and if you have time you could visit the hexagonal church.
- Follow the road around to the left but don't turn left, turn right and walk up the road.
- At the next junction turn right up the hill, DO NOT TAKE THE ROAD MARKED "THE FOLD", take the road signed "Cliff Bottom"
- Follow Cliff Bottom heading up, take a look over the left side and look down to see the old octagonal toll house where you can now get fish and chips.
- Keep on up the hill going slightly right until you see a stile on the left, go over this stile and begin the very steep walk up the grassy bank, when you reach the top you'll see the "Border Stone" this is where the people from Stoney Middleton would leave food for people from Eyam, who would in return put money in vinegar filled holes that you can see in the stone.
- Dogs on a lead again as there are usually sheep in this field.
- Continue walking, pass through another stile and keep going until you reach the village keeping your eyes open for more graves and points of interest.
- Now is a good time to have an ice cream, sandwich or a pint from one either of the 2 lovely cafes or the local pub, or have all 3 :-)