Barlborough combines a distinctive village history with a range of ways to explore the place and its surroundings. When planning your visit, you can choose between historic buildings, public paths, guided village walks, and golf or FootGolf. Barlborough is at junction 30 of the M1. The village is also easy to reach via the National Rail network.
On foot: paths, walks and routes
Barlborough is the hub of a network of public footpaths and bridleways. Descriptions of two named routes can also help you choose a walk: the Chaffinch Trail starts in Barlborough and connects the historic villages of Barlborough and Spinkhill in the north of Derbyshire. The Monnies Heritage Walk connects Barlborough and Clowne in the Bolsover District of Derbyshire. Barlborough is the starting point for the Chaffinch Trail; for the Monnies Heritage Walk, the two connected villages are the main reference points. This makes it easy to distinguish the routes by their different locations.
If you would like to learn about the village’s history on a guided walk, Barlborough Heritage Centre offers tours of the historic village. These village walks must be booked in advance by appointment and require at least twelve participants. The group size and the need to arrange a time should therefore be taken into account when planning. This distinguishes the guided option from the public footpaths and bridleways, which are described as a network. Conditions on routes can change; check them before setting out.
Buildings and village history
St James’s Church stands on Church Street in Barlborough and was originally a 12th-century building. Barlborough Village Cross is a Grade II* listed village or market cross and probably dates from the 14th century. The different dates offer two clues to the village’s historical development, with the date of the cross explicitly described as probable.
Another historic highlight is Barlborough Hall, a Grade I listed country house that is now used as a school. Barlborough Hall includes walled gardens that were probably laid out in the 16th century, a 16th-century garden pavilion, and parkland with origins in that century. The dating of the gardens should not be confused with that of the pavilion: the gardens are described as “probably” dating from that period, while the pavilion is dated to the 16th century.
Barlborough Heritage Centre displays mining equipment as well as small agricultural tools and equipment. This means that, alongside the buildings, mining and agriculture are also represented as distinct aspects of the village’s history. Together with the village walks on offer, visitors can choose between viewing the exhibits and exploring the historic village with a guide; the walk requires advance booking and a minimum number of participants.
Golf and FootGolf
Barlborough Links Golf Club has a 9-hole golf course. There is also a separate 9-hole FootGolf course, which is distinct from the regular golf course. The same number of holes does not mean that they are the same course: golf and FootGolf are two separate offerings. FootGolf can be booked by phone. Details of the facilities may change, so check the provider’s latest information if these activities are important to your plans.
Whether Barlborough suits your stay depends on the interests you want to focus on: village history and buildings, paths and routes, or the two different golf options. If you would like a guided walk, also take the booking requirement and minimum group size into account.
Discover more destinations: Chelmorton, Baslow, Crich, North Wingfield, Kilburn, Cromford, Newton Solney, Wirksworth
Return to the main travel guide: Derbyshire.
