Birch Vale combines the Sett Valley Trail with a nature reserve and historic buildings. Two questions can help with planning your trip: Which route suits your interests, and are you more interested in seasonal wildlife or architectural history? The trail runs between New Mills and Hayfield; Birch Vale Ponds Nature Reserve is in Birch Vale on the trail. Birch Hall Farmhouse and its outbuildings give the village a further historical connection.

Trails between Hayfield and New Mills

The Sett Valley Trail is a 2.5-mile leisure path for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, connecting New Mills with Hayfield. The section between Hayfield and Birch Vale forms part of the Pennine Bridleway National Trail. The path provides access for pushchairs and mobility scooters between New Mills town centre and Hayfield. This describes both the different ways of getting around and the precise scope of this access information.

Hayfield Highs is a 17-mile (27 km) mountain biking route. Near Birch Vale, it offers a shortcut back to Hayfield via the Sett Valley Trail. This presents two different options for choosing a route: the 2.5-mile leisure path between New Mills and Hayfield, and the 17-mile mountain biking route. On the route from Hayfield to New Mills, the trail descends along the surfaced Over Hill Road into Birch Vale village and reaches Hayfield Road. A public footpath near Station Road leads back to the Sett Valley Trail on the way from Hayfield to New Mills.

Nature along the Sett Valley Trail

Birch Vale Ponds Nature Reserve is in Birch Vale on the Sett Valley Trail. Smooth newts are found in its ponds. In spring and early summer, the animals use the ponds to breed. This offers a specific seasonal connection to nature for planning your trip; the time of year can thus be linked with an interest in wildlife and the landscape.

Historic buildings and architectural features

Birch Hall Farmhouse and its outbuildings are dated 1704, 1759 and 1839. They have a two-storey L-shaped plan, coursed gritstone rubble masonry and a stone-slate roof. These terms describe different features: two-storey refers to the number of levels, while the L-shaped plan describes the building’s shape. The masonry and roof refer to the materials used and the construction method.

The former Methodist Chapel on Hayfield Road in Birch Vale belonged to the Free Church Methodists. By 2010, the building had probably been converted into a house. The farmhouse and former chapel thus represent different aspects of local history: the farmhouse is characterised architecturally by its layout, materials and dates, while the former chapel’s previous religious affiliation and probable conversion are important historical details.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Newton Solney, Kirk Ireton, Hackney, Matlock, Cromford, Stoney Middleton, Tideswell, Eyam

For the main travel overview: Derbyshire.