Distance: 5.2 miles

Difficulty of the terrain: medium

Get the route: via Ordnance Survey Maps or download the GPX. file from Dropbox

Walk from Matlock along the Derwent Valley Heritage Way to Rowsley on the edge of the Peak District National Park where The Level contemporary arts centre is tucked away celebrating the power of ‘difference’ in artmaking.

The Story

Route Notes

Getting Back

Contemporary Arts Tucked Away

During the first quarter of the 21st Century we got pretty used to the idea of finding a contemporary arts centre in an industrial area. The notion of artmaking occurring and being exhibited in such spaces is of course far older.

A contemporary arts centre in an industrial area merely a stones throw from a national park now that remains unusual.

This is exactly what the Level Centre in Rowsley on the western edge of the Peak District National Park, roughly midway along the A6 between Matlock and Bakewell is.

Upon arriving at the village, generally known for being near the terminus of the Peak Rail heritage line and the Peak Shopping Village, a short walk into the heart of an industrial estate populated by warehouses, depots and other commercial and industrial uses brings you to The Level’s sleek, discreet, modernist exterior.

The arts centre’s story begins in 1988 when Peter Shelton founded a charity called First Movement which was devoted to creating art for people with learning disabilities. 

First Movement’s success led to them securing Arts Council England funding in the late 2000s to create The Level Centre. It’s name is a nod to the fact that it was designed to be fully accessible to everyone regardless of their level of mobility. Constructed in 2008 the structure was designed by Clash Architects who won a RIBA award for their work.

Following the building’s opening First Movement was became The Level, unifying venue and organisation.

These days The Level sees their mission as celebrating “the art that ‘difference’ makes” and state they possess a vision of unlocking “the unique talents of disabled creatives” showing “the world how powerful ‘difference’ can be”.

In service of these objectives and goals The Level commission and programme a wide array of exhibitions across all manner of media and artforms at their Rowsley centre. As well as running a full programme of activities alongside the exhibitions and installations they curate and facilitate.

Route Notes

Get the route: via Ordnance Survey Maps or download the GPX. file from Dropbox

I create the Walk Midlands routes via Ordnance Survey Maps Explorer enabling me to take them on my phone. Subscribe yourself via the banner above.

This circle walk to Rowsley on the edge of the Peak District National Park, home of The Level contemporary arts centre begins from Matlock Railway Station.

Upon exiting the station cross the main road in front of you, and then turn left, to pick up the River Derwent footpath.

Follow the tree lined path – which comprises part of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way – out of the town centre.

Presently you pass a disused quarry on your left, and follow the path as it runs across open meadows a little way from the Derwent.

Soon you emerge onto a road running through the lower part of the Little hamlet of Oaker, and turn right, following the road as it runs through woodland and then out into open fields.

The road runs into the heart of the small village of Darley Bridge, which stands on the far side of the Derwent from the little town of Darley Dale.

In the centre of Darley Bridge you turn right, crossing a sturdy old stone bridge across the Derwent.

On the far bank you pick up a footpath running across fields to the hamlet of Churchtown, before heading back out into open countryside.

Soon you reach woodland right by the river, and walk along through the thick trees near the water. Occasional Surviving brickwork and other relics glimpsable amidst the undergrowth serve as periodic reminders that where you walk was once the route of the Midland Railway mainline from London, via Derby, north across the Peak District to Buxton and then Manchester.

Presently you emerge onto the side of the A6 on the edge of Rowsley.

Here carry on along the road approaching Peak Village and the bridge across the Derwent at the heart of the settlement. Look out on your left for the access road onto the industrial estate where the Level Centre is situated.

Keep on walking into the heart of the estate until you reach the centre’s entrance.

This is where the walk ends.

Getting Back

Returning to the side of the A6 there are bus stops from where there are frequent services (half hourly for most of the day) north towards Bakewell and Buxton across the central Peak District, and south towards Matlock, Belper and Derby. Matlock has a station for services south to Derby and Nottingham, as well as buses to outlying towns and villages. Bakewell has buses to destinations across the Peak District and Sheffield. While Buxton has trains north to Stockport and Manchester.