Walking routes
Shining Cliff hostel is located on a public footpath. There are many paths to explore in the woodland, but the hostel is also close to the long distance footpaths the Midshires Way and the Derwent Valley Heritage Way.
We provide suggested circular walking routes for varying abilities that we’ve tried and tested ourselves; these are provided in the hostel ‘Explorer Folder’.
Woodland Sessions.
Kate from Shining Cliff Centre C.I.C is working in partnership with Bonnie McNabb from All About the Calm to provide woodland sessions for ages 5 onwards. Both Kate and Bonnie are Level 3 Forest School practitioners and Forest Bathing Guides.
Sessions can be for all ages and tailored to what your group would like to do, such as team building activities, simple tool work, nature connection, fire lighting, outdoor cooking, woodland play and exploration, conservation tasks, guided walks – there are so many things we can do!
Please see our website Woodland Connections at Shining Cliff for more information or have a look on the Woodland Sessions page.
White Peak Distillery – who produce Shining Cliff Gin – is located in Shining Cliff Woods next to the River Derwent. They are the first full-scale craft distillery in the region and create single malt whisky and other small batch spirits.
It is a 15 minute walk along glorious woodland footpaths to get from the hostel to the distillery.
They have beautifully refurbished a part of the old Derwent Wire Works site and offer distillery tours.
The distillery tours are £15 for adults £8 for children. Book in advance via the web-site. Private bookings for larger groups (minimum of 10 adults) can be arranged by contacting info@whitepeakdistillery.co.uk and are subject to availability.
See http://www.whitepeakdistillery.co.uk for more information about the Distillery or click on the tour information below.
Great British Car Journey
On the opposite side of the River Derwent to the White Peak Distillery is the Great British Car Journey. A great place to visit and travel down memory-lane with their interactive museum exploring the story of British car makers, from the 1920’s onwards. You can even book their ‘Drive Dad’s Car’ experience too!
Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site
The hostel sits on the edge of the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site, that stretches 15 miles from Matlock Bath down to Derby, following the river Derwent. The site contains historical 18th & 19th century cotton mill complexes and the associated workers housing that was built, including Cromford Mills and what is now the Museum of Making in Derby. It’s an area with lots to explore, both in the wonderful rugged landscape as the lowlands meet the Peak District, and the cultural heritage of the birthplace of the modern factory system.
