Ditch the faceless chains. Here’s the best independent coffee shops in Derbyshire to combine with a walk
This post was updated April 2023. Here are my favourite places for coffee and a walk in and around Derbyshire.
Best places for coffee and a walk in the High Peak
The pretty Peak District village of Hope is perfectly situated for walking and cycling, including exploring nearby Castleton and Mam Tor. The Grasshopper Café is an excellent choice for coffee lovers. They’re also fully licensed and stock a good range of craft beers, ciders and wines. Check out their famous grilled cheese sandwiches.
North East Derbyshire
There are lots of lovely walks around Barlow and Hackney House Café is an excellent choice for home baked pies and sweet treats.
Stretton Hall Farm Shop is located in between Clay Cross and Ashover. They serve excellent quality barista style coffee and have a wonderful cake counter. Plenty of free parking. If you’re looking for a walk suggestion, here’s one from Kenning Park in Clay Cross.
Read more about my favourite farm shops here.
In Chesterfield, any of the cafés on Chatsworth Road could be combined with a walk around Somersall Park. The closest (and one of my favourites – highly recommend the scones!) would be the Café at Libbys.
Best places for coffee and a walk in the Derbyshire Dales
Jolly’s is a vintage Citroen van parked up at Curbar most weekends serving the most delicious homemade cakes and freshly ground coffee. Check their socials for opening details.
Padley Gorge is a beautifully valley and popular walking spot. The Grindleford Station Café is a great choice for refueling. Don’t expect fancy barista coffees but the epic chip butty will more than make up for that! If you fancy something more upmarket, head to The Maynard for a cosy bar and beautiful gardens.
Hassop Station Café on the Monsal Trail is an excellent place to either start a walk or for a pit-stop. There’s a large pay and display car park and overflow field. If you’re just using the café there is a small amount of free parking (head to the right as you enter and look out for the bollard that shows where the free parking starts. It’s short stay only and strictly for customers of the café). There’s lots of seating outside, including under cover and ceiling heaters. No bookings taken – just walk in.
There are some beautiful walks around the picturesque, historic village of Eyam and several good choices for refreshments. The Village Green Café is an excellent choice for great coffee and delicious home baked cakes. You can also re-fuel at The Nook (opposite The Coolstone in the courtyard behind Eyam Hall). You can also enjoy a good coffee from The Coolstone – read my review of The Coolstone Eyam here.
Walks around Chatsworth
Either grab a Sicilian cannoli and coffee from Dough and Dolci in Baslow or refresh in the one of the catering outlets in the stableyard at Chatsworth.
Lea Gardens is a fabulous place to re-fuel after a walk. You can use the tea rooms without paying admission to the gardens themselves, although they are certainly worth a visit. Read my full review here. Both the coffee and cakes are excellent and the breakfast and lunch menus look very appealing. If you’re lucky you’ll get a seat overlooking the stunning gardens.
Erewash
The Stable View near Ilkeston is a delightful café tucked away on a farm. In fact you have to meander through the various farm yards – just keep the faith and follow the signs. Stable View would be an excellent starting point or mid way refreshment point for a walk either incorporating Locko Park or Dale Abbey, see map below. There’s a QR code to scan at the café and signs throughout the walks so you don’t get lost. I thoroughly recommend the barista made coffee and paninis but the cake counter also looked amazing on my previous visit. Please note the car park is for paying customers only.
Somewhere I’ve not yet tried myself, but comes highly recommended is The Cowshed near Dale Abbey. The cakes look amazing – and it’s even described as “horse friendly”!
Amber Valley
The Loaf in Crich doesn’t just stock delicious artisan bread. Their deli counter is usually laden with local chutneys, jams and honeys as well as delicious continental cheeses, olives and cured meats. Don’t miss their famous cinnamon buns.
There’s no vehicular access to Nutbrook Coffee Shop (and it’s not open daily – so do check) – but it’s perfect for combining with a walk in Shipley Park. Dogs are welcome too.
Derby City area
After a bracing walk in Elvaston Castle, why not head to the Apple Tree Tea House?
The Little Shed in Allestree is a pretty little tea room. Grab a coffee and then walk in Allestree Park, or walk to Quarndon and head to the Joiners Arms.
After walking one of the beautiful routes up the chevin, why not head to The Gallery in Duffield to refuel?
A bit further out of the city is The Kedleston Country House hotel. Take a walk in the surrounding countryside and then refresh with a barista coffee in their beautifully landscaped gardens with unspoilt views of the surrounding countryside. There are two circular walks starting and ending at The Ked detailed on their website, a short one (2.6 miles) and a medium one (5.2 miles).
South Derbyshire
Melbourne Pool is a lovely spot for a wander. It’s also nice and flat so suitable for prams, scooters etc. There are various options for coffee in Melbourne village but I would be heading to Tea at 3 Cake House for the prettiest cakes, great coffees and decadent hot chocolates, or Melbourne Hall Tearooms or the coffee van at the entrance to the Melbourne Hall courtyard. Read more about Melbourne here.
Just outside Derbyshire
There are lots of lovely walks around Dimmingsdale, Oakamoor and Cotton Dell. Explore the beauty and tranquility of Dimmingsdale by strolling through the valley using one of the established woodland walks and then refuel at the Ramblers Retreat a family run country tearoom with beautiful woodland gardens, currently open weekends only.
If you’ve enjoyed this, please read my edit of the best 22 independent beer gardens, cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating in Derbyshire.
Do you know any other great places for a walk and a takeaway? Share the knowledge in the comments below.
5 replies on “22 Fabulous Places in Derbyshire for Coffee and a Walk”
Great advice Molly! We’re loyal fans of Grasshopper (Hope), Village Green (Eyam) and Jolly’s (Curbar). How about Hathersage? Depending on your mood it’s a toss-up between a posh coffee at Coleman’s Deli or a pre-walk breakfast buttie at the Pool Cafe, followed by a scenic stroll at Longshaw or a hearty climb up to Stanage from the village.
Thank you – I’m huge fans of Grasshopper, Village Green and Jolly’s too. Haven’t tried either of the Hathersage ones but will add them to my list for when we’re allowed back out.
So important to support our local independent coffee shops, we have a lovely one in our village.
Couldn’t agree with you more! I wish I had somewhere lovely a bit closer.
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