We're assessing potential routes between Knowleston Place in Matlock and High Peak Junction in Cromford.
The work is being developed through our Culture, Heritage and Tourism programme.
The proposed walking, wheeling and cycling route would complete a key missing section of the White Peak Loop and form part of the proposed Derwent Valley Trail.
By connecting communities, railway stations and visitor attractions, it could encourage more people to explore the area and support local businesses and the wider visitor economy.
The work will consider accessibility, heritage, ecology, flood risk, land ownership, costs and connections with existing routes.
Our Cabinet Member for Highways, Councillor Charlotte Hill, said:
“This work is an important step towards unlocking the potential of the White Peak Loop and supporting tourism and local businesses in the Derwent Valley.
“A new route could create better connections between communities, railway stations and visitor attractions, encouraging more people to explore everything the area has to offer.
“It could also improve the way people travel around Derbyshire and create more opportunities for walking, wheeling and cycling.
“This is a special landscape, so we must find a solution that improves access while respecting the area’s environment and heritage. No route has been selected or funded for construction, and this work will help us identify the most suitable option for possible future development.”
We will work with local partners, including Derbyshire Dales District Council and the East Bank Track Partnership, as potential options are developed.
The work builds on a feasibility study completed by AECOM in 2024. Around £60,000 from our Active Travel programme is funding this stage.