We set off from the Pride Park Travelodge in Derby and followed the cycle path (both NCN 6 and 68) along the river into the city centre.

The Vernon Gate is a grade II listed facade of the former 19th century County Gaol but now is a business park.

From there we headed out of Derby and joined up with the beginning of the Pennine Cycleway, also known as National Cycle Network route 68 (NCN 68) which headed out into the countryside towards Etwall.

As we entered Etwall we came to my old high school – John Port. Aparently it is now the largest secondary school in Derbyshire. Although there are some new buildings, there was a lot that looked just the same as when I was there 30 years ago!

At the front of John Port School, there is a well head which is decorated annually during the villages Well Dressing Festival.

Up the hill above the well is St Helen’s Church.

Behind the Church are the Almshouse’s.

Just down the road is Etwall Primary School, where I first went to school – the front looks just the same! It was opened in 1870 – well before I was there before anyone asks!

We then took a little detour past the house that I grew up in.

We stopped for lunch on a bench by the Almshouse’s and then started back towards Derby. We took the back road out through Burnaston.

Joining up with cycle network route 66 and going through Littleover before joining up with NCN 6 which took us back to Pride Park.

Apart from the rain after lunch (which was thankfully not heavy) we had an enjoyable day. Derby is a great place to cycle around as it has some good cycle paths which seemed very well maintained.