Exploring Buxton: St Ann's Well, Pavilion Gardens & Grin Low Wood

We’re in Buxton in Derbyshire today for a 3.5 mile route through this beautiful spa town taking in Buxton Baths and St Ann’s Well, The Pavilion Gardens, Serpentine Walk and Grin Low Wood. Close to both Cheshire and Staffordshire, Buxton is on the edge of the Peak District National Park. There has been a settlement here for a long time with remains found dating back to the Neolithic 6000 years ago and then of course the romans loved it here. There is a geothermal spring with water rising from half a mile underground. It takes about 5000 years for the water to percolate to the surface and it comes out rich in Magnesium at about 27 degrees C. The spring gave rise to the baths dating back to the roman period with the current baths on the site dating back to the 1850’s.

We test the waters from the spring at St Ann’s Well before heading through Pavilion Gardens beside the river Wye and the oldest part of the gardens the Serpentine Walk which was laid out by Joseph Paxton in the 1830’s before heading up to Grin Low Woods where they used to mine, crush and burn limestone to produce Lime. At the woods we are also close to Pooles Cavern where the river Wye has dissolved the Carboniferous Limestone to produce a large cavern. Its a lovely place, well worth an explore.

The Route

Starting from the car park on Fern Road turn left and then left into London road. Continue straight on to High Street and then left into Eagle Parade and then right into The Slopes before dropping down to Buxton Baths at the Crescent. Turn left passing the baths to St Ann’s Well and then turn right and left into Pavilion Gardens. Head through the park to Burlington Road and then straight on into The Serpentine Walk. At the far end at St John’s Road turn left and then immediately left on the footpath. At Macclesfield Road turn left and immediately right on the path. At Dovedale Crescent turn right then immediately left into Hargate road. At the end turn left then immediately right on the path to Green Lane. Turn right and then take the path right into Grin Low Wood. Follow the path around the edge of the woods above Pooles Cavern before dropping down over the field near the school and taking the track which brings you back to our starting point