Repton

This is a small town with some lovely architecture, set on the scenic south bank of the River Trent, and surrounded by hills. The town of Derby lies around eight miles to the south. The main church of St. Wynstan in the centre of the town dates from AD750, and is one of the village's most famous features. It has a sturdy clock-face tower with two clocks on it and is topped by a graceful soaring spire.

Inside the church is a unique crypt - one of the most important pieces of Saxon architecture to survive in England. For centuries the crypt was a place of pilgrimage; it contains the tombs of King Ethelbald of Mercia, King Wiglaf and his grandson St. Wynstan for whom the church is named. The crypt is a remarkable legacy from that time which may be as far back as AD653 when Christianity first reached Mercia. Apart from the crypt, St. Wynstan's church contains many treasures from its historic past and is well worth seeing.

The Trail covers many parts of the town and is largely along tarmacadam footpaths. There is one small section along a dirt track that is alongside an unfenced brook of open water. This area is prone to flooding so please ensure you wear appropriate footwear for muddy conditions. Unfortunately this same footpath has two ‘kissing’ style gates along its route and therefore access by wheelchair is next to impossible. This part of the Trail can be missed out as it runs alongside the main High Street – but you will miss a number of clues too.


Suitable for light pushchairs. The Trail is approximately 1.5 miles long and will take you approximately an hour and a half to complete.