Belper - Gardens, Market & Park

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Detective Mystery around Belper, with Detectives helping Chief Inspector Steve Tichup investigate the suspicious demise of fabric designer Paul Tugether and discover who brought down the final curtain on his latest deal.

The case covers approximately 2.5 miles and should take around 2+ hours to complete. You'll investigate Bridge Street and the town centre, climb through some of Belper's historic streets, explore the Market Place and Heritage Centre area, follow quieter paths towards the old mill district, then finish with clues in Beaurepaire Gardens and River Gardens.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Most of the route follows pavements, paths and roads, but there are several steep hills during the middle of the investigation and one cobbled section which may be uneven or slippery after rain.

Take particular care beside the A6 and other busy roads. There is also open, unfenced water in River Gardens towards the end, some of it partly hidden from view, so keep Mini Detectives and canine colleagues well away from the water's edge.

Getting There

By car

Park your squad car at Field Lane pay and display car park (DE56 1DE), using ///ketchup.flash.grad.

Leave via the exit beside the petrol station and garage, turn left onto Bridge Street and begin your investigation just beyond the junction with Derwent Street (DE56 1AX), using ///locker.hubcaps.will.

By public transport

Make your way into Belper town centre, then head towards Bridge Street and its junction with Derwent Street to begin the investigation. The route finishes around River Gardens before directing you back towards Field Lane and the town centre.

Need the Loo?

Even the most dedicated Detectives occasionally need to abandon surveillance for a tactical comfort break. Toilets are available after Clue 05, around Clues 11-12 and again towards the end of the investigation.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Detectives can join the outdoor investigation 🐾

Expect busy roads, steep streets, paved paths, a cobbled section and park areas. Keep dogs close around traffic and take particular care in River Gardens, where there is open, unfenced water that isn't always immediately visible.

Food & Drink Stops

Unpicking a fabric-based whodunnit can leave the whole squad feeling frayed around the edges.

There are plenty of opportunities to pick up snacks along the route, along with several pubs if your squad wants a longer refuelling stop. Alternatively, pack your own provisions and save them for River Gardens at the end, which makes a cracking picnic spot once the culprit has finally been stitched up.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Belper Heritage Centre and St John's Chapel

The investigation takes you through the Heritage Centre grounds beside historic St John's Chapel. It's worth allowing extra time here to explore the area's story properly, rather than simply swooping in, extracting evidence and scarpering off up the hill.

River Gardens

River Gardens makes the easiest way to extend your day once the case is closed. With green space and plenty of room for a picnic, it's a lovely place to unwind after all those hills and clues. Just remember that some stretches of water are unfenced, so keep younger visitors close.

Belper Poetry Trail

Keep an eye out for poetry beyond the investigation itself. Around 20 plaques are dotted across Belper commemorating the life and work of Beth Fender, who founded two local poetry groups and wanted poetry to be shared by everyone. Hunting down a few more makes a neat little post-case side quest.

Belper's Industrial Heritage

The Trail reveals plenty of clues to Belper's industrial past, from cotton reels, weaving shuttles and waterwheels to the Strutt family's mills and the old workers' streets. Once you're no longer hunting a culprit, it's worth slowing down and taking a closer look at the town that grew around those industries.

Beaurepaire Gardens

These quieter gardens appear late in the investigation and offer another pleasant place to pause before heading towards River Gardens. They're particularly handy if your Detectives need a breather after Belper's hillier middle section and all that strenuous suspect-scrubbing.