Our aim is to be much more than a coffee house, we would like to integrate into the community and part of this is featuring our local attractions. The main attraction close by is the Great Northern Greenway.

Great Northern Greenway

The former Great Northern Railway ran through Derby City to Ilkeston and beyond into Nottingham and was known locally as the Friargate Line.

The passenger railway was closed in the 1960’s and for many years it has been identified for redevelopment as a traffic free transport route and recreational amenity. The realisation of this route as a countryside trail is finally gathering steam.

The trail has an all weather surface and provides easy access all year round for walkers, families with prams, mobility scooters, cyclists and horse riders.

This route passes through the Breadsall Wildlife Site and the design of the route was guided by independent ecologists to maximise the benefits to the habitats along the way.

Additional limestone ballast areas have been made and some tree thinning was carried out to encourage further spread of the limestone grasslands, which support a rich variety of plants and animals.

During the project the remains of the former Breadsall Station buildings were uncovered and rebuilt to capture the layout of the site.

You can take a break on the old platform for a picnic or saunter through the footprints of the former station house, the waiting room, the lavatories, the signal box and the lamp house.

This Greenway has been designated as National Cycle Network route 672 by Sustrans. It emerges out of Derby City where connections for walkers and cyclists lead to the Railway Station and connects to National Cycle Network routes 6, 54 and 68.