Stanton By Dale

Stanton By Dale is a small village in the Erewash Valley of Derbyshire, tucked between Ilkeston and the Nottinghamshire border a few miles east of the M1. It sits on a low ridge above the Erewash Canal and the Nutbrook, with open farmland to the south and the wooded slopes towards Dale Abbey close by. It is a place easily missed on a map, which is part of its appeal.

The village appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, and for much of the medieval period the church and surrounding land belonged to nearby Dale Abbey. After the abbey's dissolution in 1538 its Stanton property passed to the Babington family. The village later grew around Stanton Ironworks, whose houses were traditionally painted 'Stanton Green', a colour still visible on some cottages today. The ironworks became part of Stanton & Staveley, was nationalised into British Steel, sold on to Saint-Gobain, and finally closed in 2007, leaving Stanton By Dale to settle back into a quieter, largely residential village.

Top things to do near Stanton By Dale

The village itself is small, but it makes a good base for exploring the Erewash Valley and the countryside around Ilkeston and Derby.

• St Michael and All Angels' Church — the village's ancient parish church, with a tower, four bells and a chancel restored in 1872, worth a look for its long history back to the Domesday era.
• Nutbrook Trail — a walking, cycling and horse-riding route that follows the old Stanton branch railway and the line of the disused Nutbrook Canal along the edge of the former ironworks site.
• Erewash Canal — a level towpath walk and cycle route running north to Shipley Country Park, joining the Nutbrook Trail near Stanton Gate.
• Dale Abbey — a short drive away, with the ruined abbey arch, the curious Hermit's Cave carved into a sandstone cliff, and the Cat and Fiddle windmill.
• Ilkeston — the nearest market town, with shops, a Wednesday and Friday market, and the Erewash Museum covering local history.
• Shipley Country Park — a large area of former colliery and estate land turned parkland, with lakes, woodland trails and a miniature railway on some weekends.

Getting to Stanton By Dale

Stanton By Dale sits just off the A6096, close to Junction 25 of the M1, making it an easy stop for anyone travelling between Nottingham and Derby. Nottingham city centre is around 8 miles away and Derby about 9 miles, both roughly a 20-25 minute drive. Ilkeston, the nearest town, is only 2-3 miles off. East Midlands Parkway and Long Eaton railway stations are the closest options for arriving by train, with onward bus or taxi links into the village.

Best time to visit Stanton By Dale

Spring and summer suit the area best, when the towpaths along the Erewash Canal and Nutbrook Trail are at their greenest and the hedgerows around the village are in full leaf. Autumn brings good colour to the woods near Dale Abbey, while winter is quieter still, better suited to short walks and a fireside pint than long days outdoors.

Where to stay near Stanton By Dale

Stanton By Dale itself has no hotels, so most visitors base themselves in nearby Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Nottingham or Derby, all within easy reach by car. Camping and glamping options can be found scattered through the wider Erewash Valley and out towards the Derbyshire countryside beyond.

Food and drink near Stanton By Dale

The village has two long-standing pubs: the Chequers Inn, a traditional village local serving real ales and home-cooked food, and the Stanhope Arms, another classic English pub with a country feel. Beyond that, Ilkeston offers a wider choice of cafes, takeaways and restaurants a short drive away.