A6/Derby - Matlock

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The A6 leaves the A601 at a grade-separated junction (although there is no access to the A6 from the A601 clockwise) and heads off in a North Westerly direction. Immediately after the A601 junction, the A6 enters the Five Lamps junction, which is a sort of large loop. It has caused some controversy in the city, as many view the junction as not being very good. It was improved as part of the Connecting Derby works in the late 00s.

From here the A6 runs along Duffield Road through the Five Lamps and Darley Abbey areas of the city, before meeting the A38 at a grade-separated roundabout; however the A6 is again not grade-separated and has to stop at the roundabout.

After crossing the A38, the A6 becomes a primary route again. From here the road becomes relatively winding as it heads for the Peak District, passing through Duffield (where it meets the B5023), Belper (where it meets the A609 and A517), then Ambergate, where there is a junction with the A610 from Nottingham.

Shortly afterwards, the A6 passes through Whatstandwell, a small village, where the A6 makes a sharp left, crosses a bridge, then a sharp right turn in the centre of the village. The A6 multiplexes with the B5035 over the bridge, meeting it on both sides.

The next place on the A6 is Cromford, part of the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site, where there is a junction between the A5012 and A6.

The A6 then passes through the town of Matlock Bath (this stretch can become busy in summer) and under the cable cars of the Heights of Abraham. This can be achieved as the A6 is at the bottom of a valley, and the cable cars run from one side to another. The road then runs through Matlock, adjacent to the river.

Matlock Bypass

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