Cromford Canal

Date:     16 March, 2003
Distance:  3½ Miles

Map:      OS Outdoor Leisure 24
Toilets:     At the car park and High Peak Junction
Refreshments: Sadly lacking in Cromford itself, there is pic nic tables and refreshments at High Peak Junction, and a cafe at Cromford Mill.

It was a gorgeous day. It would have been a travesty not to make the most of it. I've been keen to visit Cromford since moving to Derbyshire. As a History teacher I spend enough time telling 12 year olds all about it - I felt a bit of a fraud having never visited myself. The walk itself was lovely - beautiful scenery, interesting history and congenial company. The canal is certainly the high point of this walk (if thats not a contradiction) and the steep climb away from the canal itself wasn't terribly photogenic. Also the ever present drone of the A6 in the background cast a slight shadow on the day.

The car park backs onto the canal itself. Plenty of ducks to feed, but bring a picnic rug, as the tables are soon taken. (The sudden appearance of an ice cream van parked right next to our car on our return helped to raise spirits!)

The canal tow path is in most places wide and makes for easy walking. It is worth noting from a water safety perspective that the water is deeper than it looks, very cold and not overly clean- please keep parents uder close supervision.

The swing bridge at High Peak Junction. A lovely spot to sit and contemplate life (especially when there's coffee available).

The second bridge along the canal offers a more impressive view of this key part of the Industrial Revolution.

Leawood Pump House. A reminder of this areas Industrial heritage.