For a relatively small village in Derbyshire, Cromford was a happening place.  On a bank holiday weekend, visitors were descending on it from all directions: bikers heading for Matlock Bath; kayakers to paddle along the Cromford Canal; bibliophiles to scour Scarthin Books; heritage fans to visit Cromford Mill; and walkers, like myself.

I was following a circular route from Cromford Wharf, along the canal as far as High Peak Junction, before picking up the course of the old railway line, up to Black Rocks and Middleton Top, before returning to Cromford Mill.

Although I describe the walk as circular, if anything it was more of a triangle.  The canal forming one side; the former Cromford and High Peak Railway line a second; and the final descent through fields back into Cromford, the third.

In distance, the route is around six miles (including the detour to Middleton Top) and took me about three hours to complete, at a fairly leisurely pace.

One constant throughout the entire route are the signs of an old industrial past.  Although the path passes through the beautiful natural scenery of the Derwent Valley in Derbyshire, there remain many reminders of Cromford’s history, from when Richard Arkwright, a leading entrepreneur from the early years of the Industrial Revolution, developed the world’s first water-powered cotton spinning mill in 1771.

The canal-side walk is naturally flat, and I make swift progress.  It is not until High Peak Junction that the path begins to climb.  Now, it is a steady incline all the way to Black Rocks, standing at roughly 280 metres above sea level. 

This is a popular rock-climbing destination, and climbers of all ages hang from various perilous outcrops, heading for the summit.  I wonder if they know that a fairly easy walking route around the back of the rocks will get them to the same end-goal?

I take the walking route, and find a quiet place to perch and eat my packed lunch, enjoying the panoramic view down into the valley, back towards Cromford, whilst trying not to watch the daredevil/foolhardy exploits of the Instagrammers taking selfies close to the sheerest drops.

© E. C. Glendenny

E. C. Glendenny continues her march across Britain.