Cromford: Canal, Trail and Industrial Heritage

Cromford combines landscape, transport history and industrial heritage in an unusually vivid way. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Cromford will find a destination here with various opportunities for active days, historical discoveries and peaceful observations by the water. The combination of the High Peak Trail, Cromford Canal and the structures that tell the story of the region’s industrial development is particularly interesting.

Cycling or walking along the High Peak Trail

The High Peak Trail is a traffic-free route for walkers and cyclists. It is 17.5 miles long and runs from High Peak Junction near Cromford to Dowlow near Buxton. The trail follows the route of the former Cromford and High Peak Railway. This combination of a defined starting point, historic railway route and long distance makes the trail a distinctive way to experience the surrounding area actively. You can take the length of the trail into account when planning your day and decide which section suits your group and the pace you want.

High Peak Junction is also where Cromford Canal and the High Peak Trail meet. A self-guided audio tour leads through High Peak Junction and along Cromford Canal. The old railway workshop area at High Peak Junction is partly open to visitors. This allows you to combine time on the trail with insights into the former transport infrastructure without having to commit to a purely sporting activity.

Canal, water engineering and nature

Cromford Canal can be explored between Cromford Wharf and Ambergate along a stretch of just over 5 miles. The entire section is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI for short. Cromford Canal is also one of the last remaining important refuges for the water vole in Derbyshire. Those travelling along the water can therefore experience the canal both as a landscape and in connection with its particular importance for nature.

The history of water engineering becomes especially tangible at Leawood Pumphouse. The building was constructed in 1849 to pump water from the River Derwent into Cromford Canal. Leawood Pump and the Leawood aqueduct are listed monuments. Steam demonstrations take place regularly at Leawood Pumphouse from Easter to October. Another technical highlight awaits you at High Peak Pump House: it contains a remarkable pump from 1849, built by Graham & Co., Milton Iron Works.

Cromford Mills and the history of industry

Cromford Mills is a visitor destination in the heart of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. A free exhibition tells the world-changing story of the site. In addition, Cromford Mills offers a paid guided tour about Richard Arkwright’s water-powered inventions. Together with the Parish Church of St Mary, this creates a varied cultural programme: the church was built by T. Gardner in 1792–97 and contains a complete mural scheme by A.O. Hemming.

For choosing your accommodation, this variety means that Cromford is particularly well suited to travel plans that combine exercise, the history of technology and culture. A holiday apartment in Cromford can be a suitable base if you want to bring different interests together during one stay. The regular train service between Derby and Matlock stops in Cromford and offers a practical way to incorporate the journey into your planning.

Further places for planning your trip

If you would like to compare Cromford with other destinations, you can also look at Hardstoft, Whatstandwell, Hope Valley, Baslow, Alton, Hackney, Chelmorton and Matlock.

For the overarching travel overview: Derbyshire.