Cromford Circular
Organised by OutdoorLads
Check with the organiser before travelling, as this source may not report cancellations.
Location
Wirksworth
OutdoorLads shares the exact meeting point with people who have signed up, closer to the date. See the OutdoorLads listing for details.
About this event
This event is intended for attendees of BIG20: THE Celebration EventJoin Richard and Rob for a 15.5k (10-mile walk) starting at Mount Cook Adventure Centre, we’ll head straight onto the High Peak Trail, following the old Cromford & High Peak Railway as it climbs gently towards Middleton Top. This stretch is full of industrial heritage: wide views across the Derbyshire hills, remnants of the railway’s engineering, and the long, straight lines of the former trackbed.From Middleton Top, we’ll loop around the disused Intake Quarry, a dramatic bowl of limestone that hints at the area’s mining past. Leaving the quarry behind, the route opens out onto Middleton Moor, a broad expanse of heather and grassland.We then drop gradually into Middleton village, passing stone cottages and quiet lanes, before continuing on towards Matlock. Here we’ll pause for lunch, there are plenty of cafés and shops if you need to grab food.After lunch, we follow the River Derwent south, a peaceful riverside stretch that leads us into Cromford Wharf. This is the heart of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, where the canal, warehouses, and Arkwright’s mills tell the story of the birthplace of the modern factory system. It’s a beautiful and historically rich part of the walk.From Cromford, we rejoin the High Peak Trail, climbing steadily back towards Black Rock, a gritstone outcrop with superb views across the valley. After taking in the scenery, we continue along the trail for the final leg back to the Mount Cook Adventure Centre.If the event is fully booked: Please join the waiting list as people frequently drop out before an event, and you are likely to get a place on the walk. If this is your first OutdoorLads walk event, we’ll make sure you feel welcome. Please check out the My First Event page, and don’t hesitate to drop me a message if you have questions or want to know more about this walk.Image Credits: All photos under the creative commons licence from Geograph. Photo credits: Des Blenkinsopp, Graham Hogg, David Martin, Ashley Dace, Chris Gunns and Mat Fasione.
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