Holloway/Cromford - Derbyshire
Circular walk: 5.88 miles
what3words address for parking:
///forwarded.overruns.leave
We began this walk in the village of Holloway where there is limited roadside parking. The what3words address takes you to where we parked. Please park considerately.
We walked this one clockwise, following a track from the village down to the Cromford Canal where we followed the towpath towards Cromford, keeping the canal on our right for just under a mile. The Cromford Canal, built by William Jessop with help from Benjamin Outram, was opened in 1792 and used to run for 14.5 miles from Cromford to Langley Mill where it met the Erewash Canal with a branch to Pinxton. It’s now mostly derelict, most of the canal being abandoned in 1944 with the last short, remaining section finally closing in 1962. Much of the canal is now designated as a site of special scientific interest.
After a little under a mile walking beside the canal cross onto the towpath on the other side of the canal and stay on that side until you reach the end of the canal at Cromford Wharf. There are toilets at High Peak Junction.
From Cromford Wharf there is a short section beside the road before you take the track uphill shortly after the turning to Cromford Station. The path climbs steadily uphill, partly through woodland, before continuing along the ridge towards Lea. From here the route turns south and is about a mile back to Holloway.
This is a hilly walk with a couple of climbs and some strenuous parts but the views are worth the effort. There’s lots of variety and the canal was really interesting; lots of waterfowl (loved the little grebes) and industrial archaeology. It’s also worth a detour to Arkwright’s Mill at Cromford if you have the time.
You could also start this walk from Cromford Wharf where there is a car park (pay and display, and cash only according to Derbyshire County Council’s website) rather than Holloway, which would get the steepest section over with at the beginning. This car park is at ///easygoing.whips.anchors.
I really enjoyed this walk on a crisp, bright winter’s day.
hiking
PeterHadfield on scottexservices.com