Ten VBR members plus three visitors from Alfreton and Rushcliffe set out on this 10 mile walk exploring the area round Cromford and along the side of the Derwent Valley high above Matlock Bath.
The walk started near the engine house at the top of the incline on the High Peak Trail at Middleton Top before descending to High Peak Junction on the Cromford Canal.
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| Engine House |
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| Down the incline - one of nine on the Cromford and High Peak Railway |
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| Short deviation to look at Black Rocks, an outcrop of Ashover grit popular with climbers |
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| Catch Pit near the bottom of the trail |
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| Winding gear pulley |
A short stroll along the canal took us to Cromford Wharf and then Richard Arkwright's Mill.
Then up past Scarthin Books, number 6 bookshop in the World according to the Guardian. Unfortunately, it could fall down under the weight of its 100,000 books.
Taking a sharp turn off the road, we then walked up through woods high up along the side of the Derwent Valley and under the cable car ...
... before reaching the Heights of Abraham for lunch with views of High Tor and Matlock.
Another climb and descent took us to St James' Church in Bonsall ...
...before a drop down Bonsall Dale ...
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| Renovated house embedded in Bonsall Dale |
... to the Via Gelia and the mill of the same name.
Yet another muddy climb (600m for the day) took us over through Middleton ...
... and across Middleton Moor to reach our start point near the Engine House.
