Image shared for Cromford Canal to Whatstandwell: towpath return
Canal / Riverside Out & back

Cromford Canal to Whatstandwell: towpath return

Derbyshire

Distance
6.4 mi
Est. time
3h
Difficulty
Easy
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PaulWalkmates Route by PaulWalkmates

About this walk

Start beside the walking entrance to Cromford Wharf pay-and-display car park on Mill Road. Follow the short footpath from the car park to the canal, then head southeast, passing the historic wharf buildings and the old railway workshops at High Peak Junction. Keep to the canal rather than climbing the High Peak Trail. Continue past Leawood Pumphouse and Aqueduct Cottage, over the canal aqueduct and through Gregory Tunnel. Stay on the towpath under the bridges to Whatstandwell and turn at the station footbridge, returning along the same canal path.

Allow about 3 hours for the roughly 10 km return, including short pauses at the industrial landmarks. The route is mainly level, with a firm broad surface near Cromford and narrower, uneven sections farther south. Gregory Tunnel has an unlit towpath, so carry a torch, watch your footing and give other walkers room. Canal and river edges require care, particularly with children and dogs; wet leaves, mud and frost can make the path slippery.

Parking charges apply at Cromford Wharf. Toilets and refreshments are available around the wharf and High Peak Junction when their facilities are open. Museum visits, boat trips and pumphouse steaming days are separate activities with their own opening times. Check Derbyshire County Council canal notices before setting out and follow any signs on the day. This route follows the public canal towpath described by Derbyshire County Council and the Derwent Valley Line walking leaflet.

Walk details

County
Derbyshire
Walk type
Out & back
Category
Canal / Riverside
Distance
6.4 mi (10.3 km)
Est. time
3h
Explorer
Yes, off the beaten track

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