The Tors - Peak District Walk
Wednesday 14th April 2021
We are currently having the bathroom redone so a long walk wasn't really an option today, but I managed to escape for an afternoon walk. I opted to stay local due to both the time and the fact this is the first week everyone is allowed to stay overnight, which means the tourists are back. Staying local meant I kept away from the tourists and families making the most of the last week of the Easter school holiday. It also gave me the opportunity to do a second walk from the book '100 Walks in Derbyshire'.
Start: A6 lay-by (SK 3388 5286)
Route: A6 lay-by - Thurlowbooth Farm - Whatstandwell - Crich - The Tors - Crich Chase - Cromford Canal - A6 lay-by
Distance: 5 miles Ascent: 196 metres Time Taken: 2 hrs 35 mins
Terrain: Clear paths.
Weather: Warm in the sun with a cold edge to the breeze.
Pub Visited: None Ale Drunk: None
Looking down on my return route, alongside the Cromford Canal, from the bridge over it.
Having crossed the bridge I take the footpath on the left through Crich Chase.
The wood is soon left behind and swapped for views across Cromford Canal and the Derwent Valley.
The track heads uphill, passing Thurlowbooth Farm, where I should have
taken a path on the right, but I forgot to do so and instead continued uphill.
The track took me to Whatstandwell and a seat with a view across the Derwent Valley.
Taking the footpath next to Chasecliff Farm into a field which wasn't occupied by sheep but by these ducks.
Looking back to Chasecliff Farm and the view across the valley now takes in the masts at Alport Height.
Looking south, down the valley, Shining Cliff Woods can be seen on the other side of the valley.
Looking across the Derwent Valley towards Alderwasley Park.
Following the book's instructions I exited the fields via a stile, walked along a street in Crich and then entered a field via another footpath. As I'd left the first field I'd spotted a runner coming up behind me, he then emerged from the footpath I took back into the field. It turned out I no longer needed to walk around the housing estate, I could just have cut across the field.
Once on the area known as The Tors a sign pointing towards a steep drop attracted my attention. Looking over the wall I was rewarded with far extending views, here looking out towards Ripley.
Looking back across Crich to Crich Stand from The Tors.
From The Tors the view across the Derwent Valley now stretches from Alport Heights, on the left, to Harboro Rocks, on the right.
Moving around, the view down the Derwent Valley takes in Cromford Moor, Masson Hill and Riber Hill.
Looking back along the footpath across the top of The Tors. It was only upon returning home that I discovered The Tors is a Trump and of course I had walked passed the acknowledged summit. Guess I'll have to make a return visit to bag it.
As I started to drop down to the road the views continued to be worth a second look. I'd forgotten how good the views here were.
The last time I did this walk it was in the evening and I just don't remember the views being as extensive as this.
Heading into Crich Chase to start the descent back to Cromford Canal and it is suprising how few leaves are appearing on the trees.
Having dropped through the wood and seen little of interest I suddenly found myself looking at a patch of bluebells. Not quite at their best yet but a place worth returning to in the next week or so.
Taking a wrong turn meant I found myself looking at an even better location for bluebells.
Having brought my macro lens with me I swapped my lens and spent some time
taking some macro shots of those bluebells that had started to come out.
Exiting the wood at the wrong place I found myself looking across at Heage Winmill.
As I knew exactly where I'd emerged I didn't bother going back into the wood to pick up the correct track, instead I dropped down to the stile below me and a track that would take me to the place where this stretch of the Cromford Canal stops.
All that remained was to walk back along the path next to the canal, where I met only four people. I know from experience that if I'd been at the other end of the canal I would have been constantly dodging people.
In fact I saw far more ducks than I did people.
This is a delightful stretch of the canal that is well worth exploring.
With no one around there was plenty of time to take in the scenery and admire the reflections in the canal.
The reflections of these bullrushes caught my attention. Another location to keep in mind for a return visit with my camera and tripod.
Walking along here was a real pleasure today.
Nearly back at the bridge I crossed at the start of the walk.
It has been that long since I have walked the paths below Crich that I had forgotten how good the views were. I haven't visited The Tors or this section of Crich Chase in all the time I've had the website, I suspect the walk may appear more often in future. If nothing else I have found a couple of great, and relatively accessible locations for bluebell shots. They will definitely be revisited in the next few weeks.
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