Cromford Canal - Peak District Walk
Monday 4th September 2017
The choice this morning was the gym or a walk and as tomorrow's forecast is for heavy rain the walk won. Given other commitments it needed to be local so I opted for an old favourite from High Peak Junction and then discovered I was being joined by John. It turned into a make it up as we go along walk that saw us following a new track and then discovering a shortcut I had never seen before.
Start: High Peak Junction (SK 3149 5609)
Route: High Peak Junction - Cromford Canal - Birch Wood - High Peak Trail - Intake Lane - Cromford Wharf - Cromford Canal - High Peak Junction
Distance: 5 miles Ascent: 179 metres Time Taken: 2 hrs 15 mins
Terrain: Clear paths, some quite muddy
Weather: Overcast and very muggy
Pub Visited: None Ale Drunk: None
The walk starts by crossing the River Derwent.
The lack of people at this section of the canal is a sure sign the school holidays are over.
We head along the canal, passing Leawood Pump House.
Since I was last down here, taking photographs for my HNC, this house has had paintings added to its windows.
Crich Stand, which is currently encased in scaffolding, briefly comes into view.
The canal can be difficult to see at this time of year.
We left the canal just before the entrance to the tunnel.
After crossing the A6 we are soon climbing up through Birch Wood.
After passing the campsite we turn back downhill.
Rather than head back down the High Peak Trail we head uphill again, before joining Intake Lane and following it back to the A6.
From Intake Lane we have views across the valley towards Matlock Bath and High Tor.
As ever there are plenty of ducks at Cromford Wharf, no doubt disappointed today by how few visitors there are feeding them.
Typically as we head back to the car the sun starts to come out.
Reflections in Cromford Canal.
Back at the start of the walk and there are still a few people making the most of the facilities at High Peak Junction.
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