When the cable snapped on Sheep Pasture Incline the wagons flew through the air over the road, the Cromford Canal and Midland Railway. Very spectacular, but a disaster in the making. So they built a catchpit. You pass it on this walk as you climb high above the Derwent Valley before returning beside the canal. There is the excitement of a tunnel then the walk leads through ancient woodland, full of bluebells and wild daffodils, before entering Nightingale country, home of the famous Florence.
LOCATION: 4 miles south of Matlock
START: Fork left off A6 at Cromford, signed Lea & Holloway, High Peak Junction pay & display car park in 2 miles, toilets
Grid ref: SK315561 Postcode: DE4 5AA
DISTANCE: 6 (or 5) miles
GRADE: Moderate.
TIME: 3.5 hours
MAP: Explorer OL - White Peak Landranger 119
REFRESHMENTS: The Derwent
EN ROUTE: Leawood Pumphouse, Smedley's Mill, Lea Hurst, Gregory Tunnel, Whatstandwell, Wigwell Aqueduct, Nightingale, Midshires Way
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News