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WALKS WITH NELLIE ~ CROMFORD CANAL ~ BY SALLY MOSLEY


This was a lovely walk on a lovely day, following glorious paths on a interesting route packed with oodles of historic buildings.

I parked in the High Peak Junction pay and display car park on Lea Road and then crossed both the river and railway line by means of two footbridges. The Derwent was fast flowing beneath us but the railway line was deserted. We emerged opposite the cluster of buildings at High Peak Junction beside Cromford Canal and turned left.

Cromford Canal was constructed by William Jessop and Benjamin Outram, partners in the Butterley Company, and was completed in 1794. It was originally 14.5 miles long and joined up with the Erewash Canal. It lies within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its entire length.

A short walk brought us to Leawood pumphouse which first started pumping water from the river into the canal in late 1850. Fingers crossed, it will be operational and open to the public on 20th and 21st April 2025 and is well worth a visit.

After another short walk we came to a combination of bridges and the now famous Aqueduct Cottage. For many years this grade II listed building lay sad and derelict. However, in 2016, thanks to the NLHF funded DerwentWISE landscape improvement programme, a team of volunteers, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust, began working on a plan to restore and re-purpose the cottage. After lots of hard work it now looks absolutely fabulous!

It was a wonderful walk beside the canal for the next half a mile or so. With the sun shining above it created mirror image reflections on the surface of the water of overhanging branches above. Couplings of moorhen, dab chick and ducks were bobbing about and showing interest in each other in preparation for the upcoming spring breeding season.

We arrived at the 73-metre long barrel-vaulted tunnel which leads to a wide section of the canal named Gregory Dam. However, instead of passing through we went up the footpath to the right of the entrance and turned left at the top, following the footpath to Holloway. This began with a pair of high gates into the deer park of Lea Hurst. Built in 1820, this was the childhood home of Florence Nightingale.

Nellie and I walked straight uphill and through a further field before heading up the road to the junction where Maycock’s butchers is situated to the right. We then turned left before heading along Chapel Lane, at the end of which is a tiptop narrow bridleway leading gradually uphill above a gritstone cliff face.

This brought us to Long Lane, where in the enclosed field opposite was a herd of beautiful red deer. It was amazing to be able to observe them so closely from behind a secure fence and wall. The stags had massive antlers and the does looked so dainty.

We now turned left to walk along the lane until just beyond Lea Gardens where rhododendron and azalea bushes are starting to bud up ready for a spectacular riot of colour in a few weeks’ time. John Marsden-Smedley collected some 350 varieties in this two acre site, which he developed up to his death in 1959. It opened to the public for the first time in 1960.

A short sheltered woodland footpath brought us down to Church Street which we crossed before popping down a footpath and pottering down the pavement beside Lea Road to pass the John Smedley factory. Established in 1784, this family run business employs a workforce of some 300 skilled craftspeople. The textile mill has been operating for over 240 years producing high quality knitwear which is popular around the world, A factory shop here sells items at a fraction of their full retail price. It was now just a short walk beside the road to return to my car and head for home.


Sally Mosley


FOOTNOTE BY NELLIE: I’m thinking of compiling a little manual for my canine friends entitled ‘How To Train Your Human’. If I can write it, then I’m sure most dogs will be able to read it?! Here are a few tips to be going on with:

• Don’t be the perfect little pooch if you want to be spoilt. Training generally involves being fed lots of treats, so act stupid!

• Don’t roll over on the ground for cuddles as it’s not very comfortable down there. Snuggles on your human’s knee or on the sofa are much nicer.

• Make your eyes look sad and you will get away with anything!

• If you don’t like your food, DON’T EAT IT or your humans will keep buying the cheap stuff. Be fussy and you end up better fed!

I bet that’s got you thinking!!


Lots of love from know-it-all Nellie xx



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