The Cromford Canal

The following prices apply for this walk:

Due to restricted space on the canal towpath, we cannot accept bookings for groups of more than 8 people.

This walk qualifies for our "Cromford Double" offer. With this offer, if you book this walk and our Cromford - Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution walk for the same day, you can save 25% on the total cost of both walks. So, instead of paying £6.00 each per person for each of the walks (a total of £12.00), you get both for £9.00 per person.

The walks are scheduled so that you do the Cromford village walk in the morning, then have an hour for lunch and a look around Cromford Mill, and then walk along the Canal to Ambergate in the afternoon. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please contact us for more details and to check availability for your preferred date.

This walk is easily accessible by both car and public transport, with regular buses and trains from Derby and elsewhere serving both Cromford and Ambergate. If you do need to use public transport, the latest information on buses and trains to and from this walk can be found on our travel information page.

As this walk uses the canal towpath for its entire length, you won't need full walking gear. However, there are a few places where the going underfoot could be a bit rough and possibly muddy, so stout waterproof shoes are advisable. There is also very little shelter in some places, so be sure to bring waterproofs if rain has been forecast. In hot weather, a sun hat and sun cream are advisable.

Given the distance and time involved, and the lack of facilities along the way, it is also strongly recommended that you bring something to drink with you. If you forget to bring anything with you, bottled water can be purchased prior to starting the walk from the Arkwright Society's cafes at Cromford Wharf and Cromford Mill.

It is also an idea to bring a small torch with you, as although it is only short, Gregory's Tunnel on the canal is surprisingly dark inside. As a result, it can be quite easy to trip on the towpath - or step in a little present left behind by a passing dog - as you walk through the tunnel.

The first part of the Canal, from Cromford Wharf to Leawood Pumphouse, is suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, with easy access onto the canal towpath at Cromford Wharf, and also off the towpath at High Peak Junction. Beyond Leawood Pumphouse, wheelchair and mobility scooter access is more problematical due to the surface condition of the towpath, and also its width in places. This means that Derbyshire County Council have assessed it as being unsuitable for wheelchairs. For this reason, we are unable to accept bookings for wheelchair or mobility scooter users on this walk.

As for other accessibility issues, the canal towpath is level, but constructed of packed earth and gravel, and so the surface can be a bit loose and uneven in places. Beyond Leawood Pumphouse, it is also quite narrow, which can lead to issues when meeting some of the many cyclists who use the towpath and result in walkers having to step off the towpath into the long vegetation to the side. There is also the need to cross a fairly narrow wooden bridge over the canal. As these factors may cause issues for some people of more restricted mobility, it is something you need to be aware of when considering if this walk is suitable for you.

If you have any concerns about accessibilty, please contact us before booking.

Given the sometimes narrow towpath, the sensitive nature of the natural environment and the large number of cyclists also using the canal towpath, we recommend that this may not be the ideal walk to bring your dog with you. This is also a view shared by Derbyshire County Council, as they have had many issues with incidents where free-running dogs have disturbed the protected species found along the canal, and have an on-going campaign to educate owners using the canal as a walking route for their dogs.

If you feel that you must bring your dog with you, we do ask that you inform us at the time of booking. We also ask that you keep your dog under close control on a short non-extendible lead at all times, do not allow it to run free under any circumstances, and also do not alow it to go into the water - no matter how tempting it may look.

You can book places on any of our scheduled walks via the PayPal button below. Other payment options are available on request - Please e-mail us for details if required.

If you wish to make a Personal Walking Guide booking for this walk, please see our Personal Walking Guide booking page here.

Bookings for scheduled walks can be made at any time up to 48 hours before the intended date of your walk, or up to 72 hours beforehand for Personal Walking Guides. We regret that we cannot accept bookings made less than 48 hours prior to the planned start time of the walk (72 hours for Personal Walking Guide bookings).

Please ensure before booking that the date you require is not listed below and on our online calendar as unavailable or fully booked, and that you have read and agree to our terms and conditions.