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Cromford - Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution

Distance: 2 miles
Price: £6.00 per person
(Group & family rates available)


Greyhound Pond, Cromford Greyhound Pond, Cromford Greyhound Pond, Cromford Greyhound Pond, Cromford Greyhound Pond, Cromford Greyhound Pond, Cromford
Greyhound Pond, Cromford

In 1771, inventor Richard Arkwright built the World's first successful water-powered cotton mill in the small Derbyshire village of Cromford. Arkwright's pioneering mill was the birthplace of the modern factory system, and so can claim to be the true birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Soon overtaken by larger mills in the big towns and cities of Lancashire, cotton spinning ended at Cromford in 1844, but the village's place in history was assured. In 2001, the historical importance of Cromford Mill was recognised when it, along with the surrounding village, became a keystone of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

The walk begins at the site of the now-demolished original medieval village of Cromford and the adjacent wharf of the Cromford Canal. It then makes its way up into the modern village of Cromford, where it explores the pioneering houses, pubs and other facilities constructed by the Arkwright family for their workers. Leaving the village, the walk continues by looking at the grand house of Willersley Castle, and St Mary's Church where many members of the Arkwright family have been laid to rest. It then concludes outside the gates of Cromford Mill itself, where it is possible to join one of the Arkwright Society's own highly-recommended tours of the preserved Cromford Mill.

This walk is led by a guide with over 30 years experience of leading guided tours around the village, and who was formerly one of the senior guides at Cromford Mill from 1988 onwards and a historical adviser for the BBC's landmark Restoration TV series. As they are quite possibly the most experienced person currently doing tours of the village today, with a wide range of stories about the history of the village and the restoration work at Cromford Mill, this makes this walk one of the top things to do in Cromford.


Duration (approx):
2 to 2.5 hours.
Start point:
Cromford Meadows,
Off Mill Road (Mill Lane),
Cromford,
Derbyshire.
Start time:
10:00am.
End point:
Car park of Cromford Mill
Mill Road (Mill Lane),
Cromford,
Derbyshire.
Dates available:
Scheduled walks available on the following dates:
June 2nd, 5th, 7th, 16th, 19th, 22nd, 26th, 30th.
July 3rd, 14th, 17th, 20th, 24th, 26th, 31st.
August 7th, 9th, 17th, 21st, 23rd, 28th, 31st.
September 4th, 8th, 13th, 18th, 21st, 25th, 29th.
October 2nd, 5th, 13th, 16th, 19th, 23rd, 27th, 30th.
November 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 8th, 10th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 29th, 30th.
December 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 20th.
(Online pre-booking is essential for these walks.)

Private group bookings are also available on a date of your choosing via a Personal Walking Guide (subject to availability).




When is this walk available?

Scheduled walks are available at least once per month, and more frequently in the winter months. If you wish to have the exclusive services of one of our guides, it is also available year-round as a private booking on a date of your choice via a Personal Walking Guide. For Personal Walking Guide bookings, we are usually able to offer a range of different start times from 9:00am to early evening on most days.

All bookings are subject to the availability of a suitable guide - Please see our online calendar or e-mail us for availability of your chosen date.


Is this walk Covid-secure?

At Derbyshire Heritage Walks we follow all current government and industry guidelines, and all of our guides have been fully vaccinated. Therefore you can be confident that this walk is as Covid-secure as we can possibly make it. Details of how we do this can be found here.

Will we have the exclusive services of the guide?

All of our scheduled walks are open to all. If you book onto a scheduled walk, then there is a chance that there may well be other people on the walk with you. If you wish to have the exclusive services of the guide, you MUST book a Personal Walking Guide.

Prices.

The following prices apply for this walk:

Ticket
Price
Deposit
(Included in overall price)
Adult or Child aged 16 and over
(Up to 8 people in group)
£6.00 per person
£2.00 per person
Personal Walking Guide
(Group of up to 4)
£40.00 per group
£10.00 per group
Personal Walking Guide
(Group of 5 to 10)
£60.00 per group
£15.00 per group
Personal Walking Guide
(Group of 11 or more)
£90.00 per group
£22.50 per group

Reduced rates for under-16s, plus discounted family tickets also available, giving cheaper prices for groups including children aged 15 and under. Please e-mail us for details and to book.

Travel to and from the walk.

This walk is easily accessible by both car and public transport. 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.

If travelling by car, there is "pay-and-display" car parking available on Cromford Meadows itself, on the adjacent canal wharf, and also across the road at Cromford Mill. The postcode for sat-navs to reach Cromford Meadows is DE4 3RQ, and the Meadows are directly opposite St Mary's Church just south of the bridge over the river.


Are there any disabled access issues?

There are a few minor issues with wheelchair and mobility scooter access on this walk, but with small modifications to the route it is fully accessible to all. The main issues concern narrow paths, rough surfaces, steps and narrow gates. However, all of these can be bypassed by taking alternative and slightly longer routes.

If you, or a person you are booking for, are a person of reduced mobility, please either contact us before booking or let us know when you book, so that we can make any necessary adjustments and send you any additional information you may need regarding access arrangements.


Is this walk suitable for dogs?

As an urban walk, there is a lot going on in the area which your dog may find distracting. However, there is nothing to stop you bringing your dog if you think it can be well enough behaved. If you would like to bring your dog with you, we do ask that you inform us at the time of booking. We also ask that, due to the traffic and large number of people likely to be encountered, and the possibility of meeting other dogs, you keep your dog under close control on a short non-extendible lead at all times and do not allow it to run free under any circumstances.

Booking

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.


Latest Booking News

  • Due to all guides being fully employed on other walks on those dates, we are unable to accept any bookings for October 5th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 19th, 24th and 25th, November 7th, 9th and 30th, or December 4th, 7th, 11th and 12th. Please see our online calendar for full details of guide availability.
  • Bookings are open for all other scheduled dates listed, and close at 1:00pm two days prior to the date of the walk.
  • We are now accepting Personal Walking Guide bookings for this walk on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, most Saturdays and some Sundays from January 4th to December 20th 2024.
  • We are also accepting advance enquiries for 2025.

Book A Scheduled Walk

Please select the number of places you would like to book and enter the date required.

Other payment options are available on request - Please e-mail us for details if required.

By placing a booking with us, you are accepting and agreeing to our terms and conditions.

Number of places
Date required
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Book A Personal Walking Guide

To book a Personal Walking Guide for this walk, please go to our Personal Walking Guide page.

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Cromford - Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution
Distance: 2 miles Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours Price: £6.00 per person
(Group and family rates available)


In 1771, a small sleepy village in the middle of Derbyshire suddenly found itself thrust into the heart of world history when it became the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. In that year, the village of Cromford was chosen by inventor Richard Arkwright to be the site of his first water-powered cotton mill. Not only was this the first successful building of its type, paving the way for a massive expansion of the textile industry in cities such as Manchester, but the working methods pioneered there made it the birthplace of the modern factory system and helped to kick-start the Industrial Revolution.

Soon overtaken by larger mills in the big towns and cities of Lancashire, cotton spinning ended at Cromford in 1844. In 1979, the site was purchased by The Arkwright Society, who are slowly restoring it and rectifying decades of neglect. In 2001, the historical importance of Cromford Mill was recognised when it, along with the surrounding village, became a keystone of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

The walk begins at the site of the original medieval village of Cromford, on what is now Cromford Meadows. Having explored the old village site and the adjacent wharf of the Cromford Canal, it then makes its way up into the modern village of Cromford. There, it explores the pioneering houses, pubs and other facilities constructed by the Arkwright family for their workers, plus other sites related to the Arkwrights and Cromford Mill. These include the "Bear Pit", the houses and school on North Street, the picturesque Greyhound Pond, Scarthin, the Greyhound Hotel and the Market Place.

Leaving the village behind, the walk continues by looking at the grand house of Willersley Castle, and St Mary's Church where many members of the Arkwright family have been laid to rest. It then concludes outside the gates of Cromford Mill itself, where it is possible to join one of the Arkwright Society's own highly-recommended tours of the Mill.

This walk is led by a guide with over 35 years experience of leading guided tours around the village, and who was formerly one of the senior guides at Cromford Mill from 1988 onwards. As they are quite possibly the most experienced person currently doing tours of the village today, with a wide range of stories about the history of the village and the restoration work at Cromford Mill, this makes this walk one of the top things to do in Cromford.

Distance: 2 miles.
Duration (approx): 2 to 2.5 hours.
Start point: Cromford Meadows,
Off Mill Road (Mill Lane),
Cromford,
Derbyshire.
Start time: 10:00am.
End point: Car park of Cromford Mill
Mill Road (Mill Lane),
Cromford,
Derbyshire.
Dates available: Scheduled walks available on the following dates:
June 2nd, 5th, 7th, 16th, 19th, 22nd, 26th, 30th.
July 3rd, 14th, 17th, 20th, 24th, 26th, 31st.
August 7th, 9th, 17th, 21st, 23rd, 28th, 31st.
September 4th, 8th, 13th, 18th, 21st, 25th, 29th.
October 2nd, 5th, 13th, 16th, 19th, 23rd, 27th, 30th.
November 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 8th, 10th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 29th, 30th.
December 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 20th.
(Online pre-booking is essential for these walks.)

Private group bookings are also available on a date of your choosing via a Personal Walking Guide (subject to availability).




When is this walk available?

This walk is available all year round as a scheduled walk. with at least one walk per month and usually more in the winter. It is also available year-round as a private booking on a date of your choice via a Personal Walking Guide.

Personal Walking Guide bookings for this walk are available most days of the week year-round, and we are normally able to accept bookings for most days apart from some Saturdays and some Sundays. If you book a Personal Walking Guide for this walk, you can request a different start time if desired. Available start times are between 9:00am and early evening (around 7:00pm), although do bear in mind the need to finish before it gets dark. If you would like to request a different start time, please contact us before booking in order to determine if your requested start time is feasible.

All bookings are subject to the availability of a suitable guide - Please see our online calendar or e-mail us for availability of your chosen date and time.



Prices.

The following prices apply for this walk:

Ticket Price Deposit
(Included in overall price)
Adult or Child aged 16 and over
(Up to 8 people in group)
£6.00 per person £2.00 per person
Personal Walking Guide
(Group of up to 4)
£40.00 per group £10.00 per group
Personal Walking Guide
(Group of 5 to 10)
£60.00 per group £15.00 per group
Personal Walking Guide
(Group of 11 or more)
£90.00 per group £22.50 per group
Reduced rates for under-16s, plus discounted family tickets also available, giving cheaper prices for groups including children aged 15 and under. Please e-mail us for details and to book.


What is the "Cromford Double"?

This walk qualifies for our "Cromford Double" offer. With this offer, if you book this walk and our Cromford Canal 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.



Travel to and from the walk.

This walk is easily accessible by both car and public transport. 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.

If travelling by car, there is "pay-and-display" car parking available on Cromford Meadows itself, on the adjacent canal wharf, and also across the road at Cromford Mill. The postcode for sat-navs to reach Cromford Meadows is DE4 3RQ, and the Meadows are directly opposite St Mary's Church just south of the bridge over the river.



Is there anything special I need to bring?

As this is essentially a short urban walk, you won't need full walking gear. However, there are a few places where the going underfoot is a bit rough and possibly muddy, so stout waterproof shoes are advisable. There is also very little shelter on much of the walk, so be sure to bring either waterproofs or an umbrella if rain has been forecast. In warm weather, you may want to bring a small bottle of water with you as well.



Are there any disabled access issues?

There are a few minor issues with wheelchair and mobility scooter access on this walk, but it is largely accessible to all. The only places where there are problems are the footpath leading through the old allotments to North Street, as this is narrow and ends in some steep steps and a narrow gate, and Church Walk, which is a rough and often muddy unmade track. However, both of these problem areas can be easily bypassed via alternative routes if necessary, without detracting from the overall walk. If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Please note that, due to problems for wheelchair and mobility scooter users on the canal towpath, we cannot accept any "Cromford Double" bookings for wheelchair and mobility scooter users.



Is this walk suitable for dogs?

As an urban walk, there is a lot going on in the area which your dog may find distracting. However, there is nothing to stop you bringing your dog if you think it can be well enough behaved. If you would like to bring your dog with you, we do ask that you inform us at the time of booking. We also ask that, due to the traffic and large number of people likely to be encountered, and the possibility of meeting other dogs, you keep your dog under close control on a short non-extendible lead at all times and do not allow it to run free under any circumstances.



Booking

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.

Personal Walking Guide Availability - Cromford - Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Bank Holidays
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Most* Most* Most*
* = Please contact us for details of availability


Book a place on this walk

Latest booking news

  • Due to all guides being fully employed on other walks on those dates, we are unable to accept any bookings for October 5th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 19th, 24th and 25th, November 7th, 9th and 30th, or December 4th, 7th, 11th and 12th. Please see our online calendar for full details of guide availability.
  • Bookings are open for all other scheduled dates listed, and close at 1:00pm two days prior to the date of the walk.
  • We are now accepting Personal Walking Guide bookings for this walk on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, most Saturdays and some Sundays from January 4th to December 20th 2024.
  • We are also accepting advance enquiries for 2025.


Important: Before booking, please make sure that the date you wish to book is not listed as already being fully booked in the "Latest booking news" section above.

Please select the number of places you would like to book and enter the date required.

Other payment options are available on request - Please e-mail us for details if required.

By placing a booking with us, you are accepting and agreeing to our terms and conditions.

If you encounter any problems with your booking, or have any questions about this walk, please e-mail us.

Number of places
Date required
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GuideAdvisor



Cookie policy

Like almost every other website on the Internet today, this site does use cookies. The only thing they are used for is as part of Google Analytics, so that we can tell how successful this site is at attracting visitors and which pages they look at most. If you don't want cookies on your system, then please don't view this site any further, as we can't change the underlying technology used by Google Analytics. We also suggest that you clear your cookies after leaving this site.