This walk was a lovely blend of scenery, history and small surprises. We began at Scarthin Books in Cromford, a charming, quirky bookshop that makes a perfect starting point for a slow, meandering walk — you already feel relaxed before you reach the river.
We followed an AllTrails path that climbed the hill, with a few fun tunnels, up toward the Heights of Abraham. Some stretches felt tucked away and peaceful, while others opened out to sweeping views of the valley sides. The autumn colours made it even more spectacular.
The route crosses the valley from one side to the other. There’s a long, fairly flat section, but plenty of variety to keep it interesting. We passed mills, old industrial buildings and other Peak District heritage sites that gave the walk a sense of purpose as well as beauty. The kids loved spotting the tops of the trees across the valley from the summit of High Tor.
Arriving in Matlock Bath, we crossed the river, climbed to High Tor, followed a trail around the hilltops, dropped back down through fields and ended up walking around the mills — a lovely finish to a walk that started in quiet Cromford.
If you like walks that mix nature with a touch of history, you might enjoy the Monsal Head to Bakewell route too. Have you explored the Derwent Valley? It’s an underrated part of the Peak District.
