This walk blended scenery, history and small surprises. We began at Scarthin Books in Cromford, a delightfully quirky shop that sets a relaxed tone for a slow, meandering stroll before you even reach the river.
Following a well-marked trail up the hill, we found a few fun tunnels and climbed toward the Heights of Abraham. Some sections felt tucked away and peaceful, while others opened onto wide, valley-side views—made even more striking by the autumn colours.
The route crosses from one side of the valley to the other. There’s a fairly long flat stretch, but plenty of variety to keep it interesting: mills, old industrial buildings and other pieces of Peak District heritage that give the walk real character. The kids loved spotting the tops of trees on the opposite slopes from the summit of High Tor.
By the time we reached Matlock Bath we’d crossed the river, climbed to High Tor and followed a ridge trail, then dropped back down through fields and finished by walking around the mills. It’s a lovely finish to a walk that begins in quiet Cromford.
If you like walks that mix nature with a hint of history, the Monsal Head into Bakewell route is worth a look—and the Derwent Valley itself is a wonderfully underrated part of the Peak District.
