This walk was a lovely mix of scenery, history and little surprises. We began at Scarthin Books in Cromford, a quirky little shop that puts you in a relaxed mood before you even reach the river. From there we followed a trail up the hill, discovering some fun tunnels on the way to the Heights of Abraham. Some stretches felt tucked away and peaceful, while others opened up with beautiful valley views — the autumn colours made it especially striking.
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 traces of Peak District heritage that add purpose to the scenery. The kids loved spotting the tree tops across the valley from the top of High Tor.
Arriving in Matlock Bath, we crossed the river and climbed back up to High Tor, followed a trail along the hilltops, dropped down through fields and finished by walking around the mills — a brilliant endpoint after a quiet start in Cromford.
If you enjoy walks that mix nature with a touch of history, you might also like our walk from Monsal Head into Bakewell. Have you explored the Derwent Valley? It’s a wonderfully underrated part of the Peak District.
