Cromford - Canal, High Peak Trail, Intake Lane

At this time of year you need to make the most of any good weather, so on Tuesday afternoon with the sky looking clear we headed out to Cromford for a shortish walk..

It's the first time we've been this year as the canal towpath is a popular stroll and we've been sticking to pay-to-enter gardens and parks (National Trust and such) where I think there are less crowds. Despite the sunshine it wasn't too busy, though having to wait for someone to get out of shot before taking a photo has become a bit unusual.

We started at the head of the canal by the wharf and mills, heading towards the former workshops at High Peak Junction.

At the picnic area there we sat for a while, and then decided to head up the trail to a point where an old lane leads back to Cromford village.

We've walked this route once before but weren't certain of the route back then. With the confidence of knowing where to find the turning off point the gradient of Sheep Pasture Incline seemed just a little less - though still a good place to stretch muscles.

It's a pleasant varied walk with alternating views over the valley, and tunnels of trees, and along the way information boards telling of the old railway, and why it plunges down this steep hillside. 

Back in its heyday this must have been a busy noisy place, with clattering trucks and steam from engines, but now the trees are taking over, and it's  peaceful once again.

Eventually, though it's less than a mile, the railway passes over Intake Lane, a path corkscrews back down and through a bridge, and the route now is all downhill.

It's not necessarily easier on the legs though as, once the lane heads out of the trees and reaches housing, the downhill gradient increases, and a whole new set of muscles feel the strain.

Reaching the bottom, I decided a short walk on the flat, just far enough to see the swans on the canal, would help ease those tensed leg muscles. Whether it helped significantly or not might be up for debate, but I did avoid cramp overnight - which has to be a win!