Second half of the bluebell walk - Cromford Canal, Lea Bridge spur

 We finished our walk among the Bow Wood bluebells at Smedley's mill in Lea Bridge, and as it had turned out to be shorter than expected, plus Dylan the dog still looked fairly enthusiastic, we decided to add on a mile or so by walking along the Lea Bridge spur of Cromford Canal rather than heading directly back to the car.









The path's a little difficult to find from this direction, as it squeezes between houses than appears to continue through another's garden. This last section was once the old wharf for loading and unloading, and the slabs making the canal bank are still there.
As you continue the old canal becomes less obvious for a while - it's the dried-up ditch shown here.

More bluebells, but on the far side of the canal so had to be admired from a distance.

As the old towpath crosses the railway (which is crossing the Derwent before heading into Leawood tunnel), the canal becomes clear.

Then at Aqueduct Cottage, the spur joins the main Cromford canal, before crossing the Derwent. All these canals were part of the transport structure to enable local mills to send their goods out into the world. The most famous is probably Arkwright's pioneering mill at Cromford, but many others were soon built along the Derwent Valley.

The great thing about walking alongside canals is that the path is guaranteed to be flat, but by this time Dylan was getting tired and so we ambled very slowly back to High Peak Junction, and were just back at the car to see the sun set.

Bow Wood Bluebells

 Bluebells are in flower again so it's time to head out to Bow Wood near Cromford.





















We chose a slightly different walk this time - shorter and not so steep, zigzagging back and forth on the side of the hill rather than up and over which we thought would be too strenuous for Dylan the dog.

Sunshine through birch trees

I'd hoped the path would bring us out higher, to see the open field of flowers at the top of Bow Wood, (see the longer walk here) but, after initially rising, it curved gently downhill to the back of the John Smedley factory.

It was only a mile or so in length but even so we saw an incredible amount of bluebells, and this will definitely be an easier path to follow with my grandson in a year or two.

As if the bluebells weren't exciting enough in themselves, we also spotted a heron in flight, and a fox slinking his/her way across a nearby field.

a well-earned rest

As the walk had turned out shorted than expected, and Dylan was still fairly energetic, we added on a short detour along Lea Bridge spur of Cromford canal, before returning to the car near High Peak Junction.

Still my favourite bluebells - Bow Wood and Coumbs Wood, Lea Bridge

Start of the walk, Lea Bridge

I've been out and about looking at bluebells for the past few weeks, but putting off a visit to Bow Wood, near Cromford, Derbyshire, because of the uphill hike necessary to reach the higher sections Last weekend I decided it was time to go for it, or else the flowers would be past their best. As it turned out, I wasn't late at all, and the bluebells were probably more stunning than if I'd visited earlier.

The farm road behind the John Smedley factory is soon a pretty woodland walk

Then a path heads off up the hillside among the bluebells...

If you're younger or fitter than I am it's probably not too strenuous a climb, but I take my time, with plenty of stops for photographs and looking back down the path.

This is the view I'm heading for though, where bluebells flow down the hillside between Bow Wood and Coumbs Wood.

Just a little further upwards and the view opens out looking over Lea and Holloway, and that sweeping mass of bluebells. I probably take this same photo every year but it never fails to amaze me.

Then onward and upwards again - through a small patch of woodland to another open hillside of flowers with the path winding between them

As the path heads (upwards still!) through Coumbs Wood patches of wild garlic appear alongside the bluebells















...and eventually, as my legs really begin to complain, we reach the steps that mark  the last uphill section.










It's not downhill yet though - doubling back we followed the path along a ridge with views through the trees to Cromford on the right, and Lea on the left, and which leads back to the lower levels of Bow Wood.

I'd wondered if after the massed bluebells at Felley I'd find this walk a little less wonderful this year but it was as amazing as always. Felley's flowers are tighter packed, like the nap on velvet, but such a large area is covered by them at Lea. The walk is maybe two miles long and for most of that distance there are bluebells flanking the path. Still my favourites!

Bluebells, apple blossom and stitchwort

It's bluebell time again, and, although they flower freely in our every-day dog-walking wood, I like to go and see the hillsides covered by them just outside Cromford, Derbyshire. We don't walk this route any other time of year - it's steep, at times as steep as a flight of stairs - but at bluebell time I wouldn't miss it!















The path starts a little unpromisingly from behind the John Smedley factory in Lea Bridge but quickly heads uphill through Bow Wood, now owned by the Woodland trust.













At first the bluebells are mixed in among the white flowers of the stitchwort but as the path climbs bluebells take over...

....with apple trees covered in blossom nodding above them ....

...till you reach the point with the first view of the open fields of flowers.

Onward and upward...and there are more bluebells...

...and more....

Fortunately the path doesn't head straight up this slope (my legs are getting tired by now!) but curves around the hillside through the flowers

through another wooded area, carpeted with bluebells and garlic

eventually reaching the top of the climb with glorious views to the hills beyond Cromford

Following the ridge back towards the start, you can look down on the bluebell fields you walked through