High Peak Junction - Black Rocks - Middleton Top - Longcliffe - Minninglow - Gotham - Friden - Parsley Hay - Sparklow - Dowlow

On an overcast and rainy (at times) day Angela (fellow member of the OFC) and I set off from High Peak Junction which is also on the Cromford Canal. The route of this railway - the Cromford and High Peak Railway - survives as the High Peak Trail. Its construction was organised by Josiah Jessop, the son of the builder of the Cromford Canal. The line was designed to carry freight, limestone out, coal and other materials in. Occasional passenger services ran during the summer months. The first part of the trail is uphill where 3 inclines have to be negotiated - the last being Hopton Incline. At the top of each incline are engine houses or winding gear to pull the trains up the steep slopes. The High Peak Trail is used not only for walkers these days but also for horses and cyclists. The full length of the trail is said to be 17 and a half miles but I measured it to be nearer 18 miles. We encountered the first rain of the day shortly before Minninglow but although it was raining we still decided to stop for some well earned refreshments. At the Friden Brickworks there were some interesting designs on the wall of the building next to the trail. Just before Parsley Hay the trail joins the Tissington Trail. Our second scheduled stop of the day was at Parsley Hay station. The end of the High Peak Trail is at Dowlow. This is well signposted on the way but surprisingly there is very little there when you arrive. This was a long walk and we were both glad when we arrived at the Duke of York at Pomeroy for a well earned pint.

Reference Books Used