High Peak 2015_Layout 1 28-Oct-15 9:29 AM Page 1

High Peak Winter Hike map The High Peak Trail takes the line of the former Cromford and High Peak Railway between Parsley Hey and Cromford.

The line originally connected the canals at Whaley Bridge and Cromford, running up the Goyt Valley to Buxton and across the limestone plateau to Middleton by Wirksworth, then down to Black Rocks and down again to the Cromford canal in the Derwent Valley below. Route stats:17.5 miles with 335 metres of climbing Emergency contact number: 07785 923074 The track was built in 1830, it was one of the earliest railways in the country.

The line was purchased in 1971 by Derbyshire County Council and the Peak District National Park Authority and converted into a cycle track, and the trail makes a good day out.

Some of the high embankments are especially noteworthy and unusual - the engineering is more reminiscent of a canal than a railway. Af&er the trail passes Minninglow, there are various industrial relics including the only old-style lime kiln still intact in Derbyshire.

Further on it passes Harboro Rocks - the site of numerous archaeological finds from its caves - and various lime quarries and continues to the Hopton Incline. This was originally one of those with a fixed engine, but this was later removed and trains were hauled up this 1 in 14 incline by normal locomotives, making it the steepest such climb on the British Rail system.

Beyond Hopton incline lies Middleton Top, where there is a visitor centre belonging to Derbyshire County Council and the Engine House belongs to Derbyshire Archaeological Society. The incline here is 1 in 8, so it's a steep descent to Middleton. The trail then continues past Black Rocks before descending the equally steep Sheep Pastures incline to the A6 and the Cromford canal by the Derwent.

© British Heart Foundation 2015, registered charity FIGHT FIGHT in England and Wales (225971) and in Scotland (SC039426). FOR EVERY FOR EVERY HEARTBEAT HEARTBEAT Bhf.org.uk High Peak 2015_Layout 1 28-Oct-15 9:29 AM Page 2

Sparklow Toilets Postcode: SK17 9QJ Grid ref: SK 128/569 Route profile

Start of walk Minninglow Middleton Top refreshment stop refreshment stop Metres Marshal 1 400 300 200 100 1m Marshal 2 0 0 Miles 2 4 6810 12 14 16

Toilets 2m

3m

Marshal 3

4m 5m

Minninglow Postcode: DE4 2PN Marshal 4 Grid ref: SK 194/581 Event registration and car parking Refreshments & toilets Cromford Meadows Postcode: DE4 3RQ 6m Grid ref: SK 300/571 Start / finish Marshal 5 Cut off : 2.30pm 7m Toilets 8m Middleton Top 17m Postcode: DE4 4LS Grid ref: SK 275/551 Marshal 8 16m Refreshments 10m & toilets 11m 9m 15m Marshal 9 Toilets Marshal 6 14m 13m Marshal 7 12m