Whatstandwell Walks & Route Maps

This short but strenuous walk from Whatstandwell explores the wooded slopes above the Derwent Valley.

Paths pass through Oxhay Wood, where mixed woodland clings to the hillside and offers glimpses across the surrounding countryside.

The route later links with the Cromford Canal, one of the earliest canals of the Industrial Revolution, opened in 1794 to move goods between the valley’s mills and the wider canal network.

A café along the way provides a welcome break, making this a rewarding little route with a mix of woodland, history, and waterside scenery.

This much longer walk from Whatstandwell explores both the high ground and historic waterways of the Derwent Valley.

The route climbs toward Round Wood Hill before linking with sections of the Midshires Way and the High Peak Trail, a former railway that once carried goods across the Peak District.

Down in the valley, the walk passes High Peak Junction, where the Cromford Canal once met the Cromford and High Peak Railway.

Paths then follow stretches of the River Derwent and the Derwent Valley Heritage Way before returning through Oxhay Wood on the valley slopes.

With some steep sections and plenty of history along the way, it’s a rewarding hike through one of Derbyshire’s most distinctive landscapes.