Another great turnout, for a day where there was no sun, no wind and no rain, just a good autumnal day. The walk included a couple of quite steep climbs, one just after the start, climbing up around Bow Wood to the ridge in Coumbs Wood, very steep in places and the other at the end of the walk, climbing up through Lea Wood to reach the Nightingale Seat, altogether the total ascent was nine hundred and fifty feet. But, the views today were great, as always in Derbyshire, where you can get great elevated vistas. The downward view over Cromford was quite spectacular, even though a little hazy at the time. It was difficult terrain in places, especially with a good cover of fallen autumnal leaves.

Our route took us from Lea Bridge, taking the path behind the Smedley factory, turning left before Splash Farm, to follow the path along to the ridge in Coumbs Wood. We met with Hearthstone Lane and then made our way downhill to Cromford Wharf, where we had quite a good break, seated at the benches provided, before preceding along the Cromford Canal tow path to Aqueduct Cottage, now newly restored and looking quite splendid. It is now a ‘must visit’ tourist spot and deserves to be on every map. We followed the newly restored path through the cottage gardens, pleasing to see a whole bed of young Oak saplings, soon to be ready for planting further afield, for future generations to admire.

The final stint, now mostly downhill, through Lea Wood, well kept by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, until reaching the Holloway Road near to Lea Wood Hall. A short stretch now, along the road back to our waiting cars. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk, although, felt my age a bit, through lack of recent exercise.  A good experience for me, walking a few paths, I hadn’t been on before, well done MIke.