Robin Hood Quarry and Cromford Canal

It was my turn to drive and Geoff had a visitor from Switzerland so only 3 of us this week. Rob said lets have a look in Robin Hoods Quarry so off we went. Its only 10 minutes up the road and we parked behind the pub on the corner of Whatstandwell bridge. We walked along the canal until we got to the footbridge then crossed over and followed the track up to the Robin Hood road crossed over and followed the track into the woods. We soon got into the quarry area and its huge there are several area's with quarry faces. The whole area has its own Eco system with large ferns and everything is covered in moss. Some of the quarry faces must be 40 feet high and do look spectacular. We carried on through the quarry until we came out at the edge of some woods where there were lots of garden allotments, some overgrown and the odd one in good condition. The footpath eventually came out onto a road which wound its way uphill towards Crich. We found some old buildings and what looks like an old chapel. At the top of the hill there was a seat looking out over the valley and we decided it was just right for breakfast. After breakfast we walked down the track through some farm outbuildings and onto the road which took us to Wakebridge. just passing through Wakebridge we came to the footpath leading back downhill to the canal. The footpath back to the canal passed by a huge badger set before going back into the quarry area and across a small stream. This footpath and whole area was like something from a movie and we kept expecting hobbits or something jumping out.

This weeks route

Reflections on the Cromford canal

Rob tying my gaiter strap back on.

Track into the quarry

Some large ferns in the quarry

Timber......

Ike

The only wall left in the quarry

'''''''ike scrambling under a tree

Allotments

Old chapel on Hindersitch Lane, Whatstandwell

Top Lane, Whatstandwell

A VR post box on Top Lane

Old Primtive Methodist Connexion dated 1877 on Top Lane, Whatstandwell

Lovely complex with what looks like an apple press in the courtyard

This is a huge badger set

Garlic plants smelled so good

Pipe bridge

This would have been an important bridge with massive stone supports and a thick timber surface.

Massive rocks lying about in the quarry

Fabulous colours in this rock face

Ike & Rob

Fern

Mysterious stone arch

Ike

Abandoned stone building between the canal and the railway

Cromford canal. The white object in the foreground is part of the new overflow system

The swan nipped our Robs finger.

Ike looking into one of the animal boxes placed on the canal

 A cracking little walk part of which was new territory although its only 10 minutes from home.
See you next week