Every year, the Derbyshire Walking Festival transforms Cromford into a gateway for walkers eager to engage directly with the rugged beauty of the Peak District. This celebration stretches across multiple routes, each inviting hikers to embrace the landscape’s fierce individuality. The festival’s walks vary from gentle, family-friendly strolls on well-trodden paths to challenging ascents testing endurance and skill.

Cromford, a village with rich industrial heritage, offers more than just routes; it’s a starting point where the River Derwent dares you to follow its twisting course, pushing you onward through limestone dales, woodland corridors, and open moorland with panoramic views. Walkers experience terrain that shifts from grassy hills textured with heather to stone pavements that bear the weight of history.

Typical routes range from 5 to 15 kilometers, with elevation gains between 150 and 400 meters. Paths weave through diverse terrain—some firm and structured, others softer underfoot with occasional mud patches—highlighting the need for footwear that balances grip and comfort. The festival’s schedule encourages tackling morning or late afternoon starts to avoid midday heat and enjoy shifting light that gives the landscape a different character.

Prepare to move steadily, stocking hydration and layering for sudden weather changes common in Derbyshire’s unpredictable climate. Water sources along the trails are rare and rivers quick to run cold and fast, their sound a constant reminder of nature’s force.

Along the way, walkers encounter elements alive in their presence: trees that close ranks like quiet sentinels when the wind rises, hills that challenge with sharp inclines, and open vistas that reward persistence with sweeping views of rolling farmland and distant gritstone edges.

The festival also offers guided walks led by local experts who weave in stories of Cromford’s industrial past and ecological significance—details that ground the walk in place and time. The festival is an invitation not to conquer but to engage, respecting the landscape’s stubborn pulse and savoring the practical joy of moving through it.

Whether you come to test your stamina or simply to immerse in the green expanses, the Derbyshire Walking Festival provides a route suited to all, equipped with clear signposting and safety measures. From seasoned walkers to curious locals, this event offers a clear path into Derbyshire’s natural heart, urging you to lace your boots and let the land guide you.