Humidity, "Signs of an encroaching Autumn." Surprises by the canal.

Water, what is it that makes it so magical, so calming and so soothing? For they are all questions that have a mere hypothesis as an answer, or as answers, but either way I just knew that I wanted to be by the water. The heatwave might have gone but now the humidity has arrived, although for how long it will remain in place for, that is another question. But wanting to escape the humidity I thought that “being by the water might just be the best option.” And with that I had arrived at Shipley Lock, a lock that straddles the Erewash Canal, to the left of me the canal was meandering in the direction of Langley Mill, where under the bridge it actually becomes The Cromford Canal, a canal of history but one that has been forgotten - although plans do exist to make this historic canal “navigable” again; yet it is a question of when that will happen; mixed in with the question of funding for good measure. Yet to the right of me a view of the canal meandering towards Winston, the local wind-turbine and further on in this direction the Erewash Canal eventually meanders gently down locks and again past forgotten pieces of history to meet the River Trent at the aptly named “Trent Lock.” Looking to my right the bridge over the canal, and it was this that I crossed, but then the next question was simply,

“Which way to walk, if I walk in the direction of Langley Mill Basin, what magic will I find and subsequently if I walk along the canal towards Winston in the direction of the final destination of the canal, due south, for what magic will I find as well?”

A tough decision for a split second lay ahead, but in the end I had opted to turn left and walk in a more northerly direction along the Erewash Canal towards Langley Mill, I started off along the canal towpath, the humidity slightly building and a grey overcast sky ahead of me and some five minutes later I had to stop, ahead of me lay a mystical looking pathway surrounded by all shades of greenery that was surrounding the towpath framing it in a strange way, one that had questions, no answers as to who had walked along the path, I paused for a brief moment and here is the result.

Shaded in Green.

Passing through the shades of green - the undergrowth eventually gave way, ahead of me the skies grey and the humidity still with me, for I was expecting a cooler experience, what with being by the water and yet that did not look as if it would happen any time soon. Either way though I continued along the towpath, the canal to the left of me and yet in the distance I could see something different, under the grey skies a colour palette and one that spoke “Autumn is on the way” a sentiment that felt true, yes the heatwave has accelerated the leaves changing colour - but I for one could see some Autumnal colour ahead of me, a sure sign that nature will be bidding farewell to us before it enters a deep sleep yet again in the wheel of existence that we all experience. The colours though looked like a painting, the dull grey skies brightened up just ever so slightly by a change of colour; with the orange, red and yellow tones just beginning to show themselves, revealed and reflected into the canal.

Encroaching Autumn.

By now the towpath had changed again, along with the canal, sweeping bends in the canal and on the opposite side of the canal in the fields, a white horse drinking the water, one could say in this instance I wanted to experiment, I did and these were the results.

What can be found here?

Horse Reflections.

Abstract of the White Horse.

I then continued walking, yet after a short couple of minutes ahead of me was “Shipley Lock.” Another lock on the Erewash Canal, that over the years has changed; the bridge over the lock leading to the other side of the canal, and it is at this point that the towpath switches sides, yet in my mind were memories of walks through the adjacent fields towards the River Erewash, now of course that has changed and access rights have changed slightly as well, meaning that fields once used for exploration are now used for grazing and pasture land. But despite that I challenged myself to find a somewhat interesting composition of Eastwood Lock, a Lock on the canal that I always struggle to find a composition despite looking so photogenic, needless to say that I was pleased with the result of what I had taken.

Eastwood Lock Framed.

Then I continued to walk, heading over the bridge and onto the opposite side of the canal, continuing to walk ahead with the canal now on the right of me, and past the Lock, I looked back for a brief moment, at another change, that change of course was another one in which you could just see the first autumnal changes beginning to take place and a curve in the canal.

Changes of a meandering Canal.

“Changes, Changes are Everywhere.” For that was the first thought in my mind, and the opposite side of the canal had brought change with it, I continued to walk ahead, still heading in the direction of Langley Mill - and the canal also rapidly changing, the plant life changing and the landscape also changing as I walked along. After a little while I had reached another bridge, one that is photogenic and one that you could easily “record via photographs throughout the seasons” only this bridge carries the rather unknown road that is named “Tinsley Road.” Yet somehow this bridge also can tell stories of things and people that have passed over it, looking at the views along the canal. I paused for a moment and captured its ethereal looking scenes of calm and mystery.

A Bridge of Time.

Then I continued along the towpath, underneath the bridge until I had gained a short distance, then I looked back at where I had walked, the bridge this time still looking calming, soothing and ethereal with shades of green which soon will look awash with autumnal colours, like something that perhaps Turner would paint if he was still alive.

Like "Turner Would Paint - (Landscape).

Like "Turner" Would Paint - (Portrait).

By now even more changes had occurred, things seemed that more rustic, dramatic even and dreamlike, a Moorhen amongst the reeds to the right hand side of me, framed by green caught my eye.

Moorhen Reflections.

Eventually I had arrived at a point of the towpath in which the canal and the towpath decided to change yet again into a living art gallery, one of life underwater that remains rather hidden, and one of wildlife but sculpture, on the other side of the canal, in the water a mass of something that looked almost alien, spooky and odd - but was it alien, spooky and odd? Or was that the mind telling me that. What it was in reality was the roots of a tree that had grown into the canal that had formed a living sculpture, and I decided at this point that “Abstract” would be the best way to describe this as.

Abstract Rooted - Black and White.

Abstract Rooted - Colour.

Colour or Black and White? Personally I like both the colour and both the black and white, but leave a comment and tell me what you think looks better. Walking along, the humidity was still with me, but a creeping sign of an encroaching autumn lay ahead of me; and a magical glow of transitioning leaves could also be seen, reflecting into the water that was so calm and still.

First beginnings of Autumn.

Still life by the canal.

I continued to walk, but then something on the opposite side of the canal stood out to me, at first I thought it was just the way the tree looked, but it was not, instead as I got closer and closer - it eventually got a lot clearer as to what it was, perched in a tree was a bird, not a small bird but one that looked slightly prehistoric, plucked out of Jurassic Park; it was so still, at height looking down on the people who had walked by and perhaps not noticed, but what was it?

“Ahead of me in a tree was something, as I got closer I could see that it was a Heron, perched in a tree as still as day, as still as the night, this majestic bird waiting patiently for its next move, for what will that be? A fish for its tea?”

Yes I had only seen a Heron perched in a tree, something that I had never seen before, yet it was at the end of July, when someone in Buxton had said to me “There is a Heron in a tree, within the park.” Now here I was observing a Heron in a tree; was this a sign or not a sign? Either way it did feel slightly spooky that a month later I would also witness a majestic bird casually looking down on the canal from high up in a tree. Yet why do Herons stand in trees? Well that is because they build nests in trees.

Heron Tree.

Unexpected.

After capturing the photos of the Heron - I reviewed the images that I had taken and reached the conclusion that this magnificent and majestic bird looked like a Judge, waiting in a courtroom. Yet I could not believe what I had seen, and the majestic bird had posed for me. Now with an element of surprise I continued to walk, the canal swooping as it meandered towards Langley Mill, but then after walking through the woodland overhang of the canal, another photographic scene was in sight. The bridge that carries Anchor Road, ahead of me and this scene that lay ahead of me just spoke so many words about why people are drawn to the canal and it’s elusive and evocative charm that it provides, ones of calm, serenity and peace, for here things were silent, yet changing slowly.

Waterside Charms.

Serendipity by the Water.

I walked onto the bridge, and the beauty of the canal is what I could see, again a different angle had provided me with another raw element of beauty and calm, another canal boat berthed at the side of the canal, and the greenery and shades of the trees providing a backdrop as the canal nears its end point at Langley Mill, just a short distance away. I then turned back around and looked back at where I had walked, a willow drooping towards the water and the reflections of stillness, for this is what a walk on the canal is about.

Shades of Green and Blue.

Drooping towards Water.

Walking over the bridge I was now on Anchor Road, and that was for a brief few moments, before I turned right, the canal was now nowhere to be seen and a pathway lay ahead, usually what can be seen during the warmer months are an abundance of Sunflowers that grow in an area of land just off the pathway that remains something of a wildlife haven, just a few remained now, but I continued to walk, until The Erewash Canal came back into view, again I was looking for an interesting and unusual composition to capture and then before long I found the perfect view, again slightly abstract but with a delightful frame, reflections and growth.

Water Framed.

After that, the winding pathway lay ahead of me, looking like it had been plucked from a fantasy or Sci-Fi novel, and this was the next scene, just perfectly framed, with the glorious twisting and turning of the pathway ahead of me.

Walking through a Fantasy - (Portrait).

Walking through a Fantasy - (Landscape).

Losing sight of the Erewash Canal, to the left of me was the rustic, overgrown Nottingham Canal, a canal that ran parallel to the Erewash Canal, and one with a different history, now you would be lucky to even get a SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) along this stretch of canal, yet despite it being overgrown and rustic; this canal is home to wildlife, further down the canal near to the Bennerley Viaduct it is used for fishing, plus even there it is home to Wildlife, yet it remains much more silent, again full of charm and discoveries to be made as you follow its course towards Nottingham. Eventually though I got to a section of this hidden and rustic overgrown canal with a small avenue of trees, the pathway leading the way and with that shades of orange on the floor, leaves that have fallen due to a lack of water throughout the summer, also signalling that maybe we are in for an early Autumn this year.

Walking towards Autumn - (Portrait).

Walking towards Autumn - (Landscape).

Which way is it now? Did I continue to walk along the towpath until I reached Newmanly’s Road, or do I cut down through the field and re-join the Erewash Canal? Eventually I decided that re-joining the Erewash Canal seemed like a good decision, and it was. By now the grey skies had broken and the humidity had slightly dropped, instead it seemed a whole lot fresher, again still calm but the light worked its magic, and ahead of me MFN, a former pub now turned into a quirky music venue, owned by the former drummer of Showaddywaddy, one could say the scene of the countryside here and the building might be like “marmite” but somehow the light was working wonders and the canal was with the reflections of MFN, of course the trees ahead still green - but for how long?

Music and Water - (Portrait).

Music and Water - (Landscape).

Eventually I had arrived back at the location that I had started the walk from, and I thought to myself, “If I had walked in the opposite direction I would not have seen the heron, perhaps even I would not have seen the signs of an encroaching Autumn.” Yet because I had walked along the canal in the direction of Langley Mill, I saw a Heron, in a rather unusual location, and I saw the signs of an encroaching autumn, something that is magical and something that will remain with me for a long time, for the last thing on my mind was the Humidity at this moment, instead my mind was more focused on the surprises that you can find by the canal, and I for one had found surprises and signs of an ever changing canal, one that tells stories, one that changes and one that offers sanctuary and peace for those who use it for pleasure, to live on and for the wildlife that also call it home as well - and that is the best feeling, the one of escapism by the water.   

Canals, Rocks and Mystery: Exploring "Derbyshire's" slice of Little Switzerland.

Sometimes in life the unexpected things happen and it is those unexpected and unplanned events that lead to the best surprises - of course that is what happened when I revisited a location that I had not been to in a little while. Situated just to the south of Matlock, is a small village called “Cromford” and it is one that has a certain charm about it. Idyllic this village is with it’s Derbyshire stone facades and construction, but it is also a village of historical importance due to the industrial heritage that surrounds it, of course though Cromford might just be the site in which the industrial revolution took off from. But here is a village and a landscape in which Industry has shaped the surroundings.

“Somehow Cromford is a place of mystery, it might be one of those places that many visitors to The Peak District will ignore - yet stop off in Cromford and you will discover something truly delightful, in which the old and the new coexist amongst a landscape like no other.”

Whilst Cromford has plenty of delights ranging from the fantastic Scarthin Books, to other independent shops and cafes along with delightful pubs of character. Yet Cromford is one of those places that offers you the chance to get outside and explore - plus the opportunity to step back in time.

Across the road from the popular Cromford Mills is where you will come across one of the most delightful and picturesque stretches of canals, The Cromford Canal is a place of beauty but it is one that holds many secrets; the industrial ghosts from yesteryear can still be seen and the old wharf where the boats carrying freight and coal would have docked - now though the sounds at the old wharf buildings in Cromford at the beginning (or end part) of this delightful canal are those of people enjoying food and drink from the café, located upon the wharf and exploring the small but perfectly formed information point/shop, if you are lucky enough you can take a trip on the Canal, but of course due to Covid - that has not been happening.

The canal towpath at Cromford is one that is flat, and all around you are the most beautiful and stunning views, overlooking this sweeping and wide section of the lower Derwent valley. I had arrived in Cromford and walked up onto this delightful towpath, behind me the Wharf and the sound of enjoyment, but I was heading in the direction of High Peak Junction. A short distance down the canal towpath and I came across what is one of the most picturesque bridges, an old stone one that is still in use today; now hikers and sheep can cross the bridge, but back in yesteryear things would have been different - yet this glorious bridge and the calmness of the canal I just had to capture.

A Cromford crossing.

Now with a canal you would perhaps think that they are largely straight, but they are not - or at least this is the case with the Cromford Canal, for the landscape has affected the way it was constructed, and that makes it even more interesting, a little further along the canal things started to change, and a slight bend in the canal along with the lush green trees overhanging the canal eventually came into view, I had to pause for a moment and took the following photograph, here though is where things “really do begin to change” and the next section of canal feels like you have walked through a portal back in time.

A distant overhang.

Under the canopy.

“The Cromford Canal is like a time warp, you start walking from the present day into the past, for this is a true voyage of discovery and delights with interesting points from a time of industrial might that provide something else for you to see. This is unlike no other canal in the UK.”

And that is true, either way I continued on this voyage of discovery. And after the slight bend in the canal, came something truly delightful, to the right of me a steep bank and sitting at the top of the steep bank is the infamous A6, to the left of me is a slight drop and a railway line that to this day carries passengers between Matlock and Nottingham along with Derby; yet in the middle like a slice of mature cheese is the canal, here things coexist and whilst I am aware that it is the present day, my mind wanders back in time to when the railway would have carried both freight and passengers, now though the line is one that commuters use along with visitors to Derbyshire. Yesteryear though would have seen the railway continuing through Matlock and onto Bakewell and Buxton. Oh, how the times change.

But it is this stretch of the canal in which the landscape changes yet again, the steep banks that lead down from the A6 are one’s of surprises, here the trees cling to the edge on the other side of the canal in a mysterious way. Eerie in some ways but so calm in others.

Reflected shapes.

Art by the canal.

A little further on past the ravine/steep bank that drops, from the A6 towards the canal and I had arrived at High Peak Junction. Again this is a part of the canal that is steeped in history, ironically it sits at the bottom of a steep incline that one time would have looked very different, wagons and trains would have been travelling up and down this incline on the High Peak Railway; now though it is a popular tourist hotspot and marks the beginning of the High Peak Trail, a true cyclists haven.

A journey through time.

A coffee stop and some Millionaire’s shortbread along with some Rocky Road and I was in deep thought, enjoying the coffee as I pondered on just how beautiful this stretch of canal is. Yet despite industry existing here, the old industry has been replaced with more modern industry - and the canal along with the towpath, railway and the road are all used, yes time progresses but the canal still provides a playground or a calming and soothing way to escape from the pressures of modern life.

Still some more mystery was ahead of me now, and the stretch of the Cromford Canal that lay ahead of me is when I noticed something different unfolding. And immediately I felt as if I had been transported back in time. This stretch of canal had ruins of time gone by, and on the other side of the canal, a glimpse into the past, an old building, perhaps one used for storage or for the canal workers; either way it looked magical and I just had to capture it.

Interests of history.

What mystery does it hold? - (Black and White).

What mystery does it hold? - (Colour).

For now it is idyllic.

Then another surprise, to the left of the towpath, a ruined building, possibly an old house, for who lived here - one that despite it being a ruin more than likely had many stories to tell about what life was like on the canal. Now though it is a derelict relic and an old ghost, fenced off so people can not climb over.

Who lived here? - (Black and White).

Who lived here? - (Colour).

A little further downstream and on the other side of the canal, another mystery was ahead and this building was another wharf, at first glance though it looked like some kind of idyllic riverside accommodation. But later on I would learn what this building actually was. Continuing on my walk a majestic building crept up on me. And this is where The Cromford Canal - felt incredibly different.

“The Cromford Canal and the viaduct at the Leawood Pumphouse is a different world. Here, a landscape of rolling hills suddenly feels steeper and whilst I was in the shadows of old industrial relics I realized that this was Derbyshire’s slice of Little Switzerland.”

The majestic building I was next to at this point was the Leawood Pumphouse which was built in 1849 to pump water from the River Derwent into The Cromford Canal, and whilst it looked like an abandoned relic from times gone by; you can actually still visit it on selected days throughout the year. 

In the shadow of an old ghost.

Water rises.

A coexistence of water.

Dramatic to see at the side of a canal, a huge old pumping station, but now I had to continue over the viaduct, the River Derwent below and when I had crossed this glorious old Aqueduct, a building was in front of me; for this was the first time I had discovered a new location that I had never visited before, the building in front of me was “Aqueduct Cottage” and it was surrounded by scaffolding. The canal in front of me started to get slightly narrower, but I had to take a photo of this restoration project which was on pause.  Although it was a temporary pause Aqueduct Cottage is being restored so visitors can learn more about the past, and what life would have been like for those who lived and worked along this canal, now quiet from the industrial past, but a haven for walkers, wildlife seekers and those with a sense of adventure.

Restoration of history - (Black and White).

Restoration of history - (Colour).

Now though it was time to double back and I crossed a small bridge over the canal, I was now on the opposite side of the Cromford Canal and I started to walk back in the direction of High Peak Junction, however a pause on the Aqueduct and I was amazed at the scenery of the trees and this little slice of heaven that I had found, utopia like almost and it was if I was on another planet, but no here I am in Derbyshire yet I could be forgiven for thinking that I was in Switzerland, the trees were lush and green.

Little Switzerland within Derbyshire.

At the other side of the Aqueduct and on the opposite side of the towpath I had walked on, a view back down the canal came into view and I just had to sit down, take a minute and ponder upon this glorious new part of the canal that I had discovered.

A canal meanders along.

Then came another discovery, a sluice that was taking some overflow water from the canal, down to the River Derwent below.

sluice.

Amazed, I was at the sluice and somehow it seemed a little soothing, water somehow can be so magical in so many ways and delightful the water can be at calming and soothing the mind, it was a little oasis of calm, within an already calm environment.

Still it was onwards and upwards and from the other side of the canal towpath that I was on the Leawood Pumphouse came into view once again. Reflecting into the canal this stunning piece of architecture was so calm. Yet I was captivated by the presence of this silent building against the canal.

History framed.

Leawood reflections - (Black and White).

Leawood reflections - (Landscape).

Leawood reflections - (Portrait).

I walked on, along the opposite side of the canal, and the wharf that I had seen previously, that looked like an idyllic riverside property came back into view, for this old building was actually a wharf building used to transfer goods from the canal onto the railway and the overhanging wooden canopy of the building gave away that this was where wagons would have been located before they set off on their journey up the High Peak Railway, now though this building is empty but I could just imagine the building as it would have been as a hive of activity with canal and railway workers together in synchronicity. Now things here have changed.

Walking past this old part of history, the canal looked serene as it snaked its way towards High Peak Junction, once again.

An interesting curve.

Yet encroaching on the left hand side of me, was the old canal building that I had seen from the opposite side of the canal, what was the purpose of these buildings I thought? Abandoned they were but somehow they remain frozen in time. Now they coexist with modern life as we know it.

Canal side Curiosity - (Black and White).

Canal side Curiosity - (Colour).

A place to sit.

Then I had arrived back at High Peak Junction, I crossed the river and looked over at the Café, where I had stopped off for a coffee break, now though the café was closed, but a family along with a dog had stopped and they were more than likely in thought as well. Still I knew I had to continue my walk and by now the light had changed, the sun was beginning to gently set and as I walked down the canal towards Cromford Wharf, the canopy of the trees along with the light looked magical.

Sunlit passage.

I had walked along this stretch of canal on my way to High Peak Junction, but now the light looked magical. I eventually approached the end of the Canal, and just before reaching Cromford Wharf, I stopped and looked around at the vista of this glorious part of the Derwent valley. Magical it was.

A Cromford meadows vista.

But I had not stopped exploring this slice of Little Switzerland. Now though it was time to discover something different all together. A short distance away from Cromford, located between Wirksworth and Brassington is another continuation of Little Switzerland, and whilst the I had said goodbye to the Cromford Canal - next I would be saying hello to the delightful rocks of “Harborough Rocks'' a rock formation/outcrop that overlooks the majestic Carsington Water, with views as far as the eye can see. Yes from this secret high point you can see as far as the southern reaches of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and to the West - coombes moorland just south of Buxton, along with that it is possible to see The Wrekin as well. For here you are high up; without realizing it.

Pillars of time - (Black and White).

Pillars of time - (Colour).

A stone city - (Black and White).

A stone city - (Colour).

Harborough Curiosity.

Usually rock formations are noticeable and Harborough Rocks on the other hand, well they are more “blink and miss them” although that being said they are curious looking to anyone who might be cycling past them on The High Peak Trail, mysterious is what they are. Still though I had to explore them, and to access Harborough Rocks, a small pathway leads up from the Wirksworth to Brassington Road, crosses over the High Peak Trail, and leads up to them. But here it is not all about rock formations though.

Alien like is another rather fitting word I would use to describe Harborough Rocks, and it felt like another planet, I had taken my photographs of the dramatic rock formations, and walked a little further, now I was heading downwards towards a building, a structure that looked as if it had been built for the Star Wars saga, sitting at the bottom of Harborough Rocks, the curious SciFi looking structure got closer and closer.

A hidden portal? - (Black and White).

A hidden portal? - (Colour).

The sun was slowly beginning to set, but the skies a glorious shade of blue and I just had to capture this curious structure, But what is the curious structure at Harborough Rocks? Well, it is actually the old Golconda lead mine, which ran from the site at Harborough Rocks, underneath the rocks towards Via Gellia - now though the Golconda lead mine provides an interesting subject to explore and photograph. Yet here things are not always as they seem, as a noise can be heard. Despite Harborough Rocks being located in the middle of nowhere, modern industry also exists, and a processing plant is situated right next to this stunning location of rocks and old industry. Here the old and the new compliment each other like a jam sandwich. Now though it was the time to depart, I walked back and this time found a gate, which I opened and walked onto the more level High Peak Trail. Interestingly enough this entrance to Harborough Rocks, provides a less challenging and more level access route to the rocks and the old lead mine.

Mysterious existence.

Walking back down the track, I stopped for a moment and a series of Wind Turbines standing tall made for the last photograph I was going to take.

Green meets green?

It really is quite amazing what can be found, discovered and explored and whilst The Peak District offers so much, this small part of Derbyshire (situated outside of the national park boundary) often ignored by tourists, also offers so much, scratch below the surface and you can find hidden treasures all over the place and that is exactly what I found in this part of Derbyshire, for this is Derbyshire’s slice of Little Switzerland - an area ignored by many that offers so much more. Secrets and stories intertwined with the scars of old industry, new industry and a glorious landscape that binds them together; thus offering the photographer a little something else. Break the mold and explore the new, here the stories of what this slice of Derbyshire has to offer, for you will not be disappointed.