Sometimes a walk through the woods and a Reservoir is all you need.

The reservoir at Moorgreen is one of those “Blink and you miss it” kind of locations and it is somewhere that I had not been to in many years, I have fond memories of walking at Moorgreen reservoir and it was on the 31st of May 2021 that I decided what better thing to do than revisit it, and take a walk down memory lane. Of course though the recent warm weather had meant that I did not want to do my mad dogs and Englishmen impression, and have a walk in the heat of the day, instead I wanted to escape the heat and the call of Moorgreen reservoir was just tempting me; after all I knew that the path that runs alongside the reservoir would be sheltered by the glorious tall trees that form part of the wider Moorgreen woods, here the woodland gently slopes down to the shores of Moorgreen reservoir and these woods even when I was younger provided many happy memories that I still have inscribed in my memory. Still, despite it being a while since I last walked this glorious pathway, I knew that some things might have changed and the landscape would be much more different.

Yet in some ways I was proven wrong to the changes that might have occurred, instead when I first set foot on the path it seemed as familiar as it had done all those years ago. To the right of me is the old gatehouse which is a clue to what else lies within these woods and is hidden from prying eyes. Yes it really is amazing what secrets woodlands can hold and this was no exception. Either way the path lay ahead, but I paused for a moment and looked over a gate, which at one time you could walk through towards the reservoir, now though it is all closed off, unless you are an angler with a permit; oh how the times change don’t they. But that did not matter. Yes, things have a habit of changing and just lately the world has changed quite drastically - I suppose that is down to the pandemic and it is forcing us to adjust and make changes to our lives and that involves a lot of walking. Still, I digress.

Either way I was on this path, behind me was the gate and the view over the reservoir, along with the gatehouse, but something then caught my eye, a beautiful rhododendron flower, bright pink against a lush background, so I had to stop and take a photograph of it, so simple it was a little pink flower and setting my camera to F 0.95 I captured this stunning pink flower of the rhododendron, the background blurred out and I was amazed at just how atmospheric it was.

Pretty in the pink.

I then continued walking, the sound of an orchestra playing although instead of violins and other orchestral instruments; this orchestra was one of bird songs along with the distant sound of the breeze and the rustling of the trees.

“Sometimes music does not need instruments, sometimes the best music is the one that nature makes - slow down and pause for a moment when walking through woodlands or a forest, by the coast or within an area that is beautiful and listen to the sounds of nature making music, it really is something else, best of all it is free.”

Then in front of me a puddle on the floor, now I have a thing for water on the floor as it can be used as a mirror, if you want to challenge yourself with photography make sure to use a puddle to capture the reflections of the surroundings, I placed my camera close to the puddle and got the following photograph.

Reflections of the woods.

After capturing the glorious reflection of the lush green woodlands in the puddle, I continued to walk, forking off the path that I had been on, and now I was on a path with a gentle incline, it was on this path that things began to change, I paused for a brief moment and looked on at the woodland in front of me, a wooden fence on the left hand side of me meant for an interesting leading line and the trees along with the light felt serene, dreamlike and ethereal, for I was in the moment.

A summer path.

Of course though the reservoir was still on the left of me, and I could just see it in the distance. Creaks of the branches in the breeze, the orchestra of the birdsong accompanying me as I walked deeper into the woods, the sunshine seeping through the trees and things felt radiant. Magical almost and it probably was. Oh how the warmth changes the world and changes people’s minds, gone is the worry of listening to the doom mongering scientists (academics) and their views on what life is more than likely going to be, but here I was creating my own little piece of Utopia within the woodlands next to the shimmering water of Moorgreen reservoir. The sun just shining through the trees making a glorious effect with the light as it shone on the trees was purely magical.

Still this Utopia that I had created started to become even more stunning as I progressed, a little further on the path and to the right of me, is when I set eyes on the most magical of sights, here the woodland changed and the trees became more twisted, abstract like and surreal.

“If you are after an art gallery, then the woodlands provide an art gallery, best of all anyone can enjoy them. Shapes change all the time within woodlands and each one is unique, forests, woodlands etc. Have a certain charm to them that just invites people to explore them. Instead of looking at what is in front of you, look all around you and you will surely come across the most delightful pieces of artwork on the planet, for I as a photographer remain amazed by the artwork in woodlands and the trees are more like a painting that is constantly being worked on.”

I stopped and glanced to the right, the trees looked like sculptures, slightly surreal is what they were - but non the less, incredibly photogenic. Here I was in a woodland that was not affected by industry but one in which nature rules the roost and changes things naturally thus shaping the trees to how they look today. Yet the light against the trees was something so serene that I had to take the following photograph,

Sunshine woodland arts.

Sun-drenched trees do have a certain quality to them and they are just magical, somehow the light shining on the trees adds a certain amount of beauty to an already twisted sculpted scene. I then continued to walk, but again I had to stop, the pathway I was walking along just looked glorious with the trees on each side.

The trodden path.

A little further past the path, the avenue of trees and I had entered another section of the living art gallery, the trees all naturally shaped, with interesting intertwining sections to them, tall and small these were eclectically formed and the growth stages of the trees made for interesting shapes, pausing yet again I had to capture the beauty of them.

The natural museum.

When sculpture lives.

Yet here in this woodland I was aware that the water was getting ever so slightly closer, I carried on walking along the path, the woods at this stage encroaching on the reservoir and I could see the shimmer of the sun on Moorgreen reservoir, it was purely magical almost like being on another planet and still the orchestral sounds of the wildlife rang out around me. Aware of the reservoir on the left hand side of me, I found myself in a location of contrasts, and contemplation, here I paused and looked in awe at the view through the trees towards the shimmer of the reservoir, enigmatic and full of energy, unspoiled it was at this stage but that would soon change.

A waterside proximity.

Down to the shore - (Landscape).

Down to the shore - (Portrait).

I continued to walk and arrived at a location, taking a path to the left of me I had arrived at a location in which a playground had been developed, simple it was with a rope swing over the river, for I had visited here many years ago, but change had happened, where as I used to walk along the river towards Felly Mill, on a path by the river - well that path was no more, erosion/destruction had made that section of the path disappear, but previously unspoiled it was full of litter left over from those who use this location as a natural adventure playground.

“What has happened to society? It has broken and respect gone, is it really that difficult to take your rubbish home with you instead of leaving it in this river or on the banks of this river. Perhaps in the future you should take it home instead of spoiling it.”

Now though I walked away, with thoughts from yesteryear in the back of my mind and of the happy times that I had spent in this location when I was younger, again things change and with the detritus left over at a spot that years ago was a little oasis - sometimes those changes are not for the best. Still, it was time to backtrack along the path that I had walked on, that had brought me to this former oasis, now spoiled by litter.

Ahead of me on the path that I was now backtracking on was another tree, this time providing an arch over the path, naturally forming the arch was and it looked truly beautiful, for this was something else, and it looked like a scene from lord of the rings, the lush dense woodlands and the natural growth of the trees, I paused for a moment and took the following photos.

Woodland Portal - (Landscape).

Woodland Portal - (Black and White/Landscape).

Woodland Portal - (Black and White/Portrait).

Woodland Portal - (Portrait).

Amazing really how trees can be so thought provoking, this growth and the formation of the archway had happened over a number of years and I had not noticed it before, maybe when I was younger I never really paused to think about things or maybe I did not remember it, either way the path beckoned and it was back to the starting point of the walk. But upon the return to the starting point of the walk, the magic still happened.

I walked past the old lodge house that marks the entrance point to these woodlands and the glorious walk that I had, for now the sun was slowly beginning to set but the light was something else, I turned around and took the following photographs of this magical and mysterious old lodge house that, I am sure has plenty of stories to tell.

A woodland life - (Landscape).

A woodland life - (Portrait).

By now a magical light, and across the road, another property, the tall trees blocking out the sun, but somehow the skies seemed so calm and I had to capture the moment. But again the back of my mind was questioning things. Why had I never paused for a moment to take notice of this old house and it’s stunning architecture? I had no idea.

Life in serenity.

Stories to be told.

What stories did that house have to say about the serenity of the location it was in? The architecture was a statement and the beautiful brickwork was something else. But now I walked a little further on to a location on the pavement. In front of me now was Moorgreen reservoir and the skies clear, calm it was and I was here looking at a giant landscape painting in front of me, the trees of the woodland meeting the reservoir in front of me made for one of the most serene scenes that I had ever captured.

Evening calm of Moorgreen.

The reflections of the trees on the water along with the sky and the evening calm, for this was the most magical of ends to any walk that I had been on in a long, long time, but here I was looking at this glorious hidden body of water amongst the landscape, but it really does go without saying that sometimes a walk through the woods and a reservoir is all you need.

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.