Food Scene
Newly renovated in tasteful style, Oak Hill is a must-see: a restaurant and bar in a seventeenth century Arkwright mansion with wonderful grounds. Open daily for food including Sunday lunch, or you can just have a drink and enjoy the views. Described by one Michelin starred chef who visited recently as 'the squirrels nuts', Oak Hill can be reached on foot via the back lanes of Cromford or in summer across the fields.
Oakhill
Intake LaneNewly renovated in tasteful style, Oak Hill is a must-see: a restaurant and bar in a seventeenth century Arkwright mansion with wonderful grounds. Open daily for food including Sunday lunch, or you can just have a drink and enjoy the views. Described by one Michelin starred chef who visited recently as 'the squirrels nuts', Oak Hill can be reached on foot via the back lanes of Cromford or in summer across the fields.
Reliably good food down in the village, walking distance from the annexe. Dog-friendly.
10 locals recommend
The Greyhound Hotel , Restaurant & Bar, Cromford, Matlock
Market PlaceReliably good food down in the village, walking distance from the annexe. Dog-friendly.
reliably good French menu in a lovrly relaxed atmosphere.
31 locals recommend
Le Mistral Wirksworth - French Restaurant
23 Market Plreliably good French menu in a lovrly relaxed atmosphere.
Lovely dog friendly pub with a great menu and lots of indoor and outdoor space.Easy walk to the nine ladies stone circle.
7 locals recommend
The Druid Inn
Main StreetLovely dog friendly pub with a great menu and lots of indoor and outdoor space.Easy walk to the nine ladies stone circle.
Old-world charm and a great menu including excellentveggie options. Sunday lunch is one of the best around. Dog friendly.
13 locals recommend
Ye Olde Gate Inn
1874 Well StOld-world charm and a great menu including excellentveggie options. Sunday lunch is one of the best around. Dog friendly.
Stones
1 Dale RdProbably the best, definitely the classiest restaurant in the area.
The Balti Restaurant
256 Dale RdAnother surprisingly good Indian for Derbyshire.
Great menu, good for high teas and great breakfasts, although they no longer serve evening meals. Really professionally run.
15 locals recommend
Parkys
11-13 Market PlGreat menu, good for high teas and great breakfasts, although they no longer serve evening meals. Really professionally run.
Good posh breakfasts and lunches at reasonable prices. A lovely longer walk along the canal from Cromford.
7 locals recommend
The Family Tree
Derby RoadGood posh breakfasts and lunches at reasonable prices. A lovely longer walk along the canal from Cromford.
Friendly local with excellent food and a great atmosphere... hosts the World Championship Hen Race in August! A short drive or lovely walk from Barnwell Lane (walk via a footpath from Scarthins called Clatterway).
11 locals recommend
Barley Mow Ltd
The DaleFriendly local with excellent food and a great atmosphere... hosts the World Championship Hen Race in August! A short drive or lovely walk from Barnwell Lane (walk via a footpath from Scarthins called Clatterway).
Friendly local with a lovely garden and pub food (post covid we're getting poor reports about the food however).
Walking distance and dog friendly.
14 locals recommend
The Boat Inn
ScarthinFriendly local with a lovely garden and pub food (post covid we're getting poor reports about the food however).
Walking distance and dog friendly.
Great Indian restaurant, very professionally run, deliver to Cromford too.
24 locals recommend
Maazi Matlock
25 Causeway LnGreat Indian restaurant, very professionally run, deliver to Cromford too.
Stunning stone-flagged 17th century coaching inn deep in the countryside with a range of real ales, a really excellent new menu and Sunday roasts with all trimmings. About a ten minute drive and we'll worth it.
7 locals recommend
The Bear Inn
Pendleton LaneStunning stone-flagged 17th century coaching inn deep in the countryside with a range of real ales, a really excellent new menu and Sunday roasts with all trimmings. About a ten minute drive and we'll worth it.
Sightseeing
Learn about local history. Also handy for a canalside walk and some waterfront cafes.
67 locals recommend
Cromford Mill
Mill RoadLearn about local history. Also handy for a canalside walk and some waterfront cafes.
The Heights of Abraham
Dale Roadcable car to great views
Black Rocks Car Park
Brickfields CloseGreat views, easy climbing
Chatsworth House
Lovely house, great gardens, and a little farm!
Monsal Head Hotel
Monsal TrailStunning walk or cycle accessible from the High Peak trail
Fantastic highlyscenic walk with 360 views from the Druids across Stanton Moor.
30 locals recommend
Nine Ladies Stone Circle
Lees RoadFantastic highlyscenic walk with 360 views from the Druids across Stanton Moor.
lovely scenic walk in all seasons. walk to High Peak Junction or Whatstandwell.
41 locals recommend
Cromford Canal
2 Mill Rdlovely scenic walk in all seasons. walk to High Peak Junction or Whatstandwell.
Gulliver's Kingdom Resort
Temple Walkgreat for kids!
Stunning walk along a valley bottom with options for wild swimming, then a climb to Over Haddon for great pub lunches.
44 locals recommend
Lathkill Dale
Stunning walk along a valley bottom with options for wild swimming, then a climb to Over Haddon for great pub lunches.
Youlgreave is bes approached along the river from Alport. Plenty of parking and a wild swimming destination. This is only about a 20 minute drive from Cromford and is idyllic.
Youlgrave Village Hall
Youlgreave is bes approached along the river from Alport. Plenty of parking and a wild swimming destination. This is only about a 20 minute drive from Cromford and is idyllic.
Haddon Hall
Dare I say far more beautiful and tasteful than Chatsworth...
Neighbourhoods
Very like a seaside town, but with no sea in sight! Great for a wander and for kids.
155 locals recommend
Matlock Bath
Very like a seaside town, but with no sea in sight! Great for a wander and for kids.
Bakewell
Lovely elegant town with a long tradition of catering to tourists.
Ashbourne
Winster
stunning little village, good for a wander.
lovely if quite remote village with two great pubs and a walk across the moors to the Nine Ladies stone circle.
Birchover
lovely if quite remote village with two great pubs and a walk across the moors to the Nine Ladies stone circle.
Youlgreave
picturesque village with walks along the river to wild swimming venue.
Shopping
Nearest place for food shopping and fuel.
6 locals recommend
Co-op Food & Grocery Store, Wirksworth, Derby
Harrison DriveNearest place for food shopping and fuel.
Sainsbury's
Cawdor WayFood and clothes
Scarthin Books
The PromenadeWorld renowned book shop with cafe where you can sit reading!
Fine knitwear at factory shop prices
12 locals recommend
John Smedley Mill Shop - The World's Finest Knitwear
Fine knitwear at factory shop prices
Denby Factory shop is good for discontinued ranges and factory seconds of high quality tableware.
15 locals recommend
Denby Pottery Village
Derby RoadDenby Factory shop is good for discontinued ranges and factory seconds of high quality tableware.
Well-priced factory seconds on fabulous knitwear. bit tricky to find as the road is closed but worth making the detour.
12 locals recommend
John Smedley Mill Shop - The World's Finest Knitwear
Well-priced factory seconds on fabulous knitwear. bit tricky to find as the road is closed but worth making the detour.
Activities
Stunning views, great for cycling or walking, dog friendly. You can hire bikes at the Middleton Top visitors' centre.
The Blue Lagoon cafe at the Stone Centre off the trail is about half an hour's walk from our place. It's dog friendly, spacious with a big terrace where you can enjoy thrir excellent breakfasts and lunches while admiring the view.
33 locals recommend
High Peak Trail
High Peak TrailStunning views, great for cycling or walking, dog friendly. You can hire bikes at the Middleton Top visitors' centre.
The Blue Lagoon cafe at the Stone Centre off the trail is about half an hour's walk from our place. It's dog friendly, spacious with a big terrace where you can enjoy thrir excellent breakfasts and lunches while admiring the view.
For swimmers: fabulous outdoor pool fed by a thermal (14-19 degrees) spa.
Nice cafe, spa needs an upgrade according to our guests.
6 locals recommend
New Bath Hotel and Spa
New Bath RoadFor swimmers: fabulous outdoor pool fed by a thermal (14-19 degrees) spa.
Nice cafe, spa needs an upgrade according to our guests.
Wonderful location for bird watching, walking and cycling, just up the road from Cromford.
163 locals recommend
Carsington Water
Wonderful location for bird watching, walking and cycling, just up the road from Cromford.
Canoes, kayaks and paddle boards for hire, as well as a bird sanctuary, cafes and a playground for children.
31 locals recommend
Carsington Water Visitor Centre
Big LaneCanoes, kayaks and paddle boards for hire, as well as a bird sanctuary, cafes and a playground for children.
Pubs
Royal Oak
High StreetFriendly - and dog-friendly - pub with pool table and lovely garden.
Dog friendly with big outdoor seating area and great international menu from the new restaurant, Umami.
21 locals recommend
The Red Lion
Main StreetDog friendly with big outdoor seating area and great international menu from the new restaurant, Umami.
The Bell Inn
46 North StreetCosy little real ale pub 5 minutes walk from us on the Hill. Dogs and walkers welcome.
Traveler advice
Getting around
buses...'the sixes'
if you walk down to Matlock there are buses from the bus station and various stops through Matlock Bath that stop at the end of our street, called the sixes. They take cash... Ask for Barnwell Lane, Cromford. Very handy for avoiding the long haul up that hill. They also continue up to Wirksworth.
Book before you go
booking
Restaurants and pub food: book before you arrive as a general rule, (but bizarrely, even when they say on the phone they're full, you sometimes find they have tables if you just turn up!)
Don't miss
scenic walk to the Boat Inn
Scenic walk
walk along the path and straight up the slope behind the cottage to Rose End Meadows wildlife sanctuary. Continue along either footpath across three fields and past a bench then through a gate. Here you can go straight ahead through more fields and down an escarpment ro the river or left on a longer walk.
instead turn right and walk down the path until you see Cromford Village on your left. a steep path with a railing leads you down to Goulds and Walkers garages.
Walk with Scissors hairdressers on your left along Scarthins and you'll reach Scarthins books and Boat pub.