Access in Cromford area includes information on sites which you may want to visit as part of your trip to the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. We have included information on sites which have had an accessibility audit as part of the Great Place Scheme. These were carried out by Accessible Derbyshire in 2019 and we have some funding available for the sites to make some more improvements over the next few months. Please do check here regularly to keep updated, or visit the individual attractions’ websites and contact them if you need more specific information.

Watch the film about access for all in the Cromford area made specially for us by Accessible Derbyshire:

Situated on the outskirts of Cromford, in Derbyshire, Cromford Mill is a Grade 1 listed building  and the wider mill site houses a multi-use visitor centre, with shops, galleries, restaurant and cafe, set within a large mill yard.

General Accessibility Information

• Three accessible parking spaces on a slightly sloping site, with some loose surface stones. They are just outside of the min Mill gates and you can contact their main number 01629 823256, if you require assistance.
• Dropped kerbs at entry point to site.
• Level access to main entrance with level area in front and over threshold, but slightly cobbled surface. The main entrance is 1230mm wide, with good activity area inside and out. Doors are left open during opening hours, with staff on site to assist where required.
• Tickets for events and tours can be purchased on-line and there is a ‘Carers Go Free’ policy.
• Dogs are welcome on site, except in some of the food shops and the cafes. Dog bowls are available. Assistance dogs are catered for throughout the site. The Beyond the Mill Walls meadow alongside the river can be used as a ‘spend area’, but you must pick up after your dog.
• Variety of seating throughout the venue.
• Baby changing facilities available in both toilet blocks.
• Wi-Fi is available on site. Mobile phone signal varies across the site.

Accessible Toilets

• There are two accessible toilets with signage on site: one in the mill yard and one in the Visitor Centre.
• The nearest Changing Place toilet is over Mill Road in Cromford Wharf car park.

Café Facilities

• A variety of dietary requirements are catered for in the café.
• Table service is available on request.
• Tables inside the café are 710mm high and outside they are 700 mm.
• Inside there is flexible furniture, but most of the tables outside have fixed seating picnic benches.

For the most up-to-date information and contact details, please visit Cromford Mills Website

The Gothic Warehouse, Wheatcroft’s Wharf Cafe and The Counting House Coffee Stop are located at Cromford Wharf, the historic terminus of the Cromford Canal. It is close to Cromford Mills and a short level walk away from High Peak Junction and Leawood Pumphouse. The Gothic Warehouse was originally built in 1794 for Wheatcroft, the principal canal carrier at the time. It would have been used to store goods bought or being transported along the canal. Today it is an event and conference venue. Wheatcroft’s Wharf, which was also part of the complex, is now a thriving, canal-side cafe. The Counting House now offers takeaway drinks and snacks. It is a recent addition and so was not included in the accessibility audit.

General Accessibility Information

• 4-5% of total parking spaces are accessible and the car park surface is solid and level.
• There is level access to Wheatcroft’s Wharf café.
• The Gothic Warehouse has two uneven steps at the entrance, but has an alternative wheelchair entrance.
• First aid kits are available in both venues.
• Assistance dogs are welcome throughout, with dog bowls available. Dogs are welcome on the ground floor of the café.
• Variety of seating throughout both sites.

Accessible Toilets

• The ground level toilet in the Gothic Warehouse is large, but is not designated accessible.
• There is a toilet on the first floor at the café, which is not accessible.
• The nearest Changing Places toilet is in the car park at Cromford Wharf.

Café Facilities

• Table service is available in Wheatcroft’s Wharf café on request and tables can be reserved.
• A variety of dietary requirements are catered for.
• The menu is written in large print on chalk boards at the back of the counter.
• Table heights inside are 720mm to the underside, easy for wheelchair users to pull underneath.
• The tables outside are 690mm high which is 10mm below the minimum required level for wheelchair use.
• There is flexible furniture in the café but the furniture outside is fixed picnic tables.
• Seat cushions and blankets are available for visitors sitting outside.

For the most up-to-date information and contact details, please visit
Cromford Mills website

High Peak Junction lies at the start of what was once the Cromford and High Peak Railway. The route of this historic railway is now followed by the High Peak Trail. The Visitor Centre at High Peak Junction offers a warm welcome and light refreshments, with leaflets, maps and information on the area available inside. Picnic areas take in the waterside views and a number of waymarked walks in the area start from here.

General Accessibility Information

• Accessible parking space marked out and solid car park surface. No drop off point near to the site. Wheelchair access to the site from the car park is not easy due to the steepish incline.
• Tramper scooters can be booked in advance and available to use from the car park.
• There is level access to the main entrance, with a level area in front, but a slight lip in the wooden flooring over the threshold.
• The door width is 770mm with activity space outside and the lobby area is clear of obstacles.
• There is a defibrillator available on the exhibition carriage to the rear of the site.
• There are water bowls available for all dogs.
• There is a variety of seating available on site, including a wheelchair accessible picnic bench.
• Baby changing facilities are available in the toilet block.

Accessible Toilet

• There are accessible toilets available on site.
• The nearest Changing Places toilet is at Cromford Wharf, about 30 minutes walk along the canal.

Café Facilities

• Sandwiches, snacks, hot and cold drinks, and ice creams are available to purchase in the visitor centre.
• A variety of dietary requirements are catered for including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free. There is even vegan ice-cream!

For the most up-to-date information and contact details, please visit
High Peak Junction webpage

Leawood Pumphouse lies a short walk away along the canal towpath. The building, which is a scheduled monument, is over 150 years old and houses a giant pump which was built to pump water from the river Derwent into the Cromford Canal above. The pump can still be seen in operation on schedule steaming dates between April and October each year.

General Accessibility information

• Accessible parking space marked out and solid car park surface. No drop off point near to site. Wheelchair access to site from car park is not easy due to steepish incline.
• Tramper scooters can be booked in advance and available to use from car park.
• There is stepped access from the canal towpath to Leawood Pumphouse with 18 steps and a handrail down one side only.
• The path to the Pumphouse from the bottom of the steps is made of loose boiler ash.
• Leawood Pumphouse is only in steam on certain weekends during the year – please check their website for steaming dates.
• You can watch a video about Leawood Pumphouse here:

Accessible Toilet

• The nearest accessible toilet is at High Peak Junction, a short walk along the canal from the pumphouse.
• The nearest Changing Place toilet is at Cromford Wharf, about 30 minutes walk along the canal.

For the most up-to-date information and contact details, please visit
Leawood Pumphouse webpage