cromford canal boat trips prices

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We have now resolved the technical issues with our boats propulsion system, and today have been re-certified by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency. That means that we are starting cruising again from Saturday 27th April 2024.

Please regularly check our website for available slots on the “Bookings” page. If a date / time isn’t shown in GREEN then it is not available to book.

Birdswood is the historical narrow boat belonging to The Friends of Cromford Canal .

The primary objective of Birdswood is that it contributes to The Friends of Cromford Canal’s strategic aim by generating profits for furthering the conservation & restoration of the canal. The boat and shop are run entirely by our dedicated team of volunteers.

Birdswood runs scheduled trips throughout the year. Our exclusive charters make a personal venue for your private function. Come and enjoy a peaceful journey along the Cromford Canal and get up close to the fabulous wildlife and take in the amazing scenery.

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Special Interest Trips

Extended and guided trips along the canal on FCC’s trip boat “Birdswood”. Birdswood makes our normal trip up to the mooring at the Leawood Pumphouse. Passengers then disembark with one of our experienced guides for a short walk taking in the pump-house, the Wigwell Aqueduct, the Nightingale Arm & the newly restored Aqueduct Cottage.

GO TO OUR BOOKINGS PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION

The Back Cabin

Visit our shop.

The Cromford Canal’s Leawood Arm – A History

Cromford Wharf: a History (booklet)

FCC Walkers Guide

Regular Powered Boat Trip

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Trip Boat – Birdswood

Friends of the Cromford Canal is a charity committed to the restoration, reconstruction, preservation & maintenance of the Cromford Canal, its associated buildings, towing path, structures & the conservation of its natural character as a navigable inland waterway system for the benefit of the public.

FCC’s trip boat ‘Birdswood’ usually makes two trips per day and three days per week taking passengers from Cromford Wharf through out the cruising season. The souvenir shop at Cromford Wharf sells tickets for the boat and gifts and is open the same days on which there are boat trips (volunteers permitting). The income from the trip boat, Birdswood, is used for business expenses and to meet the charity aims.

Strangely, the story of Birdswood starts with a bit of railway history.  With the coming of the railways in the 1840’s, many canals found it impossible to compete and some decided to cut their losses and sold out to the railway companies which were taking over their trade. The Cromford Canal was one of these and sold out to the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock & Midlands Junction Railway Company in 1847. This was later taken over by the Midland Railway Company which in turn became the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923. So the LMS found themselves to be both canal owners and boat operators.

In 1928, the LMS ordered some new riveted iron open narrow boats from W.J. Yarwood and Sons at Northwich in Cheshire to replace the ageing wooden boats which they had inherited from the various canal companies. Birdswood was one of the later boats in this batch and was built in 1938 and originally named Ross. It was used initially on short haul traffic around the Birmingham Canal Navigations.

Following the nationalisation of both railways and waterways in 1948, British Railways continued to operate boats until 1954, when the fleet was taken over by British Waterways. After this, 12 of these Yarwood’s boats were fitted with cabins and named after railway stations, including Ross which was renamed Birdswood in 1958, although this is actually the name of a railway junction rather than a station.

Birdswood then became part of the fleet of long distance ‘Station Boats’ operated by British Waterways in the North West, operating as a pair being towed by a motor boat. This traffic was quite intensive for some years, including the coal run from Stoke on Trent to Middlewich via Harecastle Tunnel and various goods, especially aluminum ingots, from Manchester to Wolverhampton and the Black Country.  Birdswood was then leased for a while to Willow Wren, but then went back to British Waterways in 1972 to be used on maintenance duties after the carrying trade finished.

Then in 1974, Birdswood was bought by a private owner and started a new life as a horse drawn passenger boat. This was at Froghall Wharf on the Caldon Canal in Staffordshire. In 1995, extensive steelwork to the hull was carried out and a new cabin, an engine and hydraulic drive unit were installed, although the traditional horse boat stern end was retained. Trip boat operations then continued at Froghall until the end of 2010.

In early 2013, the boat was purchased by the Friends of the Cromford Canal. Volunteers moved the boat by canal to Langley Mill, where it was dry docked, converted to electric drive and repainted in FCC livery. It was then brought to Cromford by road and is now being operated as a trip boat, both electrically driven and horse drawn, at Cromford Wharf. This is the latest phase in the varied life of this fine historic vessel. It is quite sobering to wonder what the boat will be doing during the next 75 years.

Cromford Canal Boat

Cromford Canal Narrow Boat Cruises operate the historic narrow boat Birdswood.

Cromford Canal Narrow Boat Cruises operate the historic narrow boat Birdswood. The Friends of Cromford Canal offer regular 2 hour cruises to High Peak Junction, with full commentary, whilst you relax enjoying the views of the local heritage and wildlife . 

Weighbridge Office, Gothic Warehouse, Mill Road, Cromford, DE4 3RQ.

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Cromford Canal

You can still walk along the remains of the Cromford Canal that once brought narrowboats from the Erewash Canal at Langley Mill to Cromford, with a branch to Pixton.

The Cromford Canal used to run for 14.5 miles from Cromford to Langley Mill where it met the Erewash Canal with a branch to Pinxton. Built by William Jessop with help from Benjamin Outram, it's mostly derelict but still makes for a beautiful Derbyshire canal walk .

Cromford Canal walk

Explore this tranquil space on foot. Parts of its route are still visible, including the first mile or so where it joins the Erewash Canal. There's a second section near Ironville. The third and final section is near lower Hartshay. But Butterley Tunnel, between sections 2 and 3 also still exists. Take a walk and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

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History of Cromford Canal

Opened in 1794, it originally included four tunnels and 14 locks. But in 1889, subsidence closed the 3,063 yards (2,801 meters) Butterley Tunnel. And further subsidence in 1900 closed the Tunnel permanently. Most of the canal was abandoned by 1944 except the last half-mile (800m) stretch to Langley Mill, though it too was abandoned in 1962. The Bullbridge Aqueduct was removed in 1968 when the Ripley Road was widened. In 1985 the Codnor Park Reservoir was lowered by six feet (1.8 m) and a lock was removed as part of a flood prevention scheme.

Butterley Tunnel

At 2.7km long, when it was opened it was the third longest canal tunnel in the world. It included an underground wharf where coal could be loaded directly into the narrow boats via a horizontal tunnel from Butterley Carr Pit. It was the mining that led to the end of the tunnel. Subsidence closed the tunnel to traffic in 1900.

Fisheries and nature reserves

William Jessop also built three reservoirs to feed his new canal. Butterley Reservoir is the largest, the others being the Codnor Park Reservoir and Butterley Park Reservoir, which was dismantled in the 1930s. The remaining reservoirs are still very much in use as local fisheries.

The Ripley and District Angling Club lease the fishing rights for Butterley Reservoir and provide valuable volunteering time for the Trust.

Codnor Park Fisheries lease the fishing rights for Codnor Park Reservoir.

Today, the Cromford Canal and the reservoirs provide a haven for wildlife including some important and rare species. The Ironville section in particular is an important stronghold for the endangered white-clawed crayfish . With water voles increasing in numbers there too.

A further six mile (9.7 km) long section between Cromford and Ambergate is listed as a Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Friends of Cromford Canal

Supporting the ongoing restoration of the canal are the Friends of Cromford Canal . In 2014, the group adopted two sections of the Canal - the Lower Hartshay section and the stretch from Codnor Park Reservoir through Ironville to Lock 5.

They run regular work parties on the canal and around Codnor Park Reservoir, which include litter management, scrub/vegetation control, fence repair and painting canal features. The group also runs a short boat trip onbaord 'Birdswood', between Cromford Wharf and Leawood Pump House.

Boaters and paddlers

We are responsible for the stretch of the Cromford Canal between Bridge 4 and Bridge 9 at Ironville, as well as the reservoirs at Ironville and Butterley.

The rest of it is owned and managed by Derbyshire County Council, who require boaters (largely paddlers) to book in advance and buy a visitor permit.

For more information visit the Derbyshire County Council web page .

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Cromford Canal

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CROMFORD CANAL: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• (0.13 mi) The Mill Managers House, Cromford
• (0.30 mi) Oakhill
• (0.59 mi) Portland House c1870 - BIG 5* Historic Holiday House
• (0.33 mi) The Greyhound Hotel
• (0.92 mi) Ashdale Guest House
• (0.03 mi) Matlock Meadows Ice Cream
• (0.10 mi) Arkwright's Café
• (0.04 mi) Wheatcroft's Wharf Cafe
• (0.07 mi) The Phat Pasty Company
• (0.12 mi) Main Restaurant at The Arkwright Society

• Where to Visit in the Derwent Valley
• Interactive Map
• What’s On
• Access for All
• Getting There
• Learning for all
• Volunteer with projects, scheme and more
• Publications
• World Heritage Status
• Outstanding Universal Value
• Protecting Our Heritage
• The Management Plan
• Job Opportunities

Cromford Canal

The northern stretch of the canal lies within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and is an attractive visitor destination, with five miles to explore along the towpath. Because of the rich diversity of wildlife, the canal is designated as a site of special scientific interest. Work is carried out each year to keep the water open for the plants and insects which live in it, and to manage the banks.

The canal is ideal for walkers of all ages and abilities, and with regular public transport stops along the northern stretch you don’t have to walk back to your starting point if you don’t want to.

What makes it special?

Cromford Canal once provided transport for a broad range of industries. Its construction displayed many feats of engineering and hydraulics.

Even today, within walking distance along the towpath, you can see the canal wharf buildings at Cromford, a well preserved railway workshop, cross a canal swing bridge and see a still-operational pumphouse.

What is there to see and do?

• Canal-side cottages, two tunnels and bridges can still be found along the canal, and an aqueduct taking the canal over the River Derwent.
• A picturesque walk along the towpath will take visitors through woodland where there is a wide range of wildlife, including water voles, ducks and dragonflies.
• Take a trip on the newly restored historic Birdswood canal boat, on certain days during the season, sometimes horsedrawn. Regular trips sail on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with prompt departure times of 11am and 2pm from Cromford Wharf. Passengers do have the option to get on or off at Leawood (High Peak Junction Wharf Shed). Standard fare applies and is subject to seat availability. For Horse drawn boat trips on Birdswood, please see the dates on our Events Calendar.

For more details of boat times and prices, visit the Birdswood  website .

• High Peak Junction   is located on the junction of the Cromford Canal and the High Peak Trail. It is a collection of railway buildings including some of the oldest surviving railway workshops in the world and is within the area of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. There is a visitor centre, small gift and refreshment shop, picnic area and toilets. It is an ideal spot to start or finish a walk along the canal or trail. It is open every day Easter to October 10am to 5pm, weekends only from November to Easter, 10.30am to 4pm.
• Further south along the towpath is Leawood Pumphouse , an impressive monument to Victorian engineering. Built in 1849 to pump water from the River Derwent into the canal, it operated for almost 100 years. Restored in 1979, it remains in pristine condition due to the hard work of volunteers from Leawood Pump Group and staff from the Countryside Service. Open most Bank Holiday weekends (check out our Events Calendar for details), you can come along and experience the power of this great steam engine as it pumps 4 tons of water with each piston stroke. Leawood Pumphouse is free but donations are gratefully received.

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• All Accommodation
• Bed & Breakfast and Guest Houses
• Inns & Pubs with Rooms
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• Camping, Caravanning & Touring Parks
• Accommodation with Hot Tubs
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• Pubs & Inns
• Cafés, Tearooms & Coffee Shops
• Breweries, Vineyards & Distilleries
• Food & Drink Discounts
• Well Dressings
• Our Favourite Places
• Other Towns & Villages
• Itineraries
• WIN a luxury spa break
• Discovery Map
• Getting Here & Getting Around
• Tourist Information & Visitor Centres
• Travel Trade & Group Visits

Cromford Canal

Now a picturesque and relaxing place to go for a countryside walk, Cromford Canal was once a buzzing hub of Derbyshire’s industry.

• Family Friendly
• Dog Friendly
• Nature & Outdoors
• Heritage, Arts & Culture

The northern stretch of the canal lies within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and is an attractive visitor destination, with five miles to explore along the towpath. Because of the rich diversity of wildlife, the canal is designated as a site of special scientific interest. Work is carried out each year to keep the water open for the plants and insects which live in it, and to manage the banks.

The canal is ideal for walkers of all ages and abilities, and with regular public transport stops along the northern stretch you don’t have to walk back to your starting point if you don’t want to.

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?

Cromford Canal once provided transport for a broad range of industries. Its construction displayed many feats of engineering and hydraulics.

Even today, within walking distance along the towpath, you can see the canal wharf buildings at Cromford, a well preserved railway workshop, cross a canal swing bridge and see a still-operational pumphouse.

WHAT IS THERE TO SEE AND DO?

Canal-side cottages, two tunnels and bridges can still be found along the canal, and an aqueduct taking the canal over the River Derwent.

A picturesque walk along the towpath will take visitors through woodland where there is a wide range of wildlife, including water voles, ducks and dragonflies.

Take a trip on the newly restored historic Birdswood canal boat, on certain days during the season, sometimes horsedrawn. Regular trips sail on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with prompt departure times of 11am and 2pm from Cromford Wharf. Passengers do have the option to get on or off at Leawood (High Peak Junction Wharf Shed). Standard fare applies and is subject to seat availability. For Horse drawn boat trips on Birdswood, please see the dates on our Events Calendar.

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