Join the Industrial Revolution Tour

Service Description

This tour is a interesting historical enlightenment as well as being a very enjoyable and scenic eBike tour. Starting at Bank Top Winster (formerly a main centre for the lead mining industry) you can immediately view the Lead Ore House and workhouse used by the lead miners. The route then passes the Market House and through the pretty village to reach Elton a smaller lead mining village just down the road Minor roads are then followed until at Minninglow the High Peak Trail is joined. Immediately stone clad embankments provide reminders of the importance of the Cromford and High Peak Railway. The High Peak trail is followed to beyond Black Rocks and continually offers surprising remnants of quarrying remains, railway buildings and workshops, Engine Houses and remarkable inclines are also well documented along the route. At the Cromford Canal the tour travels back alongside providing a reminder of another bygone era of transporting limestone, lead and later coal to Cromford and wool from it. Upon reaching Cromford Mills there is a visitor centre and opportunities for refreshment and to browse artisan shops at this World Heritage Site and the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. The return journey follows a short length of the Via Gellia road before climbing into the charming village of Bonsall another historical lead mining and textile village but now more famous for UFO sightings and hen racing. Pass the Fountain café and the Barley Mow pub and then follow minor roads through Slayley often viewing mining remnants to return t Difficulty - Easy Blue Tour Themes - Historic Sites Surface - Cycle trails, canal path, minor roads. A short length of the busy Via Gellia road where bikes can be pushed on a footpath.(or cycled on the pavement) if preferred Distance - 22 miles Time allocated - 6 hours Refreshment Stop Options - Black Rocks, Cromford Mills, Bonsall & Winster Tour Ref - 09