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Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Newsletter
Latest edition of the newsletter
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Come to the Derwent Valley on the train
Hourly service
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A Century of Change
See how the Belper Mill Complex has changed in the last century
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Derwent Valley Mills at Home
Challenges, quizzes and videos
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Management Plan
2020-2025
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Belper Mills Future
Creating a deliverable, sustainable and appropriate long-term future for the Belper Mills.
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Reasons to visit the Derwent Valley

The Derwent Valley is a special place, where the lowlands meet the rugged grandeur of the Peak District. It is an area of contrasts, united by the river which flows through it. The Valley is exceptionally rich in wildlife with ash and oak woodlands, charming villages, flower rich pastures and flowing streams; home to the internationally recognised Derwent Valley Mills, the only World Heritage Site in the East Midlands. Whether your interests are walking, cycling, history or wildlife the Valley is the perfect choice for a summer outing or a winter break.

Set amidst breath-taking countryside it offers fascinating insights into industrial and social life during the 18th and 19th centuries. Snaking 15 miles down the river valley from Matlock Bath to Derby, the World Heritage Site contains a fascinating series of historic mill complexes, including some of the world’s first ‘modern’ factories.

Highlights to explore…

  • Cromford Mills and Cromford Canal
  • Strutt’s North Mill and Belper River Gardens
  • Darley Abbey Village and Darley Park
  • The Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill

The Derwent Valley offers a range of country walks, quality shopping, wholesome food and drink, and abundant local hospitality. There is something for everyone!

Come and see for yourself why this part of Derbyshire is famous around the World.

 

Take a journey back to an age when Britain held centre-stage as the world’s first industrial nation
to a place where water power was first successfully harnessed for textile production
a milestone in the Industrial Revolution