Cromford is steeped in history and packed with places to visit and things to do. It was back in 1771 that Sir Richard Arkwright built the world’s first water-powered cotton mill by the side of the River Derwent, the story of which fills the history books, turned Artwright into an industrial tycoon and put Cromford well and truly on the map. Your stay at a holiday cottage in Cromford must include a visit to Cromford Mill, home of the Arkwright Society and now a visitor centre with plenty to see and a lovely tea room. Some of the holiday cottages in Cromford were originally built to house workers at the mills or cottage industries. North Street is part of the Sir Richard Arkwright Heritage Site, its three story cottages being weavers cottages with a workshop on each top floor. 15 North Street is a holiday cottage in Cromford that is very special as it retains many of the original 18th century features.  A canal was constructed in 1793 which ran from the mill for 14 miles, to join up with the Erewash canal at Langley Mill. This was used to transport various goods from the mill and nearby quarries. One of the most unusual loads, being four 13ft long carved lions en route from a quarry at Darley Dale to St George’s Hall in Liverpool. The canal has not been commercially used for some time, but there is a lovely path to follow for several miles through quiet and scenic countryside. If you bring your bikes when staying at a holiday cottage in Cromford, you may wish to cycle on the High Peak Trail which starts from High Peak Junction down on the canal. Be warned however as there are a series of very steep inclines to negotiate – how did the trains manage to get up the hills you might ask. By the end of your visit at a holiday cottage in Cromford you should know the answer! Scarthin is a quiet little backwater in Cromford with a wonderful bookshop and seats overlooking the old mill pond. Here you can watch graceful swans and colourful kingfishers, as part of your relaxing stay at a holiday cottage in Cromford. Cromford played an important part in the lead mining era which dominated Derbyshire a couple of centuries ago, but it was the Romans who named their nearby lead mining centre Lutudarum. Tinsmith’s Cottage which you can find by browsing through the holiday cottages in Cromford was built in 1765 as a lead miners home and featured on TV in George Elliot’s story of Silas Marney. The holiday cottages in Cromford are some of the best you will find, with a wealth of charm and character but all the modern conveniences of a ‘home from home’.