Lumsdale Valley
OS Grid ref:-SK3160
The highly attractive Lumsdale Valley is situated above the town of Matlock in the Peak District National Park.
Lumsdale is a thickly wooded gorge of outstanding natural beauty and a very interesting history, with stone ruins, waterwheels, ponds and waterfalls. The Bentley Brook flows through a small wooded gorge and within quite a small distance, there are the remains of three pools to see and six waterwheels. With its crumbling stone ruins, waterwheels, ponds and waterfalls, nature has melded with the industrial remains of the past to create an oasis of romantic decay.
Lumsdale is also one of the best examples of a water-powered industrial archaeological site in Britain and it is unusual to see such extensive use of water power in such a relatively small area.
The site is owned by the Arkwright Society and is open to the public. During the summer months guided tours are provided.