Cromford Mills Adventure Weekend
The Cromford Mills Adventure Weekend is back again for the seventh year and we are cramming even more adventure into the three days of family fun over the August Bank Holiday Weekend.. Over the last five years the local club and charity Paddle Peak have introduced more than 1500 local kids to kayaking in Cromford.
Our venue, Cromford Mills was the birth place of the Industrial Revolution where Sir Richard Arkwright began the modern factory system more than 250 years ago. It is an amazing site for what is now becoming an annual Paddlesport Festival. Events will take place on the River Derwent, the power source for local Mills all those years ago and the Cromford Canal, the transport route to the world for the textiles and cotton produced in the Derwent Valley.
Over the three day bank holiday the awesome kids ‘Come & Try Kayaking’ sessions will take place on the Cromford Canal. These free sessions are designed to introduce kids between the ages of 7-16 to kayaking in a fun and safe environment. Our experienced team of volunteer coaches will guide them through the basics of paddling and develop their new skills through a series of fun-packed team games. They’ll be kitted out with boats, paddles, buoyancy aids and helmets for their session.
Throughout the weekend there will be guest appearances from leading athletes from the world of paddlesports. They’ll all be demoing their skills, helping with coaching, and you might even get a signed poster or selfie with them and their medals.
After a success running last year, The Cromford Peak Challenge – will return for 2026! A multi discipline paddlesport event comprising of three days fun-packed racing. If you and/or your kids are already paddling, come, stick around all weekend and get involved - we’ll have Slalom, Downriver and Kayak Cross racing for all ages, abilities and crafts! Great value B&B accommodation, food and social events will be available at Manor Adventure Willersley Castle Activity Centre, just over the bridge.
On top of that there’ll be additional fun for all over the weekend including climbing, other activities, live music, talks, food and more.
Checkout below what’s going on in more detail…
Kids Come and Try Kayaking Sessions
Sat 29th. Sun 30th. Mon 31st. 9.00am – 5pm. Cromford Canal Wharf
Try kayaking on the Cromford Canal. Sessions are for local youngsters aged between 7-16yrs. They are free of charge and run every 45 mins, starting at 9.30am each day. Bookings are in person only, at the canal wharf from 9am on each day. Sorry no bookings in advance. Equipment and expert instruction will be provided. Wetsuits and rashies advisable, shorts and T-shirts will work too. Wear beach shoes or old trainers and bring a change of clothes, the kids are sure to get wet, or wetter.
The Cromford Peak Challenge
Sat 29rd. Sun 30th. Mon 31st. 9am – 5pm. River Derwent
The Peak Challenge is back (again!). This multi-discipline paddlesports event combines Slalom, Downriver and now Kayak Cross to find an overall river master. If you’re of a certain age (!) you’ll remember the best multi-discipline kayaking series ever run in the UK, The Peak Challenge. We’ve brought it back! This event is family friendly and will take place on a normally peaceful, meandering section of the River Derwent in Cromford. The main focus of the weekend being inclusive, family fun; so, if you’re an old-timer parent you can race your kids, kids can race other kids, and their parents, and maybe even against World Champions! Open to all crafts, levels* and ages. (*need to be capable of paddling class 1 moving water safely)
The three disciplines will be run over three days, with a combined champion being crowned in each class after the Grand Kayak Cross final on Monday.
There is amazing B&B ensuite bunk room accommodation available just across the river, kindly provided by Manor Adventure at Willersley Castle. The castle will also be an evening hub for the event, with food, nightly entertainment, talks and chat also on site. Get booked in for a fun-filled family weekend on the water. Finish the Summer on a good one!
For more Peak Challenge Information click here.
