Wormhill is a quiet pretty little village that can be said to be off the beaten track, since it is set away from any main thoroughfare.

Its cluster of early stone-built houses, cottages and farms present themselves in a manner that is so typical of the upland white peak area of Derbyshire. Many of these attractive buildings have more recently been turned into holiday retreats or second homes.

For all that there is to the village, it sees more than its share of visiting walkers who come to share in Wormhill’s secluded and peaceful surroundings.

If you are tempted to linger a while, why not take a seat opposite the James Brindley memorial, made famous as the pioneer of the Canal system in Britain. This is the village well that is florally decorated by the locals as is customary on the last Saturday in August.

As you sit and consider this well and its cooling waters, and perhaps its history too, it maybe difficult to imagine that prior to water being made available on tap in everyone’s homes, they would have had to come here to collect it for all of their daily usage. Unfortunately, and as the sign declares, it is not recommended that you drink from it today.

This area was once a part of the Royal Forest of the Peak, where ever since the Norman Conquest, the ancient kings came to hunt for wild boar, deer or even wolves that all at one time roamed wild about this land. It is said that the last remaining wolf in Britain was killed right here in Wormhill.

Hidden beyond the countless drystone walls, there lies a myriad of public footpaths, each linking the village to the striking landscape that surrounds it.

To the east, it is possible to gain access to Monk’s Dale, a national nature reserve. Depending upon how you reached the village initially, to the south, the walker can quite easily find their way into the very picturesque Cheedale and then on to the Monsal Dale trail by following the signposted route.

However, please do not forget to take a look at St Margaret‘s church before you depart. Although completely rebuilt during the nineteenth century, it has many interesting architectural features to show the historian, or those that may just be curious enough to see it.

Other towns and villages that are close by are: Buxton, Tideswell, Peak Forest, Litton and Millers Dale. Each of these depicts a way of life that is so typical of Derbyshire and its people.