Matlock 10 minutes
Derby 24 minutes
Nottingham 56 minutes

Whatstandwell
Station

Matlock Bath
Cromford
Ambergate
Belper

Whatstandwell is set in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales countryside, surrounded by hillsides of open farmland and ancient woodland.

Discover wonderful walks and wildlife as you stroll along Cromford Canal, which runs past the station.

Nearby are Crich Tramway Village and Crich Stand, for a great family day out with panoramic views.

Station Facilities
  • Ticket Machine
  • Step Free Access
  • Parking
  • Toilets
Address

Whatstandwell station
Cromford Road
Whatstandwell
DE4 5HE

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Did you know?

Whatstandwell boasts two famous and heroic women. Florence Nightingale spent her early childhood and many summers at Lea Hurst (about a mile from the village) and returned here in 1856, after nursing soldiers during the Crimean War. Ellen MacArthur grew up in Whatstandwell and became at the age of 28, the fastest person to sail solo around the world.

Passenger Facilities 

The station is unstaffed and tickets can be purchased from the ticket machine in the waiting shelter.  There is a customer help point in the car park.

There are no toilets at the station.

There is step free access onto the platform from the car park.

Cycle parking is located on the station platform.

Getting to and from Whatstandwell Station

There is a direct public footpath route via the station and canal footbridges to the centre of Whatstandwell village. This well-used path also provides access from the station onto the Cromford Canal.  There is level access from the station entrance via a pavement along the A6 towards Cromford.

Parking at the Station 

East Midlands Railway operate the station car park, which includes disabled parking.

There are Off Peak, Weekend and Standard Parking rates available.

Parking is £2.50 for 24 hours, (multiple tickets may be purchased for more than one day), £8 weekly and £25 monthly. Annual tickets costing £250 are also available from Derby Station.

Off Peak is £2.00 Monday to Friday after 10am and anytime Saturday/Sunday/Bank Holidays.

At Weekends parking is £3.00 from 10am on Friday to Midnight on Sunday.

Further information is available on the East Midlands Railway Station Car Parking page

Local Bus Services from Whatstandwell

The nearest bus stops are on the main road (A6) outside the station. From here the hourly Transpeak links the towns and villages along the Derwent Valley and onward to Bakewell and Buxton.

Bus stop locations are displayed on the Onward Travel Map and bus timetables are available here.  When trains are replaced by buses. road replacement services pick up/drop off points are at the bus stops on the main road (A6) outside the station.

Taxis

Local taxi firms include:

Garside Taxis 01629 820 028

Deejay Taxis 01629 822 072

Whatstandwell is a small village located less than five minutes’ walk from the station.  There is direct access into the village via the station footbridge, stone steps and public footpath leading to Crich Carr Primary School in the centre of the village.  From the village it is a steep one mile walk up to Crich.

A five minute walk from the station, along the main road towards Cromford, is The Family Tree café with a large garden area, serving lunches, home-made cakes and refreshments. Just follow the pavement along the main road (A6) from the station car park to find the café adjacent to the river bridge.

Explore the area
Themed Attractions

Crich Tramway

Crich Tramway Village offers unlimited tram rides along a unique period street.

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Nature & Parks

Cromford Canal

Cromford Canal is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is a haven for water vole

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Heritage & Museums

High Peak Junction

High Peak Junction is home some of the earliest railway buildings in the world.

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Nature & Parks

High Peak Trail

High Peak Trail is a 17.5 mile walking and cycling trail near Cromford

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Nature & Parks

Lea Wood

Lea Wood is a semi-natural ancient woodland between Cromford and Whatstandwell.

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Heritage & Museums

Leawood Pump House

Leawood Pump House is a steam powered beam engine

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Heritage & Museums

Crich Stand

Crich Stand is an impressive landmark overlooking the Derwent Valley

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Things to do

Walks from Whatstandwell

Cromford Canal between Ambergate, Whatstandwell and Cromford is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is a haven for water vole and other wildlife.

More Info

Walk number 6, is a steep 3.5 mile walk between Whatstandwell and Ambergate via Crich through farmland, Crich Chase woodlands and along the towpath of the Cromford Canal

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Perri’s family tour from Whatstandwell leads along the Cromford Canal through Gregory’s Tunnel to High Peak Junction.

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Walk number 7, is a 4 mile walk between Whatstandwell and Cromford with a steep path section in Whatstandwell, through undulating farmland and along a surfaced track.

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Walk number 8, is a 4 mile walk between Cromford and Whatstandwell combining the Cromford Canal towpath with steep climbs through woodland. The views of the Derwent Valley are spectacular.

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This one will really test you with a climb of 750ft, but the elevation offers some great views. Add a further 63ft if you climb the Crich Memorial Tower.

This 4 mile walk starts from Whatstandwell station. Refreshment options at Family Tree, adjacent to river bridge in Whatstandwell, Cliff Inn at Crich and Memorial Tea Room at Crich Stand. Other refreshment options in Crich village, slightly off the route.

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Walk number 5, is a 4.5 mile walk between Ambergate and Whatstandwell through ancient woodland, old parkland and open farmland, with excellent views. There are no really steep climbs

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Derwent Valley Heritage Way is a 55 mile long distance footpath following the length of the River Derwent. Sections of the route may be undertaken as linear walks using the train between Derby and Matlock or other local bus services between Derby and Shardlow or between Matlock and Chatsworth.

More Info

Events

May 4

High Peak Junction Railway Workshops Forge Day

Have a go at being a blacksmith on the historic forge and make a poker to take home and keep, in some of the world's earliest railway buildings.

View
May 11

Introduction to blacksmithing at High Peak Junction

Skilled blacksmiths will walk you through the creation of a simple metalworking object, such as a BBQ fork, fire poker, or coat hook. Event by Derbyshire County Council.

View
May 25

Introduction to blacksmithing at High Peak Junction

Skilled blacksmiths will walk you through the creation of a simple metalworking object, such as a BBQ fork, fire poker, or coat hook. Event by Derbyshire County Council.

View
May 29

High Peak Junction Railway Workshops Forge Day

Have a go at being a blacksmith on the historic forge and make a poker to take home and keep, in some of the world's earliest railway buildings.

View
Jun 1

Introduction to blacksmithing at High Peak Junction

Skilled blacksmiths will walk you through the creation of a simple metalworking object, such as a BBQ fork, fire poker, or coat hook. Event by Derbyshire County Council.

View
Jun 16

High Peak Junction Railway Workshops Forge Day

Have a go at being a blacksmith on the historic forge and make a poker to take home and keep, in some of the world's earliest railway buildings.

View
Jul 6

Introduction to blacksmithing at High Peak Junction

Skilled blacksmiths will walk you through the creation of a simple metalworking object, such as a BBQ fork, fire poker, or coat hook. Event by Derbyshire County Council.

View
Jul 31

High Peak Junction Railway Workshops Forge Day

Have a go at being a blacksmith on the historic forge and make a poker to take home and keep, in some of the world's earliest railway buildings.

View
Aug 3

Introduction to blacksmithing at High Peak Junction

Skilled blacksmiths will walk you through the creation of a simple metalworking object, such as a BBQ fork, fire poker, or coat hook. Event by Derbyshire County Council.

View
Aug 7

High Peak Junction Railway Workshops Forge Day

Have a go at being a blacksmith on the historic forge and make a poker to take home and keep, in some of the world's earliest railway buildings.

View
Aug 14

High Peak Junction Railway Workshops Forge Day

Have a go at being a blacksmith on the historic forge and make a poker to take home and keep, in some of the world's earliest railway buildings.

View
Aug 21

High Peak Junction Railway Workshops Forge Day

Have a go at being a blacksmith on the historic forge and make a poker to take home and keep, in some of the world's earliest railway buildings.

View
Aug 24

Introduction to blacksmithing at High Peak Junction

Skilled blacksmiths will walk you through the creation of a simple metalworking object, such as a BBQ fork, fire poker, or coat hook. Event by Derbyshire County Council.

View
Aug 28

High Peak Junction Railway Workshops Forge Day

Have a go at being a blacksmith on the historic forge and make a poker to take home and keep, in some of the world's earliest railway buildings.

View
Sep 14

High Peak Junction Railway Workshops Forge Day

Have a go at being a blacksmith on the historic forge and make a poker to take home and keep, in some of the world's earliest railway buildings.

View
Oct 30

High Peak Junction Railway Workshops Forge Day

Have a go at being a blacksmith on the historic forge and make a poker to take home and keep, in some of the world's earliest railway buildings.

View
Dec 28

High Peak Junction Railway Workshops Forge Day

Have a go at being a blacksmith on the historic forge and make a poker to take home and keep, in some of the world's earliest railway buildings.

View

Station history

The railway opened in 1849 and for many years, Whastandwell was part of the mainline railway between London St Pancras and Manchester until in 1968, the line beyond Matlock was closed.  The original station called Whatstandwell Bridge opened in 1853 and was located just north of the tunnel. In 1894, this was replaced with a larger station, where the platform is today.

The Station Footbridge has been restored and repainted in traditional colours by Network Rail.  Information about the history of Whatstandwell Station is available here.

Station adoption

Since 2006, Friends of Whatstandwell Station have cared for the station, maintain planting tubs and platform flower baskets and planting around the station car park.

In 2021, three large planters from the Bee Friendly Trust have been installed with shrubs to attract insects.

The disused platform area across the track has been planted with low maintenance shrubs. Due to limited access, management of the planting is only possible on an occasional basis with agreement from East Midlands Railway and Network Rail.

Grants towards many of the improvements have been received from the Community Rail Network.

Whatstandwell Adopters
Adopters planting Bee Friendly Planters
Adopter and Planter
Whatstandwell Platform Planters
Adopters Planting
Whatstandwell artwork trains
Planting around car park