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. Parking is £2.50 for 24 hours, (multiple tickets may be purchased for more than one day), £9 weekly and £27 monthly. Annual tickets costing £268 are also available from Derby Station.
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 there is a limited bus service to Crich on service 144.
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.
The canal closely follows the route of the railway between Ambergate, Whatstandwell and Cromford making it easy to re-join the train from these stations. Whatstandwell is situated approximately halfway between the terminus of the Cromford Canal at Cromford Wharf, and Ambergate.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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