Welcome
This website is a personal celebration of the most popular walking, cycling and horse-riding route in Britain’s most popular National Park. I hope you enjoy your visit.
Walking routes
A selection of wonderful walks either starting from the Trail, or crossing it at some point, with step-by-step directions, photos, maps and downloadable GPX files for any walking app.
Places of interest
In this section I’ll try to explain the history of the many features and places both on and near to the Trail, including some wonderfully picturesque villages with their pubs, cafes and parking spots.
Blog posts
27. Topley Pike > Tunstead
An 8-mile walk from Topley Pike lay-by to Tunstead, the largest limestone quarry in the UK, passing along the River Wye and over two sets of stepping stones, and returning through picturesque Woodale.
Tunstead Quarry
Lying just a few miles east of Buxton, Tunstead is the largest limestone quarry in the UK. And its railway could provide the much-needed link between the Monsal Trail and Buxton.
26. Miller’s Dale wild flowers
A short 2-mile stroll from Miller’s Dale Station following the ‘Wild Flowers Walk’ along the border of Priestcliffe Nature Reserve. There’s a bit of a climb but it’s well worth the effort for the views.
25. Miller’s Dale > Brushfield
A 5-mile stroll from Miller’s Dale Station through some glorious White Peak countryside, passing the hamlet of Brushfield to reach picturesque High Dale, and returning by Priestcliffe.
Grey Ladies Circle
Lying close to Robin Hood’s Stride, the Grey Ladies Stone Circle once boasted nine standing stones. Five have been removed over the millennia, but the four remaining are the tallest in Derbyshire.
Rowtor Rocks
The bizarre carvings at Rowtor Rocks – including thrones, altars, steps and prehistoric-style symbols – are the work of an eccentric Birchover Rector who also seems to have been a practicing Druid.
The Hermit’s Cave
The recently-posted 14-mile walk from Bakewell to Robin Hood’s Stride passes a medieval hermit’s cave with a crude carving of the crucifixion dated to the late 14th century.
24. Bakewell > RH Stride
This 14 mile walk from Bakewell includes two Neolithic stone circles, a hermit’s cave, one of Derbyshire’s most historic country houses, and the bizarre rock carvings of an eccentric 18th century vicar.
Reinstating the railway
The last train ran along what today is the Monsal Trail in 1969. But calls for the reinstatement of the line to provide a public transport link between Buxton and Bakewell are gaining support.
23. Hassop Station > Eyam
At 11 miles this walk from Hassop Station to the plague village of Eyam is one of the longest in the series, but also one of the most fascinating, featuring a highwayman, film star and heroic vicar.
Thirst House Cave
Thirst House Cave lies beside the path from King Sterndale across Deep Dale. It’s one of many similar caves in the White Peak’s limestone landscape where our ancient ancestors once found shelter.
22. Hassop > Longstone Edge
A walk of just under 5 miles from Hassop Station through the village of Great Longstone and up to Longstone Edge with its panoramic views across the landscape, returning along field paths.
21. Litton > Cressbrook Dale
An 8-mile walk from the pretty village of Litton through two of the White Peak’s most picturesque dales – Tideswell and Cressbrook – returning past one of Derbyshire’s most gruesome landmarks.
20. White Lodge > Monsal Da.
A fairly easy 5.5-mile walk from White Lodge carpark, through Great Shacklow Wood and along the River Wye to the picturesque village of Ashford-in-the-Water, returning through Monsal Dale.
19. Miller’s Dale > Monk’s Dale
This 5.5-mile walk from Miller’s Dale includes some wonderfully scenic paths, but the short section through Monk’s Dale can be quite challenging, although well worth the effort.
18. Monsal Head > Longstones
There are some wonderful views on this 6-mile walk from Monsal Head up to the site of a Bronze Age burial mound at the highest point of Longstone Moor, before returning through Great Longstone.
Monsal Trail by LVR
A small electric train connecting the Monsal Trail with Buxton would greatly benefit this famous Georgian spa town, but the project seems to have come to a grinding halt because of a lack of funding.
17. Ashford > Churchdale
An easy 3-mile walk from the picture-postcard village of Ashford-in-the-Water to the Monsal Trail, returning through picturesque Churchdale and recorded during the village’s well-dressing week.
Monsal Trail walks
Scroll through to see more walks in the series. Or click here to view them all on one page…
