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. Described with step-by-step photos and instructions, as well as fly-by videos.
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
Miller’s Dale to 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.
Bakewell to the 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.
Hassop Station to 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.
Hassop to 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.
Litton to 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.
White Lodge to Monsal Dale
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.
Miller’s Dale to 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.
Monsal Head to 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.
Ashford to 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.
Hassop Station to Bakewell
A gentle 4-mile stroll from Hassop Station down to the popular town of Bakewell, famed for its puddings, returning along the Monsal Trail, with many opportunities for refreshments along the way.
Deep Dale rewilding
Topley Pike Quarry lies close to the Buxton end of the Monsal Trail. Plans to return it to a nature reserve have been put on hold because of planning problems. Which is a great shame.
Miller’s Dale to Tideswell
From Miller’s Dale, this walk of just over seven miles passes through picturesque Tideswell Dale before heading across a mix of fields, lanes and tracks to reach Wormhill, returning along the River Wye.
Monsal Trail walks
Scroll through to see more walks in the series. Or click here to view them all on one page…
