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
1. Wye Dale > Chee Dale
3.3 miles from Wyedale carpark: Starting at the Buxton end of the Trail and including a short stretch along stepping stones beside the River Wye at Chee Dale which some may find a bit daunting.
2. Bakewell > Lathkill Dale
9 miles from Bakewell Station: This walk passes Haddon Hall before heading towards Alport and on to the wonderfully picturesque Lathkill Dale before returning via Over Haddon.
3. Monsal Head > Monsal Dale
2 miles from Monsal Head: A wonderfully picturesque stroll from this popular viewpoint down to the River Wye and Monsal Dale. Perfect for a quick leg stretch and to clear away the cobwebs.
4. Monsal Head > Litton Mill
A fairly easy 5-mile walk from Monsal Head along the Trail and across Headstone Viaduct, before dropping down to Litton Mill, returning along the picturesque River Wye past Cressbrook Mill.
5. Ashford > Magpie Mine
Starting from the picture-postcard village of Ashford-in-the-Water, this 8-mile walk takes you beside the River Wye and through Deep Dale to the ruins of Magpie Mine – the scene of a triple murder.
6. Miller’s Dale > High Dale
Starting from Miller’s Dale Station, this walk of just under 7-miles crosses a mix of narrow paths, open fields and farm tracks to reach High Dale before dropping down to return along the Monsal Trail.
7. Wyedale > Chelmorton
A mix of picturesque riverside paths and open White Peak countryside on this 8-mile circular walk from Wyedale carpark through Chee Dale – with two sets of stepping stones – and on to Chelmorton.
8. Wyedale > Buxton
The biggest problem with the Trail is that it stops about three miles short of Buxton. But there is a 9-mile walk that will take you through two attractive dales to reach the famous Georgian spa town.
9. Miller’s Dale > 5 Wells Tomb
A 6-mile walk across the White Peak from a once-busy Victorian railway station to Britain’s highest Neolithic burial tomb where our ancient ancestors once buried their honoured dead.
10. Hassop Station > Ashford
This very easy 6-mile walk from Hassop Station crosses some wonderfully picturesque White Peak contryside to reach the equally scenic village of Ashford-in-the-Water, lying beside the River Wye.
11. Monsal Head > Ashford
A very easy 4-mile circular walk from Monsal Head to Ashford with an option to enjoy the wonderful views from the Iron Age settlement at Fin Cop, perched high above Monsal Dale.
12. Topley Pike > Wormhill
A 5-mile stroll from Topley Pike lay-by, a few miles from Buxton beside the A6 to Bakewell, along tracks and fields to Blackwell and then north to Wormhill, returning along the Monsal Trail.
13. Bakewell > Rowsley
Eight miles through some glorious White Peak countryside, from Bakewell at the eastern end of the Monsal Trail to Rowsley, returning along a section of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way.
14. Bakewell > Chatsworth
A 7-mile walk from the Peak District’s most popular town to its most popular tourist attraction, across some wonderfully scenic paths, tracks and open fields, returning through the village of Edensor.
15. Miller’s Dale > 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.
16. Hassop Station > 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.
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.
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 walks
Scroll through to see more walks in the series. Or click here to view them all on one page…
