1: From Hassop Station carpark, walk past the cafe entrance to reach the Monsal Trail and turn right. Hassop was one of five stations on the stretch of railway that makes up today’s Trail. Click here for a brief history of the station as well as photos. 

2: I recorded the walk on a Bank Holiday when it was very busy with both walkers and cyclists. The general rule is to keep to the left, but it’s often ignored. And some cylists can come along at speed, so care is needed.

3: Turn left at the first footpath sign just a short distance from the station, passing through a small gate, and head up the slope. The attractive house behind you – beside the road – was once a toll-keeper’s cottage. Which is why you can see a large gate fixed to the top-storey wall.

4: Continue for some distance along this attractive track between stone walls, passing through a series of farm gates. It eventually leads all the way to the outskirts of Bakewell, but this route takes a turn before reaching the historic town. (It takes about 30 minutes to walk from here into Bakewell.)

5: Look out for a footpath sign to Great Longstone on your right, just before a farm gate leading into an open field, and follow the direction diagonally right up the slope.

6:  Keep in the same direction through a small gate in the stone wall, following the small arrow towards the right of some trees in the distance.

7: As you come over the rise, head for a metal gate to the right of a small farmhouse.

8: Keep to the right of the trees until you see a wooden stile in a dislapidated stone wall. Go through here and follow the track – which can get overgrown at times – down the slope.

9: Go through a small gate at the end of the track, crossing the open field in the same direction, diagonally right.

10: Head towards the farmhouses, going through another small gate to reach the main road, and turn left along the narrow verge. Traffic can come along here at speed, so care is needed for this short stretch of road.

11: Turn left just a short distance further, along the narrow lane to Churchdale. (The Monsal Trail runs over the bridge just behind you. So it’s possible to shorten the walk by passing under the bridge, climbing some steps on the right, and turning left along the Trail.)

12: Follow this attractive lane for some distance, taking the left hand fork when it divides, and then looking out for a wooden stile beside a wide gate on your right.

13: Cross this open field, heading towards the far right hand corner where you’ll see some steps in the stone wall, to the left of the farm gate. Cross these and head down the slope, keeping to the right of the wire fence until you reach another stile leading into woodland.

14: Follow this narrow path down the slope to reach a wooden gate. Go through here to reach the main road, cross over and turn left along the pavement towards Ashford. (Again, this is a busy road with limited visibility so take care when crossing.)

15: Follow a footpath sign on your right as you reach Ashford along a narrow path. Turn left when you reach the road, and then right past the shop. The newly reopened Ashford Arms opposite offers a good range of food and drink. The Bull’s Head a short distance further on the right is a more traditional pub. Both have beer gardens. There’s also a popular cafe just beyond the Bulls Head.

16: Follow the road around to the right up Fennel Street. The ancient Sheepwash Bridge over the River Wye on your left gets its name from a stone enclosure on the opposite bank. Sheep were penned here before being driven across the river to clean their coats before shearing.

17: Continue past the small carpark on your right, up the slope to exit the village. Look out for a well-hidden footpath sign beside a stone stile on your right marked Monsal Head.

18: At the end of this narrow track, go through a gate and then slightly left across the road. Follow the footpath sign down the stoney track and then head in the same direction across the field, keeping to the left of the stone wall

19: Continue in the same direction through a number of gates to reach a stone stile in the far right corner of the field. (The path continues across the road, but this next section can get muddy. One option is to turn right, up the road, which will bring you to a bridge over the Monsal Trail. Some steps on the other side will take you down to the Trail – simply turn left to rejoin the route at 22.)

20: Go through a stile on the opposite side of the road, and follow the obvious track for some distance as it croses a number of fields and stiles.

21: The path eventually rises up the slope towards some steps in a stone wall beside a footpath sign. You’re now back on the Monsal Trail. Turn right, following the sign to Bakewell.

22: You soon reach what remains of Great Longstone Station. This was the next station to Hassop on Midland Railway’s line between Derby and Manchester. (Click here for a brief history of the station, as well as a selection of photos.) Just beyond the station on the right is a path leading up to Thornbridge Hall’s ‘Quackers Cafe‘ which serves a wide selection of snacks and drinks.

23: Continue along the Trail to return to Hassop Station. The cycle hire shop just behind the cafe has a good range of bikes for all ages and sizes, including electrics. It’s a good way to enjoy the complete 8.5 mile track, especially if you have children.