Above: The view as you exit the higher path from Cressbrook Dale. The lower path emerges from the trees along the valley floor at bottom left.
This 8-mile circular walk from the pretty village of Litton passes through two of the White Peak’s most popular and scenic dales – Tideswell and Cressbrook – each with its own particular character.
Tideswell Dale is short, picturesque and very easy to walk through along well-made paths. At 2.5 miles from end to end, Cressbrook Dale is much longer, with narrow, woodland tracks through woodland at the southern end before opening into a wide valley.
Cressbrook Dale was in the news recently when local residents led a successful campaign against plans by an ex-Dragons’ Den investor to create a self-sufficient ‘eco settlement’ on part of the land (see Save Cressbrook Dale website).
There are two routes through Cressbrook – a higher one to enjoy the wonderfully panoramic views (which this walk follows). And a lower one that continues along the rocky floor of the dale, beside the winterbourne (dry in summer) stream through the trees.
There’s also an option of reducing the walk by taking a shortcut across a small footbridge at point 18 on the map.
Above: Click the map to open in a new window.
Above: Peter’s Stone is said to have gained its name because, from a distance, it has a similar shape to the dome of St Peter’s Basicala in Rome’s Vatican City.
At the northern end of Cressbrook Dale stands the distinctive limestone knoll known as Peter’s Stone. Although the route doesn’t go up to the landmark, it’s just a short detour from the path at point 19 on the map.
Peter’s Stone has a gruesome history as the site of Derbyshire’s last gibbet, where executed men were left to rot in an iron cage suspended from its side (click for a good explanation).
The scenic route
From here it’s a short walk up the other side of the valley to reach the road into Litton. But rather than walk on tarmac along a road with no pavement, the route takes a more scenic route around the edge of the gorge.
There’s a small shop in Litton serving drinks and snacks. And the popular Red Lion pub has outside benches on the village green and offers a good range of drinks and meals.
On-street parking is usually easy to find in Litton. There’s also an alternative carpark at point 4 on the map. There are regular buses through Litton from Buxton, Bakewell and Tideswell. The nearest train stations would be Buxton, Grindleford and Bakewell.
Click below for full step-by-step instructions and photos.
A ‘Relive’ version of the walk. Click to play and use the expand option to view in full-screen. Click here for more Monsal Trail ‘Relives’.