Above: Tideswell Dale is one of the shortest but most picturesque dales in the White Peak.
Starting from Miller’s Dale Station, this walk of just over seven miles heads first along the Monsal Trail towards the Bakewell end, before dropping down to cross the River Wye near Litton Mill.
A display board on the right provides some fascinating information about the rock formations uncovered when the railway workers blasted their way through Litton Cutting. It’s mainly limestone, dating back some 330 million years ago and formed by the remains of shelly creatures that swam in a warm sea that covered most of Britain.
Above: Click the map to enlarge.
Above: The boulder behind the information board (inset) is known as a ‘pillow’ and was formed when an ancient lava flow entered the sea.
From the footbridge over the Wye, the route soon enters Tideswell Dale, which is a wonderfully scenic spot, before heading north towards Tideswell. The walk doesn’t go as far the town centre, with it’s impressive ‘Cathedral of the Peak’ church, but it’s only a 10-minute stroll away.
The walk then heads across a mix of fields, lanes and farm tracks towards Wormhill, before again dropping down to the Wye and walking along the river bank to rejoin the Monsal Trail.
Click below for full step-by-step directions and photos of the walk.
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’.