Above: The White Peak at its pictureque best on this section of the route down from Wormhill to Flag Dale.
Starting from Topley Pike layby, just a few miles east of Buxton on the A6 to Bakewell, this attractive six-mile walk heads first to the hamlet of Blackwell before turning north and crossing the River Wye to reach Wormhill.
It also crosses the Monsal Trail at this point, but completely unseen as it runs underground through one of six tunnels along this stretch of the old railway line which once connected Manchester with London (click for a brief history of the railway).
Above: Click the map to enlarge in a new window.
Above: The village green at Wormhill is a great place for relaxing at around the half-way point. There are benches alongside an old set of stocks and a memorial to James Brindle (inset) who is known as the father of the Britain’s canal system.
The reurn is across a mix of farm tracks and picturesque fields, plus a short stretch of the Monsal Trail. The path from the end of the Trail back up to the layby is on the left. But for a selection of drinks, snacks and ice cream, Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire is just down the slope on the right (it closes during winter).
There’s also a small cafe at Beech Croft Camping Park in Blackwell, but opening times can vary.
There’s a regular bus service between Buxton and Bakewell that stops near the start. The nearest train station is at Buxton. And if you fancy making a day of it, you could walk from Buxton to Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire, and start your walk from there. (See walk details here – from points 11 to 2.)
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’.