The stepping stones at Chee Dale can be a bit daunting when the water level is high. But pressing a hand against the side of the gorge makes it safer.
For the very first walk in this series I decided to start at the western end of the Monsal Trail – from Wyedale carpark on the A6, just a few miles from the outskirts of Buxton.
At just over three miles long, it will be one of the shortest routes I’ll feature on this website. It’s an ideal walk for those wanting a short stroll – maybe with children old enough to enjoy the challenge of crossing the stepping stones.
It’s very much a walk of two halves. The first along the picturesque bank of the River Wye (which can get muddy after rain and in winter months). The second along the hard but easy-going surface of the Monsal Trail.
Above: Click the map to open in a new window.
Above: I first recorded this walk back in February when the riverside path was very muddy, and even slightly flooded in parts.
You’ll often see groups of novice climbers learning their skills on the rock faces at Chee Dale. As well as groups of school children heading up to the Trail to try their hands at abseiling down from the high bridges.
Wyedale carpark is quite small and can soon fill up on weekends. It’s also ‘pay & display’. An alternative starting point is the large – and free-to-park – layby just a short distance further along the A6 towards Bakewell known as Topley Pike.
There’s a small gate at the far end of the layby – simply follow the path as it winds down the slope to reach the start of the Monsal Trail. Cross over the Trail down towards the cycle-hire shop and you’ll see the footbridge at point 3 on the map.
There is a bus stop just beside Wyedale carpark on the Buxton\Tideswell route. Buxton is the nearest railway station. You can also walk to the footbridge all the way from Buxton by following directions from the Wyedale to Buxton walk – but in reverse.
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’.