Above: The River Wye rushing through picturesque Chee Dale is a glorious sight.
An eight-mile walk through two very different landscapes – the first along the River Wye from Wyedale carpark through Chee Dale to meet the Monsal Trail near Miller’s Dale Station. The second across a mix of open fields, farm tracks and footpaths to reach the village of Chelmorton, returning past Topley Pike Quarry.
The route crosses over two sets of stepping stones along Chee Dale which some may find a bit daunting. But most of the stones are regular with flat surfaces, and it’s easy to place a reassuring hand on the side of the gorge. So they’re not particularly difficult to cross.
Above: Click the map to open in a new window.
Above: I wouldn’t recommend taking small children, or carrying a dog across the stones, but I’ve seen people do both without any problem. If you’re at all nervous, the second set of stones are easily avoided by taking a short-cut up to the Trail.
One other issue with this part of the walk is mud – especially in winter months or after a lot of rain. So walking boots are a good idea if you’re going during these times. There’s also a few short sections of the route that need care close to the river bank.
Wyedale carpark is quite small so can fill up on popular days such as weekends and school holidays, or when the weather’s looking fine. Alternatively you could start from the larger carpark at Miller’s Dale Station (where there’s a cafe and toilets), or in Chelmorton where you can usually find on-road parking near the Church Inn.
There’s a regular bus service between Buxton and Tideswell which stops near Wyedale carpark. Buxton is the nearest train station.
Click below for full step-by-step directions 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’.