Above: The dashed green line shows the route of the Monsal Trail. I’ve also marked all the carparks mentioned in the walk descriptions.

Getting to the Monsal Trail…

…by car

All walk descriptions on this website start from public carparks, or places where on-street parking is usually easy to find. Click on any of the starting places below to find its location in Google Maps.

The roads in this part of Derbyshire weren’t built for the amount of traffic they now attract. Which is why the Peak District National Park is trying to encourage visitors to use public transport wherever possible.

…by bus

From Buxton

The TP3 (Trans Peak 3) service (orange dash line) passes White Lodge and Ashford in the Water on its way to Bakewell. But it doesn’t pass Wyedale car park – which is closest to the Buxton end of the Trail.

The No. 65 Stagecoach service (blue dash line) from Buxton to Sheffield passes both Wyedale and Miller’s Dale.

From Bakewell

The TP3 service from Matlock through Bakewell passes Ashford in the Water and White Lodge on its route to Buxton. There are walks along the Trail from both places on this website.

The No. 173 Andrews of Tideswell service (red dash line) between Bakewell and Castleton passes Monsal Head, which lies above the Monsal Trail, as well as Great Longstone and Ashford in the Water, which are both within easy walking distance.

The easiest way to discover if there are any bus routes to a particular starting point is to use the links below to open a Google map. And then click the public transport symbol under Google’s directions.

Another way to find bus routes and time tables is to use the links in the third column below. These can provide more up-to-date information, and even a map showing where the nearest bus is in real time. Simply open a ‘…by bus’ link below and then click the ‘Map’ tab at top right of the webpage.

Walk starting point...by car...by bus
Ashford in the WaterGoogle mapNearest bus stops & times
Bakewell Bridge carparkGoogle mapNearest bus stops & times
Bakewell StationGoogle mapNearest bus stops & times
Chelmorton Church InnGoogle mapNearest bus stops & times
Hassop StationGoogle mapNearest bus stops & times:
Going north : Going south
LittonGoogle mapNearest bus stops & times
Millers Dale StationGoogle mapNearest bus stops & times
Monsal Head carparkGoogle mapNearest bus stops & times
Topley Pike laybyGoogle mapNo nearby bus stops.
White LodgeGoogle mapNearest bus stops & times:
Going west : Going east
Wyedale carparkGoogle mapNearest bus stop & times:
Going west : Going east

…by train

These are the three nearest railway stations to the Monsal Trail…

Buxton

Best for trains from Manchester & Northwest: Station website : Googlemaps

Grindleford

Best for trains from Sheffield & Northeast: Station website : Googlemaps

Matlock

Best for trains from Derby and South: Station website : Googlemaps