Above: There are some wonderful views from along the ridge.
At around two miles this is one of the shortest walks on the website. I came across the route on an information board at Miller’s Dale Station. It’s described as a ‘wild flower walk’, and runs east along the Monsal Trail, crossing one of the two viaducts before heading up a steepish slope along the border of Priestcliffe Leas Nature Reserve.
Above: Click the map to open in a new window.
Above: The gate leading into High Dale; one of the quietest and prettiest valleys in the White Peak.
Starting from the pay and display carpark at the old Miller’s Dale Station (where there’s a popular cafe as well as public toilets), the walk sets off along the Monsal Trail before heading south through Priestcliffe Lees Nature Reserve. This is the steepest part of the walk.
From the top of the slope, the route follows a wide farm track, passing the small hamlet of Brushfield before dropping down to High Dale; a short but very picturesque valley.
A mix of tracks
It then crosses a number of fields and stiles to reach the outskirts of Priestcliffe, returning to the Trail along a mix of farm tracks, as well as field and woodland paths. It’s then a short distance back to Miller’s Dale Station.
As well as the carpark cafe, refreshments are also available at the popular Anglers Rest pub in the village of Miller’s Dale. To visit the pub, turn right rather than left when you reach the Trail, and follow the first footpath sign on your left down the slope.
Click below for full step-by-step instructions, photos, map and GPX file.
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’.