The Monsal Trail
Welcome to the Monsal Trail. The old Midland Railway line now carries walkers, cyclists and horse riders for 8½ miles through the limestone dales of the Peak District, from Blackwell Mill near Buxton to Bakewell. Along the way you cross Headstone Viaduct, walk through lit railway tunnels and look down on the River Wye far below.
Here you’ll find a collection of circular walks from the trail, with maps, printable guides and GPX files, and the stories of the stations, mills and people along the line.
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Find a walk
Circular walks from short strolls to full-day hikes, each starting from the trail or crossing it along the way. Every walk has a free overview with photos; the full step-by-step guide and GPX file are available to buy from £1.50.
Choose a walk length below, or compare all the walks by length, climb and start point →
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Explore the Goyt Valley
Just a few miles west of Buxton, the Goyt Valley winds through gritstone moorland and woods, past two reservoirs and the ruins of Errwood Hall – a contrast to the limestone dales of the White Peak. This companion website has a wide range of walks for every ability, with maps, history and practical information.
Stories from the trail
There’s more to the Monsal Trail than the walking. Here you’ll find the stories behind the mills, caves and stations along the line, along with news about the trail and its future.
Brief history
Today’s quiet and peaceful Monsal Trail once rang to the noisy sounds of steam engines running on one of the most important railway lines in the country, linking Manchester with London.
Bakewell Station
Bakewell Station played a vital part in the town’s prosperity and expansion, but it very nearly didn’t happen when the Duke of Rutland refused permission for it to pass close to Haddon Hall.
Hassop Station
Hassop Station was built to the highest standards and included a first class waiting room designed to entice the Duke of Devonshire. But it was all to no effect as he preferred Rowsley!
Great Longstone Station
Great Longstone Station was the third stop on Midland Railway’s extension from Bakewell to London and Buxton. It opened in 1863 and closed 99 years later in 1962; a victim of the Beeching cuts.
Monsal Dale Station
A stretch of platform is all that’s left of Monsal Dale Railway Station which lay on the Buxton side of Headstone Viaduct. It was the last of five stations to be built on this section of the line.
Miller’s Dale Station
Set in typically scenic Peak District countryside, Miller’s Dale Station became an unlikely but important intercity hub in the heyday of steam travel on the route between London and Manchester.