The perfect medicine
The Monsal Trail is perfect for families with young children, or for a gentle stroll or cycle ride. But as a walking route, it has to be said that it can be a bit dull and boring. The good news is that there are many fine walks that either start from the trail, or cross it at some point. And it’s these that I’m planning to feature on this website.
They will range between 2 – 15 miles, and pass through some gloriously picturesque dales, valleys and riverside paths. Some of them will involve steepish slopes, but this is the White Peak, as opposed to the bleak landscape of the Dark Peak. So even the longest walks shouldn’t present any problems if you’re relatively fit and healthy.
And if you’re not fit and healthy, these walks will provide the perfect medicine…
Select by length: 2 – 4 miles | 5 – 7 miles | 8 – 10 miles | 11 – 13 miles | 14 – 16 miles
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17. Ashford > Churchdale
An easy 3-mile walk from the picture-postcard village of Ashford-in-the-Water to the Monsal Trail, returning through picturesque Churchdale and recorded during the village’s well-dressing week.
16. Hassop Station > Bakewell
A gentle 4-mile stroll from Hassop Station down to the popular town of Bakewell, famed for its puddings, returning along the Monsal Trail, with many opportunities for refreshments along the way.
15. Miller’s Dale > Tideswell
From Miller’s Dale, this walk of just over seven miles passes through picturesque Tideswell Dale before heading across a mix of fields, lanes and tracks to reach Wormhill, returning along the River Wye.
14. Bakewell > Chatsworth
A 7-mile walk from the Peak District’s most popular town to its most popular tourist attraction, across some wonderfully scenic paths, tracks and open fields, returning through the village of Edensor.
13. Bakewell > Rowsley
Eight miles through some glorious White Peak countryside, from Bakewell at the eastern end of the Monsal Trail to Rowsley, returning along a section of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way.
12. Topley Pike > Wormhill
A 5-mile stroll from Topley Pike lay-by, a few miles from Buxton beside the A6 to Bakewell, along tracks and fields to Blackwell and then north to Wormhill, returning along the Monsal Trail.
11. Monsal Head > Ashford
A very easy 4-mile circular walk from Monsal Head to Ashford with an option to enjoy the wonderful views from the Iron Age settlement at Fin Cop, perched high above Monsal Dale.
10. Hassop Station > Ashford
This very easy 6-mile walk from Hassop Station crosses some wonderfully picturesque White Peak contryside to reach the equally scenic village of Ashford-in-the-Water, lying beside the River Wye.
9. Miller’s Dale > 5 Wells Tomb
A 6-mile walk across the White Peak from a once-busy Victorian railway station to Britain’s highest Neolithic burial tomb where our ancient ancestors once buried their honoured dead.
8. Wyedale > Buxton
The biggest problem with the Trail is that it stops about three miles short of Buxton. But there is a 9-mile walk that will take you through two attractive dales to reach the famous Georgian spa town.