A Taste of the Peak District

Accommodation and attractions of the Peak District of the UK

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The Monsal Trail is just under 9 miles in length. It runs from the Coombs Road viaduct, about a mile south of Bakewell to Blackwell Mill junction, 3 miles or so from Buxton (east). The trail runs along the course of the old Midland Railway through the very heart of the Peak District; it is not continuous like the Tissington and High Peak trails owing to the high maintenance costs of the long and numerous tunnelled sections of the line. These have simply been closed off for safety. The building of the line was not welcomed by the Dukes of Devonshire and Rutland since it was to pass close to their Derbyshire residences (Devonshire refused to let the line be routed through Chatsworth Park and Rutland refused a line up the Wye Valley through Haddon Hall lands). Rutland compromised and the line was screened from Haddon using a tunnel. This can be seen as you come down from Chatsworth towards Haddon Hall. Also the station at Bakewell had to bear his coat of arms. Devonshire had a station built at Hassop, which is now the highly successful Country Bookstore. The line was completed in 1863 and closed a century later as part of the notorious 'Beeching Cuts'. The Peak Park authority bought the line and opened it as the Monsal Trail in 1980 after carrying out essential safety work. Footpaths connect the sections closed by tunnels, cyclists need to link the sections by road.

Perhaps the most interesting (and most challenging in times of heavy rain) link runs through Chee Dale - the stepping stones are often submerged under the waters of the river Wye! The best section for cycling (and horseriding) is probably the Bakewell to
Longstone section.

At Monsal head you will find one of the Peak Districts gems - the view down Monsal Dale. This is a good starting point for a variety of walks but note that the way down (and therefore back up) is very steep. Refreshments are available from the pub or tea shop. Parking is Pay and Display behind the pub (the car park in front of the pub is small and for short stays only).

Monsal Dale - Monsal Station is situated here and the Monsal Trail runs through this fascinating valley steeped in industrial history.

The main ‘on-trail’ car parks are at Bakewell and Millers Dale. Pay and Display parking is available at Monsal Head and Tideswell Dale.

There are various information points along the way detailing the closed sections, flora, fauna etc.

Peak District cycling map (in association with Amazon.co.uk).

Industrial Archaeology

To the east and west of Millers Dale station you can spot limekilns, used to produce quicklime for a variety of uses. Litton Mill lies downstream from Millers Dale station and is notorious for the uncompromising treatment of orphans by Ellis Needham, some as young as 9 years old,  from London and other major cities. These provided a source of cheap labour with no-one to show any concern. The graves of many of these child labourers are found in nearby churchyards. Despite its dark past, the mill is an interesting building which is now in the process of conversion into luxury apartments.

Further downstream still lies Cressbrook Mill, which was opened in 1783 by William Newton. Previously the site had been a herb distillery. Richard Arkwright supplemented his Cromford Mills through the use of Cressbrook. As happened to several of the Mills, the original one burnt down. The subsequent mill was in use until the mid 1960’s. The imposing building seen on the site today was built in the early 19th century to house the workforce - what a great view they woke up to! Today, the building has been converted into luxury apartments. More information can be found at the point the footpath regains the railway line after a short climb out of the valley.

Both of these mills were water powered.