The Monsal Trail is a traffic-free route for walkers, runners, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users through spectacular limestone dales with incredible views from places like the iconic Headstone Viaduct (as often seen from Monsal Head).
The trail is 8.5 miles long, stretching at its furthest points between Blackwell Mill in Chee Dale and Coombs Road in Bakewell, with lots of access points connecting to additional footpaths and bridleways. The route is near to Great Longstone, Little Longstone, Cressbrook Mill, Litton Mill and Tideswell Dale.
The route follows the former Manchester to London Midland Railway line, closed in the late 1960s.
Families with young children and pushchairs, wheelchair users, cyclists and strollers will love the Monsal Trail for its easy access and flat surfaces through White Peak hills and dales. There are a number of refreshment stops along the way.
Facilities
Parking
The old stations at Bakewell, Hassop and Millers Dale have pay and display car parks and offer easy access onto the Trail. At Bakewell, walkers and cyclists can also park in the pay and display car parks at the Agricultural Business Centre or in the town centre with footpath access to Coombs Road and then to the Trail.
There are also pay and display car parks at Tideswell Dale (with EV charging) – about 1 mile from the Trail, and at Wyedale – a ten minute walk along a bridleway to the Trail at Blackwell Mill. Access from Monsal Head is only via a steep walk to the Trail where it crosses the Headstone Viaduct. These locations are not accessible routes to the Trail.
Coaches can be parked at Bakewell’s Agricultural Business Centre and at Monsal Head car park.
Café and toilets
The old stations at Hassop and Millers Dale have cafés and accessible toilets. The renovated Goods Shed at Millers Dale Station provides visitor information, background to the Trail’s railway heritage and offers shelter for picnickers if the weather is bad.
A full Changing Places Toilet (CPT) facility is available at Millers Dale Station and can be accessed directly from the car park area, adjacent to the EV charging zone. Please use a Radar Key or ask at the Refreshment Rooms.
Picnics, no BBQs
You can enjoy a picnic at various points along the Monsal Trail, but please take home what you bring. BBQs or fires of any sort are not permitted anywhere along the Monsal Trail or surrounding land.
Visiting with your dog
Dogs are welcome on the Trail but please keep them on a lead for the safety and respect of other visitors. Adjacent fields may contain livestock where extra care should be taken. Please take mess home or use one of the designated bins along the Trail.
Bike hire
To explore more of the Peak District National Park on our traffic free routes, visit the High Peak Trail and Tissington Trail. Easy access, pay and display parking and bike hire for these trails are at Parsley Hay and Ashbourne.
Our Parsley Hay and Ashbourne bike hire centres also offer a range of supported access and mobility equipment.
Map
The Monsal Trail is in the middle of the Peak District National Park. Bakewell is at one end of the Trail and Blackwell Mill, near Buxton, is at the other end.
You can access the Monsal Trail in many places. Easy access for wheelchair and mobility scooter users is at Bakewell Station, Hassop Station, Great Longstone Station and Millers Dale Station.
https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/places-to-visit/trails/monsaltrail
Things to do in Bakewell in the Peak District & Derbyshire
Idyllically situated on the banks of the river Wye, Bakewell is the biggest town in the Peak District National Park. With mellow stone buildings, a medieval five-arched stone bridge and quaint courtyards, it’s a magnet for painters, photographers and sightseers alike.
Legend has it that the town’s famous Bakewell Pudding was created by mistake by a local cook in the mid-19th century. Today her delectable ‘jam tart that went wrong’ can be sampled at various bakeries and cafés and posted virtually anywhere in the world!
Bargains galore are on offer every Monday at the bustling outdoor market, and for an extra buzz, head for the livestock market to experience the action in the theatre-like auction ring.
Cherry-pick choice local produce at one of Britain’s best Farmers’ Markets or browse in specialist shops selling everything from high fashion and outdoor clothing to handmade chocolates and rare whiskies. Savour a light snack, lunch or dinner at a host of cafés, restaurants, pubs and tea rooms and take a brewery tour and sample world-beating craft beers at Thornbridge Brewery.
Catch the colour of Bakewell Carnival Week and Well Dressing in July or Bakewell Show, one of the oldest agricultural events in the country, in August.
https://visitpeakdistrict.com/locations/bakewell