Route: Cressbrook Dale
Area: Derbyshire, Peak District
Date of walk: 10th August 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.6 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Mixed cloud and sunshine
We parked at Monsal Head, from where there are superb views over the White Peak area of the Peak District, and walked down the Longstone Road, turning left at the Packhorse Inn to climb up through the fields. Eventually we joined the road leading into Wardlow, the only unsatisfactory section of an otherwise perfect walk as the road is quite busy
It was a relief to reach Wardlow and to turn off along a path leading down into Cressbrook Dale, a valley which has been designated a National Nature Reserve, with many rare and semi-alpine plants to be found in spring and early summer
After walking along the dale we joined the Monsal Trail which runs along the former Midland Railway line and is popular with cyclists
When we reached a tunnel we left the Trail and climbed back up to Monsal Head to conclude a lovely walk which we will remember for the big skies and huge views over the surrounding countryside
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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Early morning in the garden of the excellent Fischer’s Baslow Hall - our base for this week’s walking holiday
The start of the walk from Monsal Head - we’ll be crossing the viaduct at the end of the walk
We set off for Little Longstone, a short distance down the road - this is the view on our right
The chapel at Little Longstone…
A little further down the road we reach the Packhorse Inn, and turn left to follow a path which crosses several small meadows
We climb gently uphill
Looking back, with Monsal Head right of picture
Another view back, with the skyscape as good as the landscape
We join a track through Cherpit Plantation
Looking back over the chapel at Little Longstone on the left and Monsal Head on the right
We descend through the fields to the road below
The roadside section into Wardlow lasts for about half a mile
We passed by several circular ponds like this, which provide a habitat for great crested newts
It’s good to get away from the road and turn off along this path marked to Ravensdale
We head towards Cressbrook Dale
Looking back to Wardlow
The start of the descent into Cressbrook Dale
Looking north along the dale - we’ll be walking south through its woodland section
Another view along the northern part of the dale
We descend into the woodland below
Ravensdale Cottages
The path ends and is replaced by a quiet lane leading to Cressbrook
When we reach the hamlet of Cressbrook we cross the bridge over the River Wye
Upperdale
We pass below the railway arch to join the Monsal Trail
The Monsal Trail
We leave the trail at the end of the impressive viaduct
Looking down Monsal Dale from the viaduct
At the entrance to Headstone Tunnel we turn left and climb uphill to Monsal Head
The viaduct from Monsal Head
…and looking back towards Cressbrook Dale at the end of a wonderful walk
