*Peak District Walks participates in the Amazon Services Associates Programme, as well as other affiliateprogrammes. Both the short stay and long stay Monsal Head car parks are open 24 hours a day and parking charges apply all day. Monsal Dale weir. Lovely views. nice food at the pub too, Amazing easy trail suitable for families with small kids. After around 500m on this road section you will see a small private road branching off to the right. Young children will enjoy the magic of the monsal valley and viaduct. Thank you so much. The trail runs along the former Midland Railway line for 8.5 miles between Blackwell Mill, in Chee Dale and Coombs Road, at Bakewell. If its waterfalls that float your boat there is another amazing waterfall on Kinder Scout. To reach the Monsal Head car park from Buxton, head southeast on the A6 for 14.6 km and turn left onto Buxton Road. Check prices here with Ordnance Surveyor Amazon. *Peak District Walks participates in the Amazon Services Associates Programme, as well as other affiliateprogrammes. Today, its still a popular stop for people who want to see some of the best views in the national park or those who want to experience the popular Monsal Trail. Lovely evening walk when the crowds have gone, Loved this trail, really interesting, lots to see. Interpretation explaining the former history of the route has also been installed. This is a very popular area for hiking, running, and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Monsal Head car park This post may contain affiliate links. After the viaduct keep going straight ahead across the fields keeping the river to your left. Following work by the Peak District National Park Authority using 2.25 million funding from the Department of Transport the tunnels have been repaired, resurfaced and lit to form an extension to the existing Monsal Trail. For specific fees and more information about car parks and parking permits, please visit https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/planning-your-visit/parking. Be careful with your footing as there are tree roots and stumps that stick up along the footpath and there is a steep drop to the right. There are also public toilets located at the long stay car park at Monsal Head. Many people will be travelling from the likes of Bakewell but you can also follow the roads from Tideswell and Millers Dale by the River Wye. The route is closer to 1.5 miles, so a great short loop, however you do have the walk back uphill so be sure to add on extra time on the way back! Leave Miller's Dale old station car park and head right along the multi-purpose Monsal Trail for Wye Dale. Corporate Volunteering and Sponsorship for Businesses, Monsal Trail - Work to re-open the tunnels, How to get to the Monsal Trail by bus or train, Find out more about the work to re-open the tunnels. Please keep the Peak District beautiful and respect everyone who uses the park. Monsal Head - Long Stay Castlegate Lane Derbyshire Dales DE45 1NJ +44 1629 761333 http://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/community-a-living/parking/car-park-charges - Advertisement - Prices Mon-Sun - All day 1 Hour 1.50 2 Hours 2.50 3 Hours 3.80 4 Hours 5.00 24 Hours 6.00 (ends at 08:00) Overnight 1.00 (In after 18:00 Out by 08:00) Opening Times After 50 metres the path splits in two. If the conditions are right you can also see low cloud in the valley. Stay safe & enjoy. The way soon crosses the first of a series of viaducts before plunging into Chee Tor Tunnel. Most of the route was opened to the public in 1981 but four former railway tunnels had to remain closed due to safety reasons, with public footpaths taking people around them. Please note 'Peak District Walks' accepts no liability for any injuries or accidents resulting from walking our routes. Once across youll see a some buildings, walk past these then immediately after the building, turn right and head down the footpath alongside them. The path is narrow and gradually continue downhill, through another gate and then you reach the River Wye and Monsal Weir. You can access Monsal Head by car. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Ah so lovely to hear Im glad you had a wonderful walk in the rain! Nowadays, even though the railway is not here, Monsal Head Viewpoint is still an extremely popular tourist destination. Regardless of when you visit, youll be greeted with unobstructed views all around you! Guided Walks with an introduction to map reading (see dates here). From the viewpoint, follow the footpath to the left (signposted Ashford Monsal Dale), which leads downhill. The campsite has a small shop that sells the farm's own meats, eggs, cakes and treats, while the village is also host to a local shop and 3 great pubs, The Crispin Inn (01629 640237; bar full of trinkets and well-kept ales and a good beer garden) and The White Lion (01629 640252; a more modern feel), both just a 5-10-minute walk down Moor Road. Also, please use these walks as a guide; access and stiles may change. 8. Date of experience: April 2018. After around 1km you will reach Monsal Head again. There are some nice ways to extend the Monsal Head walk. After you cross this Monsal viaduct keep following the monsal trail into Cressbrook dale, Millers dale and Chee dale. They are operated by a light sensor, so in winter when the hours of daylight are less, the lights in the tunnels will switch off earlier in the day - around 4.30pm. Take a moment to appreciate the fantastic view. Getting there: There are no public transport routes to Monsal Head. Lovely walk even for our 4 year old. Find parking charges, opening hours and a parking map of all Monsal Head car parks, street parking, pay and display, parking meters and private garages. Monsal Head - Long Stay 89 spaces. Let me know in the comments if youve done this walk fromMonsal Head and what you think! I want to inspire you & turn your wildest travel dreams into a reality through my travel guides! Follow the path up to the left. Monsal Trail Bike Hire If you don't have your own bike and are looking for bike hire along the trail, you're in luck! The Hobbs Caf tearoom is also a building that has a history since the Victorian era where it used to provide refreshments for the Midlands Railway workers. Enjoy the waterfall. Then click here to download the PDF to print out at home. Car parks are shown on the Monsal Trail map. Where is the best place to stay for the Monsal head walk? All our parking attendants, managers, supervisors and directors of operation are required to go through our extensive and proprietary Step Up to the Four Promises plan. The Valley is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and also as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Rivers can of course be hideously dangerous, so please do be careful and of course dont go in if it seems too deep or too fast; it can change a lot in different seasons. The Monsal Trail is a traffic free route for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users through some of the Peak District's most spectacular limestone dales. 1 2 hours. Children will need careful supervision along this section. Continue walking down the trail for around 500m and dont turn off. The trail runs along the former Midland Railway line for 8.5 miles between Blackwell Mill, in Chee Dale and Coombs Road, at Bakewell. The Monsal Head viewpoint and the car park are open 24 hours a day along with the Monsal Trail. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); OS Online App one month or yearly option. There are also pay and display car parks at: Coaches can be parked at Bakewell's Agricultural Business Centre near the town centre and at Monsal Head car park. Please keep the Peak District beautiful and respect everyone who uses the park. needed chocks on the drivers side to level, The easy way to find motohome stopovers and campsites in Europe, Forestry and Land Scotland approved nightstop, Caravan & Motorhome Club certificated location, Camping and Caravanning Club certificated site, Read the details on our cookie policy page to see how we use cookies, Or, click the button below to confirm you are happy with this, Can't see the buttons? website by w brand studio, newport beach, copyright 2021 carpark inc. Check the weather for your walk location and hills. Time for an ice-cream from the van or a pint in the Stable Bar. Your email address will not be published. . Turn right and walk across the grass, past the weir and the onto a dirt path. From 25 May 2011 the four railway tunnels - Headstone Tunnel, Cressbrook Tunnel, Litton Tunnel, Chee Tor Tunnel will also open for trail users. Review of Park House Campsite. If you park in this layby there is a small path (on the other side of the wall) that leads back to Monsal Head. Note there is no footpath along this road so go carefully. It was popular with Victorian tourists who would make their way up with coach and horses from Monsal Dale station which opened to the public in 1866. You cant really take a bad photo of the Monsal Head viewpoint but I would definitely say that the best time to visit would be at sunrise or in the morning time. Car parking can be paid using the 'contactless' button and then using a card if you haven't got change. Turn left and walk towards the wall where you join the footpath, theres a signpost for Monsal Dale and Ashford, pointing left. Also, this is where youll head out on the Monsal Trail walk by heading down the steps to the path below. Its the perfect place to enjoy the sunset. Tunnel through Reopened with several others in 2011, the tunnel provides a superb route chiselled along the cliffs of the Wye's gorge. If you had any issues, consider leaving your email for our customer service team. Its run by Hulleys of Baslow and they have buses that run back and forth every two hours. The map required for this walk is theOrdnance Survey OL24 Peak District (White Peak Area). These stables are steeped in history and have been here for over 200 years, way before the railway was built when it used to be a coaching inn. The main draw for visiting here is without a doubt the postcard-worthy views you can get from all around this viewpoint. A link to set a new password will be sent to your email address. The Monsal Head viewpoint came about with the introduction of the Midlands Railway in 1863 which connected London with Manchester. Find out about the best walks, bike rides, attractions, eateries and accommodation for families in and around the UK's oldest National Park. The Monsal Trail is in the centre of the Peak District National Park, starting just north of Bakewell, 10 miles north of Matlock and 8 miles west of Chesterfield in Derbyshire. The campsite is well located on the B6465 (Ashford Lane) north west of Bakewell, Derbyshire almost on the edge of the spectacular Monsal Head, which is well worth a visit if only to look out over the beautiful Derbyshire landscape. The Monsal Head viewpoint is also free to visit, you just have to pay for car parking charges which apply 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! Or get in touch and I will help as best I can :). START: Monsal Head car parkClick here for Google Map pointGrid reference: SK 1845 7155Post code: DE45 1NLwhat3words: ///suspends.jolt.elseRoute follows a clockwise direction. Top tips - Read our useful guides onhiking tips here. Click here for more details on the Monsal Trail walking route. Once you have found the start of the trail head down to the right. Walk along the path, it splits shortly after but keep on the lower path, heading downhill, signposted Monsal Dale Weir. Ask us any questions in the comments or via our social media. Check out the 7 YHAs in the Peak Districtand find the best walks direct from your accommodation. John Ruskin who was one of Englands best cultural critics gave it a scathing review and condemned the railway; There was a rocky valley between Buxton and Bakewell, once upon a time, divine as the Vale of Tempe You Enterprised a Railroad through the valley you blasted its rocks away, heaped thousands of tons of shale into its lovely stream. Click the pins for more details. 2.50 2 hours. Nice little walk with a steep bit at the end, depending which way you walk it of course. We encourage you to contact the individual parking operators to verify the information. Monsal Head is a viewpoint that lies high above the Monsal Trail and the Monsal Viaduct. The National Park has a varied landscape of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded estuaries and wild . Want more ideas for family walks?Best Family Walks in the Peak DistrictPram Friendly Peak District walksToddler walks in the Peak DistrictAlso, come and join our friendly Peak District Kids Facebook Group for any questions or to share photos of your walks. You can also head over to the spa town of Buxton with its gorgeous crescent, Pavilion Gardens, and Solomons Temple. A link to set a new password will be sent to your email address. So tranquil- even in the rain. There is also a layby for FREE roadside parking on Castlegate Lane (B6465) a few hundred meters north of Monsal Head. So thank you for sharing. Monsal Head - Short Stay (806397) Address - Monsal Head, Little Longstone, DE45 1NL. It is the only National Park in the UK to be designated primarily because of its spectacular coastline, which covers more than 300 kilometres. Heres is a complete visitor guide for the Monsal Head viewpoint with how to get here, parking charges, and things to see and do! YES! Four of the longer tunnels are lit during daylight hours, dawn to dusk, to make them safe to use. Or visit the Peak District Kids shop. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Lots of seating outside and benches overlooking the gorgeous view of Monsal Head. You can say thank you and buy me a coffee here. Ashford in the Water, Derbyshire DE45 1NL, UK. Brilliant for dogs that like swimming! Peak District Walks is a FREE online resource. Also, look out for the beautiful Mandarin Ducks along the River Wye as they are popular along this part of the river. Or get in touch and I will help as best I can :). If you purchase through these, Peak District Walks earn from the qualifying links. Please note 'Peak District Walks' accepts no liability for any injuries or accidents resulting from walking our routes. You will soon see stunning views to your left over Monsal Dale. Your email address will not be published. Review. The nearest train stations are at Buxton and Matlock but would require a bus journey to an access point. Click here for our recommended paddling and wild swimming spots in the Peak District. You now follow the path under the viaduct and continue on the path next to the river. We have a guide with what to do, who you need to call and also some useful kit that should be in your backpack. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.