Ashford in the Water, Monsal Dale and Great Shacklow Wood
A lovely walk from Ashford in the Water taking in a wide range of terrains including two dales, the River Wye and the Great Shacklow Wood. It's a good un!
Technical sheet No. 977004
Calculated time: 3h15 ? 
Distance : 9.26 km
Vertical gain : 205 m
Vertical drop : 198 m
Highest point : 249 m
Lowest point : 142 m 
Difficulty : Moderate
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Area :
Peak District
Location : Ashford in the Water
Starting point : N 53.224682° / W 1.710131° 
Today's forecast :
Description
(D) Depart from Ashford in the Water Car Park on Court Lane. Walk straight out the entrance and head towards Fennel Street past the post box in the wall. Turn right up Vicarage Road and proceed to the top of the hill and past the farm.
(1) At the finger post on the right take the footpath through the field. Go through the gate and cross the road to take the path opposite towards the barn at the bottom of the slope. Follow the path through another gate until reaching a stile at a lane. Cross the lane and go through the gate opposite and follow the track through the fields through two gates and over a stile until you reach the Monsal Trail. Turn left and then immediately cross the stile on the right towards Little Longstone. Follow the track through two gates until reaching the village.
(2) Turn left at the village and follow the road until you reach the Monsal Head Hotel. Pass the right of the pub and move to the finger post through a gap in the wall.
(3) At the finger post turn left towards Ashford/Monsal Dale and follow the path, after a short distance the path splits take the right fork and proceed though the woods. Crossing the river near the weir turn left and proceed along the river bank for 1.5km until you reach the A6.
(4) Cross the A6, go up the bank to the White Post car park. Take the path opposite between the sign and the rubbish bin towards Deep Dale (Diimin Dale). Follow the stream up Deep Dale until you reach a stile, (This part of the path can be a stream after wet weather, but it is easily passable). Cross the stile and proceed up the hill towards Ashford, at the next finger post turn left (Ashford/Sheldon) and continue into the woods.
(5) At the wall in the woods go through the gate and continue through the woods for 1.7km until you reach an old mill by the River Wye.
(6) At the old mill proceed along the path to the right for 900m until you reach the lane.
(7) Turn left down the lane, at the main road turn right and after 200m cross the road and over the bridge back to Ashford in the Water. Proceed straight up Fennel street and back to the car park
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 142 m - Car Park in Ashford in the Water
1 : km 0.49 - alt. 159 m - Finger Post outside Ashford
2 : km 2.33 - alt. 208 m - Little Longstone
3 : km 3.06 - alt. 224 m - Monsal Head
4 : km 5.6 - alt. 169 m - White Post Car Park
5 : km 6.17 - alt. 230 m - Great Shacklow Wood
6 : km 7.65 - alt. 163 m - Disused Mill by the River Wye
7 : km 8.54 - alt. 152 m - Lane by the River Wye
D/A : km 9.26 - alt. 144 m - Car Park in Ashford
Useful Information
Toilet in Car Park at the beginning (Donate in the Honesty Box for parking and toilet)
Public Toilets at White Post Car Park
Public Houses in Ashford in the Water, Little Longstone and at Monsal Head
Nice cafes at Monsal Head (not open in the winter) and Ashford in the Water
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Opinions and comments
Average
Global average : 4.73/5
Number of opinions : 31
Clarity of route description : 4.61/5
Clarity of route map : 4.83/5
Walk interest : 4.74/5
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 19/02/23
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Loved the walk and easy to follow. Highlight was an ice cream on Monsall Head!
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 17/10/22
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
A beautiful walk on a glorious day. Some steep bits but manageable.
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 22/09/22
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
We really enjoyed this walk, the first on our current trip to the Peak District. The ups and downs were nicely challenging and we liked the variety of terrain. Few places were open as it was bank holiday for Queen's funeral but the paths were very busy. Thanks.
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 20/04/22
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
This varied walk was the highlight of several three of us (2 in their eighties) did during a week of glorious weather spent on the Chatsworth Estate. Features on our day included a big black bull guarding the field exit on to the Monsal Trail; the much enjoyed ice-cream van beside the Monsal Head Hotel where the proprietor mentioned in some years snow could still be present on the same date and back in Ashford in the Water witnessing an aggressive swan lunging to try and peck the dangling bare feet of girls in the water accompanied by much screaming!
Reading the instructions (2) we expected the Monsal Head Hotel to be in or at the edge of Little Longstone. Had we looked at the map at this point all would have been clear. We got the last place in the very small Court Lane car park which features spotless community toilets. Not a problem if full as street parking is possible.
Walker
Global average : 4.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 14/11/21
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Very enjoyable on a lovely sunny day
Walker
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 22/09/21
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
This excellent walk was completed by two not so young ladies and three dogs. We made a change to the route on reaching the Monsal Trail as we had no wish to lift dogs over a high wall - steps were provided for people but not dogs. We simply turned left down the trail which was certainly a good move as the alternative route given would have involved some road walking. We were able to easily get back on the route at Monsal Head.
The directions at point 4 did take some working out. The only other problem with the directions was the distance of 900m given at point 6 - it was substantially further and we made the length of the walk to be a little over 6 miles despite our route change.
Care would need to be taken through the wood; it was dry when we did it but could be slippery after rain and the path was often close to the edge of steep slopes.
Certainly a very good walk we will be happy to repeat.
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 16/04/21
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Beatiful walk - highly recommended. Changing scenery along the way including fields, riverside, woods - stunning views to be had from Monsal Head and plenty of places to sit, rest and have lunch. Steep ascent through the woods towards the end of the walk but didn't last too long.
Walker
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 04/12/20
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Very good walk with great views. Was boggy in winter.
Walker
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 19/09/20
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Excellent walk through various different terrains. A real discovery and the teens who didn't want to go enjoyed it even if they said so reluctantly!
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 30/06/20
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Varied walk with enough challenge for average walkers.
Lovely afternoon out
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 05/06/20
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Previous comments and reviews of this walk were absolutely right. Me and my two young girls 6 and 4 loved it. It was a beautiful day so we stopped to swim and paddle around the weir below monsal head about half way round. This broke the walk up nicely as it's about half way round. There's a small climb into shacklow wood but after that it meanders along the hill under trees until you reach back at ashford. Good day for all.
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 30/01/20
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Really enjoyable and easy to follow instructions. Very muddy underfoot, probably more of a summer walk!
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 25/08/19
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: N/A
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Fabulous walk on a hot bank holiday. Easy to follow directions. Varied terrain and difficulty, quite steep for just short periods of time. Patches of crowds but in the most part quiet. We especially enjoyed taking a diversion off the main track after the weir and paddling in the freezing cold water!
Thank you!
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 23/08/19
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Really enjoyed this walk.
The directions were spot on and easy to follow.
The route was nice and easy with only one short, sharp hill. A nice variety of open fields and woodland with minimal road walking. Lots of opportunity to take the dog off the lead. Try the Packhorse Inn for a brief refreshment stop. Bear in mind the car park is very small so we had to park on the road. Would definitely recommend.
Walker
Global average : 4.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 17/08/19
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★☆ Good
Really enjoyed this walk loads to see all different terrains a bit steep in places and the path up deep Dale not the best, but add to the experience would definitely recommend and I'll be doing it again especially when you have a lovely tea and scone to look forward to back at Ashford
to find out more.
Other walks in the area
For more walks, use our search engine.
The GPS track and description are the property of the author.