Monsal Trail & Ashford-in-the-Water from Lees Bottom

A circular Peak District Walk that inclues a number of the highlights of the area to the west of Bakewell. The route includes sections along the River Wye, visits Monsal Head, uses a section of the Monsal Trail and Great Shacklow Wood. The walk does have a sting in the tail as there is a lengthy ascent towards the end of the walk.

Technical sheet

n°293048

Creation:
4 Jul 2016

Last update:
20 Aug 2019

Last review:
2 May 2021

Activity: Walking
Distance: 14.30 km
Calculated time: 4h 45
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 235 m
Vertical drop: - 229 m
Highest point: 261 m
Lowest point: 129 m

Country: United Kingdom
Area: Peak District
District: Taddington CP
Start/End: N 53.23216° / W 1.74631°
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Description der Wandertour

(S) Exit the carpark at Lees Bottom onto the A6 main road. Cross over to the signed path, descend the awkward stile and follow into the woodland. Where the path splits keep right and continue down to the River Wye. Follow this pleasant path upstream through Monsal Dale. Just before the old railway viaduct turn left and climb up to the old railway track. Turn right and cross the viaduct. Then take the path on the left that climbs up to Monsal Head with its wonderful views across the dale and railway viaduct.

(1) From the road junction at Monsal Head take the lane towards Little Longstone. Continue through Little Longstone, passing the pub on the left and telephone box on the right. After The Hollow B&B/Tea Room take the next footpath on the right signed to Monsal Trail. Follow this path through the field to Monsal Trail. There follows a section of easy walking going past Thornbridge Hall on your right to cross the A6020. About three hundred metres further on ascend to the walled lane and walk south (grid ref. SK213707).

(2) Continue on this bridleway across Cracknowl to reach the River Wye. Cross the river and walk up to the A6. Turn right along the A6 passing Lumford Mill on your right. At grid ref. SK209690) take the footpath on your right. This path loops along beside the River Wye before returning to the A6. Turn right along the A6, cross the old bridge over the River Wye and walk into the centre of Ashford-in-the-Water. Turn left down Greaves Lane, left again into Church Street, continuing to cross the bridge on your left over the River Wye to the A6.

(3) Turn right along the A6, taking the lane on your left (signed to Sheldon). Where the road bends to the left, go straight ahead onto the signed footpath at grid ref. SK189694. This path leads alongside the River Wye. Ignore paths off to your left and continue straight ahead. You will enter Great Shacklow Wood. Initially the path stays by the river but eventually climbs steadily through the wood. Reaching a steep open field at the end of the wood, turn right and descend back to the start.(E)

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 174 m - Lees Bottom car park
1 : km 2.89 - alt. 231 m - Turn left along lane
2 : km 6.39 - alt. 171 m - Descend to lane and walk south
3 : km 10.94 - alt. 144 m - Turn right along A6
S/E : km 14.3 - alt. 180 m - Lees Bottom car park

Practical information

For the most part this walk follows well used paths and trails. Do remember that there is a lengthy ascent towards the end of the route through Great Shacklow Wood. The start is the pay and display car park at Lees Bottom (grid ref. SK170706) where there are also public toilets. Refreshments can be obtained at Monsal Head and in the village of Ashford-in-the-Water.

Please note that in poor weather, Monsal Dale can be muddy from where the route joins all the way to the viaduct.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5

Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5

Clarity of route map
4 / 5

Route interest
4.4 / 5

Waker

May 02, 2021 at 12:23 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 01/05/21
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Plotted the route on an OS map so had no problems with direction. Lovely scenery especially along the river. Well planned out route.

KennethB

Oct 05, 2020 at 05:38 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 04/10/20
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Walked this route on 1st.October after a few wet days. Very enjoyable and not too muddy. I added a bit towards the end of the walk to include Deep dale and I will try to plot this later. The climb up to Monsal Head can be avoided by taking the Monsal Trail tunnel (closed for maintenance on weekdays this month) but this would be a shame as the view from the top of the rocky steps up to Monsal Head is spectacular, I took the opportunity to visit Thornbridge Brewery Taproom on Lumford Mill Industrial Estate which may have added another 1.0Km to the walk but worthwhile for adventurous beer drinkers (the covid precautions are good)
With regard to Kateandsam's comments I would think that the authors 14.3 Km is about correct as my extended route was about 17Km.

jonny cam

Jul 27, 2020 at 03:54 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 20/07/20
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Lovely walk with a bit of everything...tough at the end though !

Aurelie-21

Aug 20, 2019 at 09:31 EDT

Many thanks ! We did the changes in the description

Ianshepherd

Aug 18, 2019 at 05:52 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 15/08/19
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Really enjoyed the walk. 2 minor errors on route description.

End of paragraph 1 should be 300 metres, not 3 metres.

Also end of paragraph 2 says after walking down church St, turn right over the Wye. This should be left.

That aside a lovely walk, passing 3 conveniently placed pubs.

Kateandsam

Aug 14, 2019 at 05:27 EDT

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : 12/08/19
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very good walk, however not for beginner walkers as the length of walk on this site isn’t realistic. We have GPS walkers and they said 25km by the end of the day.
Excellent views and fantastic walk though.

Liz173

Jul 01, 2019 at 03:13 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 07/06/19
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Fantastic walk and description.

Familyharrison

Apr 08, 2019 at 03:27 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 06/04/19
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk with plenty to see. A steep descent for our start and a steep ascent to our finish. Nice to catch sight of the only wild rainbow trout in the county.

grandad50

Jul 16, 2018 at 15:07 EDT

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : 21/06/18
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice easy walk for average walker. On the day toilets at Monsal viaduct were closed but you can't have everything!

It has been quite a while since we waked some of this route and the link on the Monsal trail made it convenient and interesting.

Sarita J

Feb 21, 2018 at 13:26 EST

Many thanks for your feedback on this walk. I've made the changes you mentioned to the walk description so that it is clearer for future hikers. If you have any photos of the walk, please feel free to post them

Carahan56

Feb 20, 2018 at 07:18 EST

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : 18/02/18
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Monsal Dale is extremely muddy from where the route joins all the way to the viaduct. After (1) the directions state "Take the first footpath on your right opposite the chapel (grid ref. SK187716). Continue along this path to turn left onto the Monsal Trail." This is incorrect. There is no access to the Monsal Trail from this path. The directions should state: "Continue through Little Longstone, passing the pub on the left and telephone box on the right. After The Hollow B&B/Tea Room take next footpath on the right signed to Monsal Trail. Follow this path through field to Monsal Trail."

After crossing the A6020, the description should read "About three hundred metres further on ascend (not descend) to walled lane and walk south (grid ref. SK213707)." This track climbs steadily and becomes extremely muddy all the way to the summit before descending again towards the River Wye.

Other walks in the area

Brushfield, Miller's Dale and Monsal Head from Lees Bottom

Departure from Taddington CP (Derbyshire)

This Peak District circuit visits the hamlet of Brushfield before following the Wye Valley back to the start. The walk passes infamous Litton Mill, Cressbrook and Monsal Head.

Ashford in the Water, Monsal Dale and Great Shacklow Wood

Departure from Ashford in the Water CP (Derbyshire)

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!

Magpie Mine & Over Haddon from Ashford-in-the Water

Departure from Ashford in the Water CP (Derbyshire)

This Peak District walk starts in the pretty village of Ashford-in-the-Water and explores the limestone country lying to the south of the Wye Valley. The routes visits the remains of Magpie Mine, the village of Over Haddon and uses mainly field paths to complete the route.

Miller's Dale & Cressbrook Dale from Tideswell Dale

Departure from Litton CP (Derbyshire)

This circular Peak District walk starts in Tideswell Dale and continues through Miller's Dale into Ravensdale. The route is an ideal introduction to this area which is popular for walkers.

Chee Dale, Worm Hill and Monks Dale circular

Departure from Wormhill (Derbyshire)

This is a glorious walk in the Peak District National Park, starting on the Monsal Trail, before heading down to walk upstream along the river Wye in the limestone gorge of Chee Dale, then heading over the top of Worm Hill before heading back to the car park via the moss covered landscape of Monks Dale.