A Walk in the Peak District

Derbyshire Walking Holiday

What a beautiful view!

It’s a view from Baslow towards Chatsworth House which you can see on the horizon.

I have to admit I didn’t take this photograph. It was my son and he spends lots of his time in the Peak District. He’s an avid mountain biker and if you are interested in find out where to ride and your level of skill email us when you make your booking and I’ll do my best to provide a list of places. You will also need to let me know you level of skill. There is a cross section of rides.

Anyway I was supposed to be writing about walking in the Peak District. Where ever you choose to walk from and to in the Peak District you will be stunned by the beautiful views. When we are travelling to Bakewell, one of my favourite sayings is

We are lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world.

As with the cycling there are many different types of walk, in the Peak District. One of my favourites is along the Monsal Trail.

The Monsal Trail is a track which runs on the old train line. It’s suitable for walking, cycling, and also for wheelchair users. It starts in Bakewell and runs for over 8 miles to Blackwell Mill, in Chee Dale. It is a former Midland railway line.

If you are staying with us in our holiday cottage, the best place to join the trail is at the old Bakewell railway station. Cross over the main bridge out of Bakewell and head up the hill. This is the most strenuous part of the walk! Once you get on to the trail it’s flat.

Just before crossing the bridge, why not pop into the tourist office, you will beable to pick up a leaflet about the trail, its history, geology and wildlife.

The railway ran for 100 years and closed in 1968. Along the trail you will see 2 former cotton mills. The mills were powered by the water supply from the River Wye,. You will see Litton Mill and Cressbrook Mill. Both built in the 1780’s. Cressbrook Mill was built by Sir Richard Arkwright , who was an inventor and leading entrepreneur at the start of the industrial revolution. Both the mills have now been converted into apartments.

A picture from Monsal Head looking over the viaduct.

You will also be able to see the Monsal viaduct, which was built in 1863, by the Midland Railway company, when it was seen as a blight on the landscape.

John Ruskin, the victorian philanthropist was critical of the building of 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. The valley is gone, and the Gods with it; and now, every fool in Buxton can be in Bakewell in half an hour, and every fool in Bakewell at Buxton; which you think a lucrative process of exchange – you Fools everywhere.

However in 1970 the viaduct was given listed status and at Monsal Head you will find a public house. It’s always an essential part of a walk in the Peak District. ( hopefully they will all be open soon and it will be safe to visit) You don’t need to walk all the way from Bakewell, there are lots of convenient places to park along the trail, so that you can as much or as little suits you.

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