• Home
• Peak District Accommodation
  • Peak District Bed and Breakfast
  • Peak District Self Catering
  • More Self catering
  • Peak District Hotels
  • Derbyshire Holiday Cottages
  • Specialist Holidays
  • Cotswolds Accommodation
  • Staffordshire Accommodation
  • Lake District Accommodation
• Peak District Activities
  • Lindley Educational Trust
  • Peak District Walks and Walking
  • Climbing Crags and Routes in the Peak
  • Peak District Cycling
  • Mountain Biking and mtb Routes
  • Peak District Bike Shops
  • Peak District Bike Hire
  • Peak District Angling
  • Peak District Stag Weekend Ideas
• Peak District Places
  • Places A to D >>
    • Alport
    • Ashford-in-the-Water
    • Ashover
    • Ashbourne
    • Bakewell
    • Bamford
    • Baslow
    • Belper
    • Beeley
    • Birchover
    • Bonsall
    • Buxton
    • Cromford
    • Castleton
    • Dovedale
    • Darley Dale
  • Places E to L >>
    • Edale
    • Elton
    • Eyam
    • Glossop
    • Hathersage
    • Hartington
    • Hope
    • Hope Valley
    • Ilam
    • Lathkill Dale
    • Longnor
  • Places M to Y >>
    • Monyash
    • Rowsley
    • Stanton-in-Peak
    • Tissington
    • Wensley
    • Winster
    • Wirksworth
    • Youlgrave
• Peak District Attractions
  • Peak District Tourist Information Centres
  • Peak District Stately Homes
  • Railways of the Peak District
  • Art Galleries, Museums
  • Derbyshire Show Caves
  • Peak District Industrial Heritage
• General Information
  • Tea Rooms, cafés
  • Peak District Breweries
  • Peak District Archaeology
  • Geology of the Peak District
  • Peak District Mining
  • Derbyshire Wildlife and Flowers
  • Peak District Pubs
  • Eating Out
  • Maths Tutor in West Bridgford
  • Beeston Maths Tutor

Monsal Head Circular

A circuit of about 9 miles through some of the (in our opinion) finest Peak District Dales - Monsal Dale, Deep Dale and Miller's Dale.

Maps - White Peak or Dark Peak

Guides to walking in the Peak - see the 'booksales' section of this site or try Pub walks, tea shop walks or classic walks (in association with Amazon). Click here for views from walks (large files so will be slow - you have been warned!). If you are looking for somewhere to stay, try our accommodation section for a selection of self catering and bed and breakfast holiday accommodation.

OK, here is the walk outline ...

Map: Ordnance Survey 1:25 000 White Peak

Parking: Pay and Display at the back of the Monsal Head Hotel.

Refreshments (tea shop, pub) and toilets close to the parking.

From the car park, descend the path that takes you to the Monsal Trail at the Headstone viaduct. Don't take the Monsal Trail, carry straight on through the woodland and gradually descend until you cross the river Wye and follow the right bank path to the A6.

Cross the A6 with great care into the Great Shacklow Wood car park. Take the bridle path that leads you into Deep Dale. Where you meet a track, turn right and make your way into Taddington. If you are in the area during late August, take a look at the two well dressings (High Well is outside the village but usually is well signposted, or as a local for directions). From Taddington, carefully cross the busy A6 again and follow the bridle path up and round to the left to drop you into the bizarre High Dale. Or at least we think it is a bizarre Dale ... see what you think. The bridle path climbs out to the left and joins a track. Follow that to the left and shortly after take the path to the right, through the remains of mining and steeply down towards Litton Mill (renowned for the cynical exploitation of orphaned children when it was at its height) where you can take the Monsal Trail, back to The Headstone Viaduct and the car park.

Disclaimer - this is a brief outline, you should work out the full route for yourself using a map before setting off. Make sure that you and your party are suitably equipped and are fit enough.

The local tourist information office is at Bakewell.

Other local points of interest:

The funeral garlands in Ashford in the Water church, Ashford in the Water well dressings, Sheepwash bridge at guess where ... Ashford in the Water, Bakewell and Magpie Mine.

Accommodation close to this walk

Castle Hill Cottage, Self-Catering, Bakewell - SE of the Peak District sleeps 3,4,5,6 This charming adjoining 18th-century self-catering Derbyshire 4 star holiday cottage, set in its own mature gardens, offers unashamed luxury in Bakewell ... More information or visit Castle Hill Cottage web site..

River Cottage, B&B, Ashford - SE of the Peak District River Cottage, Ashford-in-the-Water. Award winning B&B, outstanding riverside location in the heart of the Peak District... More information or visit River Cottage web site..

Corner Cottage, Self-Catering, Bakewell - SE of the Peak District sleeps 1,2,3,4 With views over the church and surrounding countryside, this pretty cottage lies just a short stroll from the centre of Bakewell with its specialist array of shops, pubs and restaurants ... More information or visit Corner Cottage web site..

Dragonfly Cottage, Self-Catering, Bakewell - SE of the Peak District Sleeps 2,3,4,5,6 This beautiful, newly renovated, 300-year-old, detached, stone cottage is located just 350 yards from the heart of Bakewell, yet stands on the top of Fly Hill with its breathtaking views over the River Wye ... More information or visit Dragonfly Cottage web site..

Cokaynes, Harthill Hall, Self-Catering, Bakewell - SE of the Peak District sleeps 5,6,7,8,9,10 Set in a dramatic and varied Peak District National Park setting close to Bakewell ... More information or visit Cokaynes, Harthill Hall web site..

Bagshaw Hall & Sleep Lodge, B&B, Self-Catering Apartment, Bakewell - SE of the Peak District 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14, 15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30 The best features of boutique hotels and holiday apartments in the historic building of Bagshaw Hall, Bakewell ... More information or visit Bagshaw Hall & Sleep Lodge web site..

Total number of accommodation listings: 6