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Bank Holiday Monday, weather not that brilliant, so decided to go for a walk in the Peaks after a tiring day climbing on Sunday. Where did we go? We decided to do the circular walk round the valley of the Wye which takes in some of the most beautiful sections through Monsal dale and Water-Cum-Jolly Dale.
Distance: 7 miles
Approximate time: 4 ish hours
Total height climbed: Just over 1,000ft
Parking: Monsal Head SK 185716
Start: Car park behind the Monsal Head Hotel on the B6465
Refreshments: Monsal Head, Cressbrook Mill Area
Toilets: Monsal Head and White Lodge car park
Map: OS Explorer Sheet 24, The White Peak
Arrive early if you want to find a parking spot. The view down to the two valleys is fab – looking north over Upper Dale towards Cressbrook and west across the famous Monsal Dale viaduct to the bold escarpment of Fin Cop, crowned by its Iron Age hill fort. Also in view is the viaduct built for the Midland Line, now a protected and listed structure. From the road, takes the left stile, follow the path (ignore the left fork) down into the valley to see the Monsal Dale Weir.
Walk along the path amongst the trees and continue downstream along the northern bank. Soon you will reach the A6, cross the road with care to the White Lodge car park. Ascend some steps next to the parking area, continue and bear right (watch out for the wooden post signposting for Taddington), this leads up through trees to Taddington Field Farm (watch out for the stile to the left!) and then eventually leads on to the edge of the Taddington at Town End. (this is the least interesting section in my opinion). From the village, take the lane which leads down to the A6, cross and take the walled track which leads up and then down into steep-sided High Dale.
Turn left up a dry valley and where the wall stops, turn sharp right and follow a path up a hollow. Turn left and then right through a stile, follow the path through the stile to reach the long drop down into the Wye Valley through the Priestcliffe Lees nature reserve. Drop down via some steps to get onto Monsal Trail, 50m ahead take a left (signposted) to Litton Mill (began life as a cotton mill, now in residential use) via a footbridge.
Head downstream and the imposing limestone walls become visible, this marks the entrance to Water-cum-jolly Dale, a well-known climbing and bouldering ground. The path is right next to the River Wye and therefore sometimes become impassable after heavy rain. Follow the meandering path and soon reach Cressbrook Mill, now conerted to residential use.
Last section of the walk follows the Monsal Trail and cross the infamous viaduct with great views up and down the valley. A path leads off to the left before reaching the Headstone Tunnel, this takes you back to Monsal Head Hotel.
This walk has been adapted from Roly Smith’s Rambler’s Guide to the Peak District, published by HarperCollins in 2000.
