Monsal Trail facts for kids

The Monsal Trail is a popular path in the Peak District for cycling, horse riding, and walking. It was once part of a railway line called the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway. This railway was built in 1863 to connect Manchester with London. It closed in 1968.

The Monsal Trail is about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) long. It opened in 1981. The trail starts near Buxton at Topley Pike junction in Wye Dale. It ends at Coombs Viaduct, close to Bakewell. The path follows the beautiful valley of the River Wye. Along the way, it passes through places like Blackwell Mill, Millers Dale, Monsal Dale, and Hassop. You can also see famous spots like Headstone Viaduct and six old railway tunnels.

History of the Trail

The old railway line near Hassop Railway Station

The Monsal Trail follows part of the old railway line. This line was built by the Midland Railway in 1863. It helped connect Manchester to London. The railway closed in 1968. It was not part of the main railway cuts known as the Beeching Axe. Instead, it was closed by the Minister for Transport at the time, Barbara Castle.

The railway line was unused for 12 years. Then, the Peak District National Park took it over. They turned it into the trail we know today.

The railway had to go through the Wye valley. This was because the Duke of Devonshire did not want the railway on his land. His land included Chatsworth House and large areas north of Rowsley. Because of this, the railway had to go above Bakewell, not through it.

Another important person, the Duke of Rutland, lived at Haddon Hall. He asked for the Haddon Tunnel to be built. This was to hide the railway from his view. However, he still used Bakewell railway station. This station was built very grandly and even had his family's coat of arms.

Later, the Duke of Devonshire saw how useful the railway was. He offered for the railway to go through Chatsworth, but it was too late. He was the reason Hassop railway station was built. Even though it was closer to Bakewell than Hassop village, it meant he did not have to share a station with his neighbour. Great Longstone station (called Longstone before 1913) served Thornbridge Hall. The station's design, with its special windows, matched the hall's style.

For many years, the trail could not go through the tunnels at Monsal Head and Cressbrook. They were closed for safety. People had to use other paths around them. These paths were often steep and hard for cyclists or people with walking difficulties.

In 2011, plans were approved to make the tunnels safe. They cost £3.785 million. The tunnels officially opened on May 25, 2011. They had been used since May 13, 2011. Now, the trail is much easier to use. Wheelchair users can easily access it at Bakewell, Hassop railway station, and Millers Dale. These places also have disabled toilets.

Exploring the Route

Headstone Viaduct seen from Monsal Head

The Monsal Trail is about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) long. It opened in 1981. It starts at the Topley Pike junction near Buxton. It finishes at Coombs Viaduct, south-east of Bakewell. The trail follows the River Wye valley. It also runs next to the A6 road.

If you start from the Wyedale car park, you will walk about 1 km (0.6 miles) to reach the trail. The last part of this walk has steps. If you start from the south end in Bakewell, you can follow Sheffield Road. Cross the five-arched bridge over the River Wye. Then, turn right and go up Station Road. You will find the old Bakewell railway station and car park on your left.

The trail goes through many places. These include Blackwell Mill, Millers Dale, Cressbrook, Monsal Dale, Great Longstone, Hassop, and Bakewell. At Longstone and Hassop, the old railway stations were a bit far from the villages.

Derbyshire County Council wants to create a circular cycle route. This route would link Buxton, Bakewell, and Matlock with the High Peak Trail. It is called the White Peak Loop. This plan includes extending the Monsal Trail to Matlock. Many people supported this idea in 2014.

A 5-mile (8 km) section between Rowsley and Matlock opened in March 2018. This part runs next to the old railway line. The remaining 2.5-mile (4 km) section between Bakewell and Rowsley is still being planned. When it is finished, this part will mostly follow the old railway line. It will need new bridges at Rowsley. The 1 km (0.6 miles) Haddon Tunnel will also need to be made safe and opened.

Famous Landmarks

Cressbrook Tunnel, one of six on the trail

A cutting made for the railway

Walkers on the Monsal Trail

Headstone Viaduct

The Headstone Viaduct is at Monsal Head. It is one of the most impressive structures on the trail. When it was built, some people thought it ruined the beauty of the valley. John Ruskin, a poet and conservationist, criticized the railway. He felt it destroyed the natural beauty of the area.

His words are displayed on the viaduct. When the railway closed, there was talk of tearing down the viaduct. But many people did not want this to happen. In 1970, it was protected as a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical structure.

Cressbrook Mill

Cressbrook Mill started as a cotton mill in 1783. It used water from Cressbrook stream for power. The first building was destroyed by fire.

Litton Mill

Litton Mill was a large cotton spinning mill. It opened in 1782. Children worked there in difficult conditions.

Hassop Railway Station

Hassop railway station was about two miles from the village. It opened in 1862. It was part of the Midland Railway's line from Rowsley.

Tunnels on the Trail

The Monsal Trail goes through six tunnels:

• Headstone: 533 yards (487 m) long
• Cressbrook: 471 yards (431 m) long, through limestone
• Litton: 515 yards (471 m) long, through limestone
• Chee Tor 1: 401 yards (367 m) long
• Chee Tor 2: 91 yards (83 m) long
• Rusher Cutting Tunnel: 121 yards (111 m) long

Another tunnel, Haddon Tunnel, is currently closed for safety. But there are plans to reopen it in the future.

Fun Activities

The Monsal Trail is a great place for many outdoor activities. People use it for cycling, walking, horse riding, and jogging. Wheelchair users can also enjoy the trail.

Every Saturday morning at 9 am, there is a 5 km (3.1 miles) Parkrun. This event takes place entirely on the Monsal Trail. It starts at Hassop Railway Station. It passes Thornbridge Hall and goes to Headstone tunnel. Then, participants turn around and finish where they started.