A Peak e'Blinder' on the Monsal Trail

Service Description

This route starts in Chatsworth Estate adjacent to the farm shop and café at Pilsley. This is one of our longest tours (utilising most of the Monsal Trail) and the ‘figure of 8’ design visits the 2 largest settlements in the Peak Park, Bakewell and Tideswell. A minor road runs out of the beautiful village of Pilsley to join the B6012 for a short distance reaching the edge of Baslow. Then it quiet country lanes out to the historic village of Hassop and its magnificent Hall. The walled gardens of the Hall are followed almost until the village of Great Longstone appears. It is then down into Monsal Dale where fly fishermen show off their skills on the river and the engineering works of the old Midland Railway can be appreciated and admired. The Wye river is then traversed for the first time to join the Monsal Trail passing above Cressbrook Dale and the historic Litton Mill. The trail is left at Millers Dale where the old station now provides a lovely respite, toilets and cafe. It is then a climb into Wormhill with a maze of tracks eventually taking you into the 2nd largest town in the Peak Park, Tideswell. The 'Cathedral in the Peak' can then be explored (an historical market town that offers much interest and many cafes). It is then onwards to Litton and past the wonderful Red Lion hostelry before descending back into Monsal Dale. The River Wye is crossed over the stone bridge again re-joining the Monsal Trail. The Trail then passes through the amazing Headstone Tunnel (bike lights required) to Thornbridge Hall's very own Station and eventually leaving the trail at Bakewell. It is then a climb above Bakewell's golf course before the Chatsworth's estate roads feed into wonderful Edensor offering open views of Chatsworth House and only a stones throw to Pilsley. A 'blindingly' good trip! Difficulty - Advanced Black Tour Themes - Town & Villages, Historic Sites Surface – Cycle Track, Bridleway, Minor Roads & short distance on Main Road. Distance - 27 miles Time Allocated - 6 hours Refreshment Stop Options - Great Longstone, Little Longstone, Millers Dale, Tideswell, Litton, Bakewell, Edensor Pilsley. Tour Ref - 34