An early start meant I had Monsal Dale almost to myself, well me and the birds that I could hear.

After all of the recent dry weather the usually muddy paths were bone dry.

One of the nice things about this part of the walk is the abundance of wild flowers found around here.

I'd debated bringing my tripod for some shots of the weir but having heard it was fenced off I didn't bother and when I got there I was glad I hadn't.

Never mind I thought, I'll get some nice reflections of the viaduct. I then turned around the corner and saw the vans parked on top of it.

Of course with some careful use of the trees I could hide the vans from sight.

Not quite the shot I was after, but the best I could get given the location of the vans and the luminous orange jackets occupying the viaduct.

Looking back along Monsal Dale as I head under the viaduct. So far I'd passed one dog walker and two wild swimmers.

The bridge at Water-cum-Jolly is closed so rather than head up onto the Monsal Trail and have to go through the tunnels I opted to use the bridge at Upperdale Farm.

Crossing the bridge I was able to enjoy the reflections in the River Wye.

Going this way meant there was a short section of road walking but if I wanted to visit Water-cum-Jolly and Miller's Dale it was the price I had to pay.

Cressbrook soon came into sight and the car park I had passed earlier showed my decision to set out early was the correct one. It was already full with people kitting up for the day.

Since I've last been here someone has installed a bench so you can sit and enjoy the view across the River Wye to the Rubicon Wall.

It was around here that I started to encounter other people, so after taking in the beautiful reflections I opted to move on.

Walking through Miller's Dale I was once again accompanied by the sound of birds and the voices of a group walking along the path above the tunnels. It's amazing how far some voices travel.

Having done the route across the top of the tunnels I definitely think the walk through the dale is much nicer and much more interesting.

As I approached the weirs on this section of the River Wye I couldn't help but notice they all had a sign on the opposite bank naming them. Sadly I have forgotton what each one was called.

Everytime I walk through Miller's Dale on days like this I find myself constantly stopping to take shots of the reflections in the River Wye.

Having passed through Litton Mill I crossed over the Monsal Trail and looked forward to the one steep climb of the day.

Whilst the ascent doesn't last long it does gain height quickly and after a long time away from any ascents of this nature plenty of photography stops were called for.

Looking across to Hammerton Hill which one minute seemed to be above me and then before I knew it I was looking down on it.

I was soon looking across the top of Miller's Dale to Wardlow Hay Cop. Another place on the I must visit list.

Having reached the top of the side of the dale it was time for 'second breakfast' and a well earned rest. Sat in the sun enjoying the views across towards a distant Rushup Edge and totally alone for the first time in months it was hard to drag myself away.

However I knew that I had this field to walk through and usually at this time of year it is bursting into colour, but all the cold weather means it is still green rather than yellow.

The next section of the walk would see me drop down into High Dale, where it is very rare to meet anyone as most people heading for Brushfield just stick to the track.

Dropping down into High Dale and looking across to the path on the other side of the dale and recalling how steep it seemed when I last did it.

Looking back to High Dale as I apprpoach the gate onto the lane to Brushfield. As with the earlier field the flowers I might have expected to see here were still not in bud.

A short ascent brings me to Brushfield, I could think of worse places to have spent the last year in Lockdown, although as one of the lacals said to me you soon get bored with doing the same walks.

As so few of the trees are actually in bud you can look across Taddington Dale.

Looking back along the track towards Taddington and Sough Top.

Looking across Monsal Dale to Monsal Head from Brushfield Hough.

When I first started visiting here this farm looked deserted and the path around the farm was often a quagmire, these days both are far better maintained.

All that remains now is for me to make the steep descent back down to the floor of Monsal Dale.

As the sound of the traffic on the A6 gets louder I know that I'm nearing the end of the walk.

After crossing the stepping stones over the stream all that remains is to head up to and cross the A6 and it isnt even midday. Not suprisingly the car park was a little busier than when I left it.

 

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