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Monsal Dale - Peak District Walk
Tuesday 5th September 2023
I originally planned on doing this walk yesterday but never even made it into the Peak District as the traffic queues were so bad. An early start today meant I avoided the worst of the traffic and only passed one group of walkers until I reached the Monsal Trail. I planned the route to ensure I would be in the open earlier in the day and in the dales when the heat was starting to build. I also hoped that I would be able to access the Monsal Trail at Cressbrook but as information on the bridge at Water-cum-Jolly is sketchy doing it in this direction meant I could make an easy change of plans if required.
Start: White Lodge car park (SK 1704 7063)
Route: White Lodge car park - Brushfield Hough - Brushfield - High Dale - Litton Mill - Miller's Dale - Water-cum-Jolly - Upperdale Farm - Monsal Trail - Monsal Dale - White Lodge car park
Distance: 6.25 miles Ascent: 391 metres Time Taken: 3 hrs 20 mins
Terrain: Clear paths
Weather: Hot and sunny, with a gentle breeze
Pub Visited: None Ale Drunk: None
![New Plantation New Plantation](2023-09-05/woods.jpg)
The walk starts with the steep climb up through the woods to Brushfield Hough.
![Taddington Wood Taddington Wood](2023-09-05/tad wood.jpg)
Once at the top I can look across Taddington Dale towards Taddington Wood and Taddington Field.
![Brushfield Hough Brushfield Hough](2023-09-05/brushfield hough.jpg)
The path around Brushfield Hough is very well signed and what was once a mud fest by the gate is now a nice and easy route.
![Brushfield Hough Brushfield Hough](2023-09-05/brushfield hough1.jpg)
Looking back to the farm as I leave Brushfield Hough.
![Mosal Head Mosal Head](2023-09-05/monsal head.jpg)
Looking across Monsal Dale towards Monsal Head, from Brushfield Hough.
![Sough Top Sough Top](2023-09-05/sough top.jpg)
I don't often walk the route this way around so it is nice to be able to enjoy the views across to Taddington and Sough Top.
![Brushfield Brushfield](2023-09-05/brushfield.jpg)
I soon reach Brushfield and so far I have only met one group of walkers.
![High Dale High Dale](2023-09-05/high dale.jpg)
Rather than head uphill along Bulltor Lane I prefer to follow the lane downhill and head along High Dale, a place where I have rarely met anyone else.
![Agaricus Agaricus](2023-09-05/fungi.jpg)
As I was heading out of High Dale I spotted some fungi that wasn't broken and still had that morning's dew on it.
![High Dale High Dale](2023-09-05/high dale1.jpg)
Looking back to High Dale as I head back up to Bulltor Lane.
![Chelmorton Low Chelmorton Low](2023-09-05/chelmorton.jpg)
Looking across Bulltor Lane to Chelmorton Low.
![Wardlow Hay Cop Wardlow Hay Cop](2023-09-05/wardlow.jpg)
Having crossed the stile at the top of the field the view changes completely. Now I'm looking across Miller's Dale to Wardlow Hay Cop and Longstone Moor.
![Tideslow Rake Tideslow Rake](2023-09-05/tideslow.jpg)
Looking in the opposite direction I can make out the mast on Tideslow Rake and a distant hazy view of Mam Tor.
![Litton Litton](2023-09-05/litton.jpg)
As I start to make the steep descent the houses in Litton Mill come into view.
![Monsal Trail Monsal Trail](2023-09-05/trail.jpg)
I soon reach the steps which will take me down onto the Monsal Trail.
![Monsal Trail Monsal Trail](2023-09-05/trail1.jpg)
Looking along the Monsal Trail, which I could have opted to follow back to the viaduct.
![Litton Mill Litton Mill](2023-09-05/litton1.jpg)
I don't follow the Monsal Trail, instead I cross the trail and take the path down to the bridge across the River Wye at Litton Mill.
![Litton Mill Litton Mill](2023-09-05/litton2.jpg)
Walking through Litton Mill and I'm now starting to see and meet other walkers.
![Miller's Dale Miller's Dale](2023-09-05/millers dale.jpg)
The walk through Miller's Dale is very peaceful and shady, something that I'm now appreciating as the day is starting to warm up.
![River Wye River Wye](2023-09-05/millers dale1.jpg)
Walking through Miller's Dale I get to enjoy the reflections in the River Wye.
![River Wye River Wye](2023-09-05/millers dale2.jpg)
As I approach Water-cum-Jolly I start to see more sign of the wildlife that is usually on the river.
![Rubicon Wall Rubicon Wall](2023-09-05/rubicon.jpg)
Looking across to the Rubicon Wall at Water-cum-Jolly.
![Water-cum-Jolly Water-cum-Jolly](2023-09-05/bridge.jpg)
I had hoped that the bridge at Water-cum-Jolly would have been repaired by now, but it hasn't. I had seen a couple cross it earlier but decide not to do so and instead follow the track through Cressbrook Mill to the road.
![Upperdale Upperdale](2023-09-05/upperdale.jpg)
The walk along the road towards Upperdale is very peaceful and unlike the last time I was here I'm not passed by a single car.
![River Wye River Wye](2023-09-05/upperdale1.jpg)
I take the bridge and bridleway at Upperdale Farm to get back onto the Monsal Trail.
![Monsal Dale Monsal Dale](2023-09-05/monsal dale.jpg)
I make a slight diversion to the top of the viaduct to enjoy this view of Monsal Dale and Fin Cop.
![Headstone Viaduct Headstone Viaduct](2023-09-05/monsal dale1.jpg)
Having dropped down into Monsal Dale I can enjoy a view of the viaduct.
![Monsal Dale Monsal Dale](2023-09-05/monsal dale2.jpg)
As usual the cows are in residence, but they are far more interested in the grass than the people and dogs that are walking through them.
![Monsal Dale Weir Monsal Dale Weir](2023-09-05/weir.jpg)
Access to the weir is still blocked, although someone has removed some of the fencing and as I sat having lunch I could watch people who had accessed the water from close to the weir.
![Monsal Dale Weir Monsal Dale Weir](2023-09-05/weir1.jpg)
I sat having an early lunchbreak looking across to the weir.
![Monsal Dale Monsal Dale](2023-09-05/monsal dale3.jpg)
Lunch over I follow the path through the dale.
![River Wye River Wye](2023-09-05/wye.jpg)
Although there were plenty of places where people were swimming in the river I was surprised to see this area was empty. Being the closest to the car park and road it is usually the busiest.
![Monsal Dale Monsal Dale](2023-09-05/wye1.jpg)
A final look back along Monsal Dale before I do the five minute walk that will take me back to my car.
All pictures copyright © Peak Walker 2006-2023