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Rails Through The Peaks 2 - Miller's Dale to Bakewell
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| Distance: 6.4 miles |
Duration: 3 to 4 hours |
Price: £15.00 per person
(Group and family rates available) |
Headstone Viaduct, Monsal Dale |
Winding its way through the heart of the Peak District National Park, the Monsal Trail follows the route of the former Midland Railway main line linking London, Derby and Manchester. Built in the 1860s through spectacular terrain, the line moved noted Victorian railway author F.S. Williams to write:
"The scenery through which we now have to pass, and the engineering works by which the journey is accomplished, must be seen to be appreciated - they cannot be described at length."
As a result of the cuts in the network first initiated by the infamous Dr Richard Beeching, the line lost all of its local services in June 1967, and then closed completely north of Matlock in July 1968. In the early 1980s, the Peak District National Park Authority purchased a section of the former trackbed from British Rail and used it to create the Monsal Trail.
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This is our most popular Monsal Trail walk, and begins at the site of the old Miller's Dale Station, one of the major interchange stations on the line where passengers from Buxton would change onto express services for London. It then follows the Trail southwards, stopping to look at the history of each of the former stations along the Trail, plus other points of interest such as the picturesque Headstone Viaduct. The walk finishes at the site of the old Bakewell Station, from where it is just a short walk down into the town. There, you can sample one of the town's famous Puddings, or simply spend time enjoying the pretty riverside walk while you wait for your bus home.
Both the start and end points of this walk are easily accessible by public transport from Derby, Belper, Matlock, Bakewell, Buxton, Ashbourne, Sheffield, Nottingham and Manchester. Car parking is also available at both the start and end points of the walk.
This walk is perfect for those looking for things to do in or near Buxton and Bakewell. And, with level step-free access onto the Trail at Miller's Dale and off it at Bakewell Station, no steps or steep hills along the way, and hard surfaces all the way, this walk is fully accessible to wheelchair and mobility scooter users and perfect for those looking for an easy hill-free (and mud-free) walk.
Please note that, although now nominally open, the tunnels along the trail can be closed on safety grounds during periods of severe weather. It may therefore be necessary to divert back onto the original route of the Monsal Trail in order to bypass the closed tunnels. This diversion will increase both the distance covered and the time required to complete the walk, and is not suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters. However, such diversions are very rare and usually notified in advance.
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| Distance: |
6.4 miles. |
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| Duration (approx): |
3 to 4 hours. |
| Start point: |
Miller's Dale Station,
Miller's Dale,
Derbyshire. |
| Start time: |
12:30pm. |
| End point: |
Bakewell Railway Station,
Station Road,
Bakewell,
Derbyshire. |
| Dates available: |
Scheduled walks available on the following dates:
June 2nd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 16th, 19th, 22nd, 26th, 30th.
July 3rd, 14th, 17th, 20th, 24th, 26th, 29th, 31st.
August 7th, 9th, 12th, 17th, 21st, 23rd, 26th, 28th, 31st.
September 4th, 8th, 13th, 18th, 21st, 25th, 29th.
October 2nd, 5th, 13th, 16th, 19th, 23rd, 27th, 30th.
November 2nd, 4th, 6th, 10th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 27th, 30th.
(Online pre-booking is essential for these walks.)
Private group bookings are also available on a date of your choosing between January 4th and December 20th via a Personal Walking Guide (subject to availability). |
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When is this walk available?
This walk is usually available as a scheduled walk between early January and late December. It is also available year-round as a private booking on a date of your choice via a Personal Walking Guide.
If you make a Personal Walking Guide booking for this walk, you can also request a different start time if desired. We are able to offer alternative start times between 10:30am and 1:00pm (11:30am and 1:00pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays).
Please note that, for bookings between late November and the end of February especially, there is the possibility that the walk may take place in snow conditions. If we believe the conditions to be hazardous, we will attempt to notify you at least 24 hours in advance to give you the option of cancelling or rescheduling your booking. When the snow is very bad, it may prevent all road access to Miller's Dale Station, which would automatically lead to the cancellation of the walk.
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Prices.
The following prices apply for this walk:
| Ticket |
Price |
Deposit
(Included in overall price) |
Adult or Child aged 16 and over
(Up to 8 people in group)
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£15.00 per person |
£3.00 per person |
Personal Walking Guide
(Group of up to 10)
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£60.00 per group |
£15.00 per group |
Personal Walking Guide
(Group of 11 or more)
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£90.00 per group |
£22.50 per group |
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Reduced rates for under-16s, plus discounted family tickets also available, giving cheaper prices for groups including children aged 15 and under. Please e-mail us for details and to book.
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Travel to and from the walk.
This walk is easily accessible by public transport from Derby, Nottingham, Chesterfield, Sheffield and Manchester.
If driving yourself to the walk, we recommend that you park in Bakewell and use the "Transpeak" and number 65 bus services to reach the start point of the walk. This is due to the limited frequency of buses from Buxton to Miller's Dale.
Miller's Dale Station Car Park can be used as a drop-off point if someone is giving you a lift there, and there is a similar pick-up point at Bakewell Station at the far end of the walk.
Further information on bus times can be found here, while information on Manchester to Buxton trains is available from the Northern Rail website. If you have any questions prior to booking regarding public transport options, please contact us and we will attempt to help you if we can.
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Is there anything special I need to bring?
Yes - a torch. Although the tunnels along the Monsal Trail have electric lighting installed, this can sometimes fail and leave you literally in the dark. It is therefore a good idea to make sure you pack a torch and spare batteries, just in case.
We also recommend that you bring plenty of water to drink, plus something to eat, as there are no facilities along the way for you to purchase food and drink apart from the new cafe at Miller's Dale Station, or from the cafe at Hassop Station close to the end of the walk. Given the distance and time involved, we recommend that you bring at least one litre of water per person, and think about increasing this in very hot weather.
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Are there any disabled access issues?
Normally, there are no issues with disabled access on this walk and it is fully suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter users. Car drop-off and pick-up areas are available at both ends of the walk with level access onto and off the trail.
If any of the tunnels have been closed for any reason, then the diversionary routes around them are not suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters. However, such closures are very rare and usually notified well in advance unless the result of severe weather (very rare in the summer). If we are aware of any tunnel closures, we will notify you to give you the chance to change or cancel your booking.
Public transport users should be aware that there is a short steep climb up the road from the bus stop at Miller's Dale to the start point at the Station, but this is the only uphill section on the entire walk. As a result, self-propelled wheelchair users may need a helper to get up the slope from the bus stop to the start point. At the end of the walk, there is a long descent down a hill from the old station site to the centre of town and the bus stops, plus a narrow pavement on the old bridge over the river, which may both pose issues for wheelchair users and some wider mobility scooters. However, the issue with the narrow pavement can be easily avoided by using an alternative route across the river via the "Love Locks Bridge".
If you, or a person you are booking for, are a person of reduced mobility, please either contact us before booking or let us know when you book, so that we can make any necessary adjustments and send you any additional information you may need regarding access arrangements.
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Is this walk suitable for dogs?
This is an ideal walk for dogs, if you think they can handle the distance involved. If you would like to bring your dog with you, we do ask that you inform us at the time of booking. We also ask that, due to the large number of cyclists and horses using the Trail, you keep your dog under close control on a short non-extendible lead at all times and do not allow it to run free under any circumstances.
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Booking
You can book places on any of our open or scheduled walks via the PayPal button below. Other payment options are available on request - Please e-mail us for details if required.
If you wish to make a Personal Walking Guide booking for this walk, please see our Personal Walking Guide booking page here.
Bookings for open or scheduled walks can be made at any time up to 48 hours before the intended date of your walk, or up to 72 hours beforehand for Personal Walking Guides. We regret that we cannot accept bookings made less than 48 hours prior to the planned start time of the walk (72 hours for Personal Walking Guide bookings).
Please ensure before booking that the date you require is not listed below and on our online calendar as unavailable or fully booked, and that you have read and agree to our terms and conditions.
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Personal Walking Guide Availability - Rails Through The Peaks 2
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| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
Bank Holidays |
| Yes |
Some* |
Yes |
Some* |
Yes |
Most* |
Most* |
Most* |
| * = Please contact us for details of availability |
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Book a place on this walk
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Latest booking news
- Due to all guides being fully employed on other walks on those dates, we are unable to accept any bookings for October 5th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 19th, 24th and 25th, November 7th, 9th and 30th, or December 4th, 7th, 11th and 12th. Please see our online calendar for full details of guide availability.
- Bookings are open for all other scheduled dates listed, and close at 1:00pm two days prior to the date of the walk.
- We are now accepting open walk and Personal Walking Guide bookings for this walk for Mondays, some Tuesdays, Wednesdays, some Thursdays, Fridays, most Saturdays and some Sundays from January 3rd to December 20th 2024.
- We are also accepting advance enquiries for 2025.
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Important: Before booking, please make sure that the date you wish to book is not listed as already being fully booked in the "Latest booking news" section above.
Please select the number of places you would like to book and enter the date required.
Other payment options are available on request - Please e-mail us for details if required.
By placing a booking with us, you are accepting and agreeing to our terms and conditions.
If you encounter any problems with your booking, or have any questions about this walk, please e-mail us.
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