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Rural Ramble 6 - Six Dales Circular
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| Distance: 9.1 miles |
Duration: 5 to 6 hours |
Price: £20.00 per person
(Group and family rates available) |
Monsal Dale |
Beginning in the pretty village of Tideswell, this circular walk heads out along a quiet lane to the neighbouring village of Litton. From there, it descends Tansley Dale, the first of six scenic dales on the route of the walk, to join Cressbrook Dale, which it follows down to the historic Cressbrook Mill, one of the first factories of the Industrial Revolution. From there, it follows the road through Monsal Dale for the climb up to the viewpoint at Monsal Head. Following a lunch stop there, the route drops down to the famous Headstone Viaduct on the Monsal Trail, before heading back up Monsal Dale and back to Cressbrook Mill.
From Cressbrook Mill, the route of the walk then follows the river through the wonderfully named and very peaceful Water-cum-Jolly Dale to Miller's Dale, where it passes through the buildings of Litton Mill, notorious in the 18th century for its horrific working conditions. Leaving Litton Mill, it follows the riverside road for a short distance before diverging for the climb up the sixth and last Dale, Tideswell Dale, which returns you back to the start point in the village of Tideswell.
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The route of this walk does include a couple of steepish climbs. However, if this is an issue for you, there are alternative flatter routes that bypass these steep climbs. However, taking these alternative routes does mean that you miss out on some of the views.
In normal times, the section of the walk from Headstone Viaduct to Cressbrook Mill would be along the Monsal Trail, dropping down to Cressbrook Mill from by the end of Cressbrook Tunnel. However, as the bridge over the river by Cressbrook Mill is currently closed due to its poor condition, the return is currently back along the road. Once the bridge has been repaired, the walk will return to its planned route along the Monsal Trail.
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| Distance: |
9.1 miles. |
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| Duration (approx): |
5 to 6 hours (including lunch). |
| Start point: |
The Market Place,
Tideswell,
Derbyshire.
(OS grid Ref: SK152757) |
| Start time: |
10:00am. |
| End point: |
The Market Place,
Tideswell,
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 3rd, 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.
(Online pre-booking is essential for these walks.)
Private group bookings are also available March to October on a date of your choosing via a Personal Walking Guide (subject to availability). |
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When is this walk available?
Scheduled walks are available several times per month between the beginning of March and the end of October. If you wish to have the exclusive services of one of our guides, it is also available March to October as a private booking on a date of your choice via a Personal Walking Guide. For Personal Walking Guide bookings, we are usually able to offer a range of different start times on most days.
All bookings are subject to the availability of a suitable guide - Please see our online calendar or e-mail us for availability of your chosen date.
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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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£20.00 per person |
£5.00 per person |
Personal Walking Guide
(Group of up to 5)
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£60.00 per group |
£15.00 per group |
Personal Walking Guide
(Group of 6 to 10)
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£100.00 per group |
£25.00 per group |
Personal Walking Guide
(Group of 11 or more)
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£150.00 per group |
£37.50 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 Buxton via the number 65 bus to Sheffield. If coming from Sheffield, it is not quite so easy, as the earliest arrival into Tideswell is not until 10:39am. However, if booking privately, you can request a later start time such as 11:00am to allow for this.
If driving yourself to the walk, there is some car parking available in Tideswell a short distance from the start/finish point of the walk.
Information on how to get to and from this walk can be found on our travel information page.
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Is there anything special I need to bring?
Given the terrain involved on this walk, you will definitely need proper walking boots. Also please make sure that you have waterproofs with you - both jacket and trousers or overtrousers. In cold weather, please bring a warm hat, gloves and an extra warm layer that you can put on if needed. In hot or sunny weather, please bring a sun hat and suncream, as there are sections of the walk that are quite exposed. You will also need to bring water with you - we recommend around 2 litres per person for the day. If you find that additional water is needed, you can get this at the lunch stop at Monsal Head.
For a scheduled walk, please bring lunch with you. For a private booking, it may be possible to arrange the timings to allow for a pub lunch at Monsal Head if desired. However, given the numbers visiting Monsal Head on busy days, this may not be a practical option at weekends or Bank Holidays.
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Are there any disabled access issues?
Unfortunately the route of this walk is not suitable for wheelchair or mobility scooter users due to the presence of stiles and rough terrain in Tansley and Cressbrook Dales. The first half of the route also includes a couple of steep climbs that those who have problems with steep slopes may find difficult. If this is the case, there are alternative routes that avoid both of these climbs. Please let us know at the time of booking if you wish to use these alternative routes.
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Is this walk suitable for dogs?
This is an ideal walk for dogs, if you think they can handle the rather long 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 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 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 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 - Six Dales Circular
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| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
Bank Holidays |
| Yes |
Some* |
Yes |
Some* |
Yes |
Most* |
Some* |
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
- This walk has now finished for the winter, and it will not be available again until March 2025.
- We are now accepting Personal Walking Guide bookings for this walk for Mondays, some Tuesdays, Wednesdays, some Thursdays, Fridays, most Saturdays and some Sundays between the beginning of March and the end of October 2025.
- We are also accepting other advance enquiries for March to October 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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