A Walk (Bakewell) A Sensual Walk through the Wye Valley

Walk Leader: Beverley Kelly

Distance: 10 miles

Total ascent: 1700ft, Descent: 2350ft

This is truly a walk to delight the senses as we wander through an unspoilt valley which once thundered with steam trains on the St Pancreas to Manchester line, but is now peacefully returned to a ‘Garden of Eden’, full of the heady scent of wild flowers as the river sparkles in the sunshine and roars over the waterfalls, providing a wonderful habitat for trout and creatures great and small,

not forgetting the ice cream and cakes!!!

We start our walk going downhill towards the Blackwell Mill Junction and the start of the Monsal Trail

Chee Dale is a real delight as the river passes through steep limestone cliffs and the pathway here is on these 50-60 stepping stones

and we pass masses of wild flowers, heady with scent to attract the insects of all sorts.

The River Wye rushes under this viaduct which is also used for absailing (under license, so wewill not be doing it), but we temporaly leace the river and ascend to join the track again to Millars Dale.














First we pass these limestone kilns cut out of solid rock, which we can inspect. The concrete front is a later addition.















Millers Dale Station, now used by park rangers. You can imagine trains in this busy 5 platform station passing over the nearby iron viaducts, but today there are picnic benches and an ice cream van round the corner!



















We are in Water-cum-Jolly Dale and meet our second group of rock climbers. We choose the easier way out, but beware the pathway is liable to flooding and there is plenty of mud. We can clean our boots further on.















This is Cressbrook mill, the second mill which was philanphropic to its child labour, even providing a terrace of dwellings for them, unlike Litton Mill at Millars Dale which worked its children to death. Both are now luxury dwellings.

The lake at the end of 'Water-cum-Jolly' dale, full of trout and an ideal spot for lunch. Cressbrook Hall can be seen above the trees.

Too soon and we have reached Monsal Head with the viaduct below and one of the most wonderful views of the area. Maybe afternoon tea here (depends upon you), then it is through Longstone village and downhill as we coast towards Bakewell Station and the coach. A long but beautiful journey if the weather is right.

Plenty of time to enjoy all the delights as long as we keep moving at a respectable pace