Cycle the Monsal Trail

From Blackwell Mill near Buxton to Coombs Road Bakewell

July 2, 2012 Palfreyman

INTRODUCTION
The Monsal Trail is a ten mile long disused section of the former Midland Railways line between Buxton and Bakewell in the Peak District National Park, a wonderful legacy of our rich industrial heritage now enjoying a new lease of life as a valuable leisure amenity for walkers, cyclists and other outdoor activities. Passing through a delightfully contoured and rugged landscape, arguably some of England’s most beautiful scenery, the route must have been quite a challenge for the civil engineers of the mid nineteenth century who built it. In addition to the restored viaducts, tunnels, cuttings and retained original station buildings, architectural gems in their own right and testament to the enterprise and skills of our Victorian ancestors, the trail also affords magnificent views of the surrounding countryside and adjacent points of interest including the impressive Cressbrook and Litton Mills as it criss crosses river and valley making its way south. The longer tunnels are lit from dawn until dusk, the trail is well surfaced and smooth with both gravel and tarmac sections, it is suitable for all types of bicycle. The route has a slight incline rising four hundred feet over its length south to north, representing a gradient of just 1/132, it can be cycled in both directions in just over two hours by persons of average fitness, but there’s no need to rush the trail is well within the capability of most age group and fitness levels and on a sunny day the views are tremendous.

CYCLE HIRE
If you prefer to hire rather than take your own, cycle hire is available at Blackwell Mill at the Buxton end of the trail:-

tel 01298 70838
-
http://peakblackwellcyclehire.com
or
Hassop Station on the trail just north of Bakewell
-
01629 810588
http://www.hassopstation.co.uk
/cycle-hire

All types of cycle are on offer including electric assisted but it’s wise to book in advance to ensure availability.

WALKING THE TRAIL
The trail can be walked from end to end, returning via the regular bus services between Buxton and Bakewell. In addition there are numerous walks on and around the Monsal Trail detailed in the “Grate Little Guides” series (ISBN 1899576 65 7 - Monsal Trail) available from tourist information offices in Buxton and elswhere in the Peak District. The guide includes start and finish points and points of interest along the way including locations of car parks and toilet facilities.

GETTING THERE
Visitors from the Wigan area are recommended to access the trail at the northern end, using the Wyedale car park on the A6 just 4 miles south of Buxton. The postcode SK17 9TE in a Satellite Navigation system will take visitors directly to the entrance. The preferred route is via the M6, M56, M60 to Stockport then following the A6 through Buxton towards Bakewell. Negotiating Stockport can be difficult at busy periods but I recommend leaving the M60 at junction 2, turning right at the roundabout into Stockport Road to the traffic lights a couple of hundred yards ahead. Turn left at the traffic lights into Councillor Lane, straight ahead at the next set of lights into Adswood Road, then ahead again at the next set into Garners Lane to arrive at the traffic lights at Davenport Station at the junction with Bramhall Lane. Turn left here then immediately right at the next set of lights into Kennerley Road and follow it to its junction with the A6 in about half a mile. Turn right here and follow the A6 through Hazel Grove, High Lane and Disley, the journey is approximately 50 miles and will take one and a half hours in light traffic.

NOTE: Since the opening of the Manchester Airport Eastern Link Road, this journey has been much simplified, now avoiding congestion hot spots and taking far less time. The new recommended route from the west of Manchester is to follow the M6 and the M56 as before, but now leave the M56 at junction 5 for Manchester Airport. Having passed the Airport join the A555 new link road and follow it to its junction with the A6 at Hazel Grove, then follow the A6 towards Buxton and the start of the trail.

THE TRAIL
Take the bridleway from the rear of Wyedale Car Park and follow the river down to Blackwell Mill to ascend steep banking at the signpost behind the cycle hire and tuck shop. Gain access to the start of the Monsal Trail via a wooden gate. Follow the trail to its terminus beyond Bakewell, returning by the same route admiring the views and the various points of interest along the way, take the camera there will be plenty of photo opportunities.

Ordnance Survey Explorer Series OL24 scale 1:25000 "The Peak District (White Peak Area)" refers, co-ordinates at various points along the way are shown in the table below.

Click here to see pictures along the trail.

Palfreyman - July 2012

Farthingale Publications: ... Is a hobby web site containing articles of local interest to Lancastrians, some favourite walking and cycling routes, selected words and poetry, and some writings of more general and whimsical nature as well as the authors own picture gallery. Access is available via the homepage and menu at the head of the page.
Local Interest: A Cricket Calypso; A Lancashire Lullaby; Dust Upon God's Fair Earth; God's Choir; Isaac Watts 1674 - 1748; It's a Funny Life; John Byrom 1692 - 1793; John Lancaster Wigan MP; Jubilee Park Memorial, Ashton in Makerfield; Little Ships at War 1918; Mind Your Language; Not Much of a Warrior; Peveril of the Peak; Private Thomas Whitham VC; Richmond Hill Dairies; Scot Lane School Wigan; The Brocklebank Line; The Farewell; The Holy City Liverpool; The Lindsays of Haigh; The Nurburgring 1960; Thomas Aspinwall Miners Agent; Thomas Aspinwall Obituary; Thomas Linacre School Wigan; Upholland Telephone Exchange; Wigan Advertisements 1960; Wigan Old Bank 1792; Wigan Soldier Missing in Action.
Walking & Cycling: Abbey Lakes to Coppull Moor; A Lancashire Linear Walk; Blackrod or Bust; Chorley Ice Cream Walk; Cycle the Monsal Trail; Cycle the Sankey Valley; Douglas Valley Dawdle; Freshfield to Crosby; Haigh to Borsdane Wood; Irwell Valley Trail (Bury to Rawtenstall); Irwell Valley Trail (Bury to Salford); Moss Eccles Tarn; Three Counties Cycle Ride; Wigan Circular by Bike.
Words & Poetry: A Lancashire Mon; A Legend of Montrose; A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea; Aw’ve Turned me bit O' Garden O'er; Boat Song; Calm is the Sea; David Copperfield; Dombey and Son; Dover Harbour; Dust upon God's Fair Earth; God Bless these Poor Wimmen that's Childer; High Flight; Hymn Before Action; Jeff Unsworth's dialect poetry; King Cotton; Martin Chuzzlewit; Martyrs of the Arena; Mind Your Language; Only a Cranky Owd Foo'; On Th' Hills; Redgauntlet; Rogue Herries; The Antiquary; The Armada; The Bride of Lammermoor; Th' Coartin' Neet; The Cottage; The Darkling Thrush; The Donkey; The Fair Rosamond; The Fair Rosamond Comic; The Family Man; The Glory of the Garden; The Heart of Midlothian; The Pickwick Papers; The Rolling English Road; The Wanderer; The Wreck of the Hesperus; Toddlin' Whoam; Tommy; When Winds Breathe Soft; Wisdom.
Wallgate Chronicles: Adolphe Adam; A Tale of Two Cities; A Walk in the Hills; Barnaby Rudge; Bookcase; Cat Bells; Desert Island Discs; Eay Times Uv Changed; Fidelio; Frank Whittle and the Jet Engine; Fun with Trigonometry; Hard Times; Hugo Boss comes to Wigan; In the footsteps of the Manchester Rambler; Ivanhoe; Little Dorrit; Lohengrin; Nicholas Nickleby; Our Mutual Friend; Rob Roy; Romance on a Budget; Semele; Surprise at the Philharmonic; The Battle of Solferino; The Bohemian Girl; The Fair Maid of Perth; The Force of Destiny; The Getaway Car; The Marriage of Figaro; The Old Curiosity Shop; The Ravioli Room; The Spectroscope; The Switchroom Wigan; Travels in Time 1960; Travels in Time 2010.

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