Present: John Corbett (guest), Roger Dyke, Martin Heaton, Alan 'Liverpool' Jones, Alan Peck, Pete Walker, Frank Williams, Margaret Williams.

The party assembled in fine, dry weather near the Monsal Head Hotel (parking along the lane to Little Longstone to avoid the extortionate car park charges) and set off walking at about 9.50 a.m. We descended the path to the River Wye, crossed the footbridge, and followed the riverside path underneath the Monsal Viaduct and downstream through Monsal Dale. Eventually we crossed over the A6 and headed up into Deep Dale, a quiet and pleasant open limestone dale which we followed until we were able to turn right onto the farm track of Wheal Lane. The wind had been a bit fresh but we sheltered in the recess by a field gate a little way past Over Wheal Farm for some late elevenses.

We continued into Taddington village, where we resisted the lure of The Queen's Arms pub and where a breakaway group (Frank and Margaret, Pete, and Alan 'L.' Jones) took a shortcut over the fields to Litton Mill to mitigate the effects of the years and aching joints.

(Apologies to the breakaway four, the rest of the walk is described from the viewpoint of the meet leader's group).

The remaining five passed through Taddington, crossed the A6 again and followed the lane of Hollow O'The Moor for a little distance until the rougher track of Long Lane was taken. This led down to the River Wye in Miller's Dale, where the group crossed the river and climbed up steps to the old Miller's Dale Station (as immortalised in song by Flanders and Swann*, it was pointed out); this is no longer in use for journeys by train, but has some nice picnic tables on the platform where we stopped for a pleasant lunch enlivened by Roger's stories of life in Switzerland.

The five then crossed one of the twin parallel and impressive Miller's Dale viaducts, and followed the Monsal Trail east along the disused railway bed for a distance, overlooking Ravenstor crag on the way, until we were able to drop down from the normal Trail route and cross a footbridge to Litton village and the old Litton Mill (once a grim cotton mill, now converted to posh flats). We continued downstream beside the River Wye, past reeds and bulrushes and stretches of open water with swans, coots and moorhens, and paused to have a look at some hard routes at Water-cum-Jolly just before we arrived at Cressbrook Mill (another former cotton mill, one of Richard Arkwright's, now also converted to upmarket residences). Here there was a small shop/café where Roger treated us to ice creams which we ate alfresco in lovely sunshine, and where we were briefly rejoined by some of the breakaway party (namely Pete and Alan 'L.' Jones) as our paths merged again.

We then crossed back over the river and ascended to rejoin the Monsal Trail, which led first along a narrow footpath (bypassing a now-sealed railway tunnel) and then along the old railway bed, through the disused Monsal Dale Station, towards Monsal Head. The weather turned on the home straight as we approached Monsal Head, and we crossed the Monsal Viaduct and climbed the short but steep path back to the Monsal Head Hotel in the rain. The two groups were reunited on the last stretch yards from the Hotel, arriving as one party at roughly 3.15 p.m. Some of us stayed to drink tea at the Stables Bar, others went straight home.

Pete Walker phoned that evening to confirm that the total distances as carefully measured by him were around 13 miles for the full route, and 10 miles for the shorter route taken by the breakaway four. Apart from some short stretches (particularly the slight sting in the tail) this was generally a fairly gentle walk which in Pete's words "was much appreciated by the geriatrics".

* (Note for younger readers including the meet leader) Flanders and Swann - a musical comedy duo popular in the 1950s-1960s. The song is called "Slow Train".

A scenic and varied walk in limestone country, partly on the Monsal Trail, following good paths and tracks along riverside paths, up high limestone dales and on old railway tracks, with a viaduct crossing or two.

Route: Monsal Head - Monsal Dale - Deep Dale - Over Wheal - Taddington - Long Lane - Miller's Dale - Litton Mill - Water-cum-Jolly - Upperdale - Monsal Head.

Distance: 13 miles

Map: OS Explorer OL24 White Peak Area

Meet at 9.30 a.m. for a 9.45 a.m. start at Monsal Head car park (SK185715, behind the Monsal Head Hotel).

This LONG STAY car park is BEHIND the Monsal Head Hotel and has 150 spaces, but parking costs £4.50 for over 4 hours, which seems a bit steep. Car sharing (always recommended for environmental reasons in any case) is strongly suggested if you park here!

As an alternative, there is a lane which forms a T-junction with the B6465 at the side of the Hotel and which leads to Little Longstone; free parking is available, for early birds in particular, for some distance along the left-hand side of this lane.

Don't park in the SHORT STAY car park in FRONT of the hotel as parking here is limited to 1 hour.

Details: Descend to Monsal Dale and follow this downstream beside the River Wye. Cross the A6 and ascend Deep Dale. Turn right onto Wheal Lane, follow this past Over Wheal farm and head down through Taddington village (possible stop for food and liquid refreshment e.g. at Queens Arms on Main Street). Follow the A6 out of the village, turn right down Hollow O'The Moor towards Priestcliffe, then continue along Long Lane and finally descend to the River Wye again in Miller's Dale (alternatively the walk can be extended by heading via Blackwell to join the river further upstream, taking in Chee Dale and Chee Tor as well on the walk downstream). Follow the Monsal Trail downstream through Miller's Dale village and old station and over the viaduct, generally following the route of the abandoned railway. Continue past Litton Mill, Cressbrook Hall, Water-cum-Jolly (possible stop to solo an E3?) and Cressbrook Mill, then follow the path uphill through Upperdale to rejoin the old railway and cross the Monsal Dale Viaduct before finally climbing back up to Monsal Head.