25. Ashford - Priestcliffe - Monsal trail circuit.
- Map: Explorer OL24, 1:25000 The Peak District White Peak Area.
- Time: Allow 5 hours walking time
- Distance: 19km (12 miles)
- Inset, Water cum Jolly from the high level route.
A great and varied walk in the heart of the White Peak.
Start from Ashford in the Water, SK194687, there is usually parking available at the road widening opposite the church. Cross the river and turn right and cross the busy A6. After about 250m take the Sheldon road on the left and after a further 200m take the footpath on the right alongside the river. Follow the pleasant path for about 2.5km to White Lodge car park at SK170705. The path is level at first but then climbs through the woods before dropping down steeply to the car park and picnic area.
Cross the A6 and enter Monsal dale, cross a stile and small stream then turn sharp left up the hill towards Brushfield farm. Walk through the farm and then right up the farm track which eventually trends left, through several gates to Brushfield Lower and Middle farms which are now splendid acommodation. A short cut home here would be to turn right on the farm track above Brushfield farm. The road is now surfaced, follow this (signpost Taddington) left for about 300m and where it turns sharp left continue onto the concessionary bridleway up High Dale. Walk up the dale and where the bridleway curves up and right, keep straight on the footpath. After a stile the path traverses a field then cuts down left and crosses fields via a series of gates and stiles eventually arriving at a farm track. Turn left and shortly pick up a footpath on the right leading the Priestcliffe where there is a welcome seat.
Take the lane behind the seat and after about 500m where it bends sharp left take the footpath straight ahead and follow this down fields to the edge of woodland. Cross the stile then take the steep path and steps down towards Miller's Dale. At the bottom of several steep steps at a clearing, turn right and follow this pleasant path past several disused quarries. The area is a nature reserve and in spring diversions may be marked because of the birdies. At the last quarry, just past a bench turn sharp left and drop steeply down to the Monsal Trail. Turn right.
Note, the trail is a popular cycleway so watch your back! Follow the trail for about 2km to a tunnel entrance above Litton Mill. The tunnel is illuminated and allows easy walking all the way to the Monsal Viaduct. However it is far finer to follow the high level route from here which contours the hillside above Water-cum-Jolly. Take the path on the left of the tunnel entrance, cross a stile and climb steeply up to some old mine entrances and spoil heaps ignoring the climbers path half way up. Turn left and follow the pleasant footpath with superb views all the way to a junction with the path from Cressbrook Mill to rejoin the Monsal Trail at the other end of a second tunnel.
Warning. Although the path is largely easy and well-defined it is beginning to show signs of wear and tear in places. There is often a steep drop-off to the left which ends in a crag above the river so take care particularly if you are with young children or those with poor balance. In snow cover the tunnel variation is recommended to all but the adventurous.
Continue left down the Monsal Trail, past the old railway platform to the Monsal Viaduct, a splendid emblem of Victorian engineering. Cross the viaduct and before the next tunnel entrance take the steep track on the left to Monsal Head, don't join the road at the top unless requiring refreshment but trend right along a well-defined path and take a left branch signposted Ashford. The path climbs steadily to seats, here, turn left and follow lanes and a field, turn left and descend a long field to a gate and stile in the bottom RH corner. Follow the lane, ignoring an early left turn and on the final section as one nears Ashford, just past a farm entrance take a stile on the right, cross the field diagonally left heading for the right end of a block of houses then go down a narrow path next to the houses. This brings one out on Vicarage Lane, turn right to find one's starting point.