Monsal Dale Magpie Mine Guided Walk - Peak Walking Adventures

Description

From the pretty village of Ashford-in-the-Water, we follow footpaths and lanes through meadows to the popular beauty spot of Monsal Head for fine views of the famous disused railway viaduct crossing the valley. We walk down the hill onto the viaduct and then along Monsal Dale and eventually into Deepdale, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wealth of wild plants. Deepdale is much less visited than Monsal Dale and is sometimes a dry valley.

We then visit the Magpie Mine buildings, an historic lead mine high on the hills above the Wye Valley, and learn about one of the Peak District’s most important industries in the past. There is much to explore around the site with well-preserved buildings and the remains of a Cornish beam engine building. As we make our way back down the hillside towards Ashford-in-the-Water, we enjoy wonderful views of the Wye Valley.

Want to make a weekend of it? You can also book our Lathkill Dale Guided Walk on Saturday 22 June 2024 here

Additional information

The Walk	From the pretty village of Ashford-in-the-Water, we follow footpaths and lanes through meadows to the popular beauty spot of Monsal Head for fine views of the famous disused railway viaduct crossing the valley. We walk down the hill onto the viaduct and then along Monsal Dale and eventually into Deepdale, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wealth of wild plants. Deepdale is much less visited than Monsal Dale and is sometimes a dry valley. We then visit the Magpie Mine buildings, an historic lead mine high on the hills above the Wye Valley, and learn about one of the Peak District's most important industries in the past. There is much to explore around the site with well-preserved buildings and the remains of a Cornish beam engine building. As we make our way back down the hillside towards Ashford-in-the-Water, we enjoy wonderful views of the Wye Valley.

The Walk

We then visit the Magpie Mine buildings, an historic lead mine high on the hills above the Wye Valley, and learn about one of the Peak District's most important industries in the past. There is much to explore around the site with well-preserved buildings and the remains of a Cornish beam engine building. As we make our way back down the hillside towards Ashford-in-the-Water, we enjoy wonderful views of the Wye Valley.

What’s included?

Included

Qualified Mountain Leader or Hill and Moorland Leader with Outdoor First Aid Qualifications.
Guiding throughout the day with briefing advice and support to ensure your safety.
Narrative on local points of interest, wildlife, geology, history and culture.
Optional photography of your day which can be shared with you.
The option of a free, return lift from a station or bus stop to the start of your walk to encourage sustainable travel. We can only arrange this if we have spare space in our vehicle and the pick-up point is reasonably close to your walk. Ask us when you book.

Not Included:

Parking or transport costs associated with your walk.
Essential walking kit or food.
Navigation equipment and maps for Navigation Courses (we will help if we have spares).

What to Bring

Here’s an Essential Kit Kist for all our walks >

Meeting and Parking

We meet at Car Park, Ashford in the Water, Bakewell DE45 1QG. There is (currently) a suggested donation of 20p for toilets and £2 for parking. Please bring coins.

Please see a Google Map showing the location of Ashford-in-the-Water Car Park here.

Coming by Bus or Train
We’re keen to support public transport use and reduce emissions. If you’re arriving reasonably nearby we’ll give you a free lift. Just ask us when you book.

Facilities

There are public toilets in the car park where we meet. There’s a pub and a hotel in Ashford-in-the-Water. See Map here.

Bakewell is under 5 minutes drive with plentiful shops, pubs, hotels, restaurants, fuel stations and accommodation. See Map here.

Hathersage is under 20 minutes drive away with a railway station, shops, cafes, hotels, restaurants, accommodation, fuel station and toilets. See Map here.

Walk Difficulty

This is an Easier Walk. Here is our walk difficulty guide >

FAQs

We have created a separate page of the most frequently asked questions here >

Accommodation

Click here to see a Google map of accommodation near this walks start.

We have also created a page of Peak District accommodation we recommend here >

Respect, Protect and Enjoy!

We all want to respect, protect and enjoy the fragile upland environments where we walk, so that they can be enjoyed by generations to come. Following The Countryside Code really helps…

Respect:

Be considerate to those living in, working in and enjoying the countryside
Leave gates and property as you find them
Do not block access to gateways or driveways when parking
Be nice, say hello, share the space
Follow local signs and keep to marked paths unless wider access is available

Protect:

Take your litter home – leave no trace of your visit
Do not light fires and only have BBQs where signs say you can
Always keep dogs under control and in sight
Dog poo – bag it and bin it – any public waste bin will do
Care for nature – do not cause damage or disturbance

Enjoy:

Check your route and local conditions
Plan your adventure – know what to expect and what you can do
Enjoy your visit, have fun, make a memory

Want to know more?

Sustainability – our actions and fund raising to support the local environment, communities and economy.
Contact Us – ask a question or make a suggestion.