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Monsal Trail – Headstone Viaduct loop from Tideswell

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Hiking trails & Routes

Monsal Trail – Headstone Viaduct loop from Tideswell

Moderate

5.0

(7)

hikers

Monsal Trail – Headstone Viaduct loop from Tideswell

04:24

16.1km

240m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 18, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Peak District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

4.46 km

Viewpoint

5.03 km

View of Cressbrook Mill

Highlight • Historical Site

Great little sign to provide some information about the Area.

Tip by

6.39 km

View of the Headstone Viaduct from the River Wye

Highlight • Bridge

Lovely part of the Monsal trail, with a brilliant cafe at the top, this place can get really busy during the summer months.

Tip by

6.79 km

Stretching for 1,598 feet (487 m), Headstone Tunnel is the longest of all the tunnels on the Monsal Trail. Despite being well lit, it’s still a dark and cool place to explore. The tunnel was built in the 1860s by the Midland Railways to link Manchester with London. Headstone Tunnel was reopened in 2011, meaning the Monsal Trail could be fully linked.

Tip by

7.32 km

View of Monsal Viaduct and Waterfall

Highlight • Bridge

The weir is restricted access because of repairs, but you can walk by it and take photos.
When approaching the viaduct, if you want to walk across it, walk up the steep path ( half scramble at points) on the left, rather than going straight on, to reach Viaduct top.

Tip by

7.85 km

Monsal Trail

Highlight • Cycleway

The Monsal Trail is an 8.5 mile (14 km) long bridleway route that takes in some beautiful places, such as Headstone Viaduct, and has superb scenic views throughout. It stretches from Chee Dale to Bakewell. The route follows the old Manchester to London Midland Railway line. It can be used by walkers, runners, cyclists, horse riders, and wheelchair users too.

Tip by

8.20 km

Great Longstone for Ashford Railway Station

Highlight • Cycleway

Great Longstone for Ashford railway station was a station which served Great and Little Longstone in the Peak District of Derbyshire. It was opened in 1863 by the Midland Railway on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway from Rowsley.

It closed in 1962, except that one train a day in each direction continued to stop to allow a local resident, Mrs A Boardman, to travel to work, an episode immortalised by the British Movietone film It Only Stops For Her..[4] Trains continued to pass through the station until 1968 when the line was closed.

The trackbed through the station is part of the 8.5-mile (13.7 km) Monsal Trail, a walk and cycleway. Access to the Monsal Trail can be made at Great Longstone for Ashford railway station, via the ramp off Longstone Lane.

Tip by

9.80 km

Headstone Viaduct

Highlight • Monument

Headstone Viaduct is a breathtaking structure that crosses Monsal Dale. The five-arch bridge, which is 70 feet (21 m) tall at its highest point, affords fine views over the River Wye. Built in 1863 by the Midland Railway, many believed the structure blighted the view upon its completion. These days, however, it is iconic and has Grade II-listed status. The viaduct now carries the Monsal Trail, a traffic-free route for hikers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users.

Tip by

12.2 km

Litton Tunnel

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Litton tunnel on the Monsal Trail is 471m long and cuts through the limestone cliffs above. The line was built in the 1860's and closed in 1968. Today the Monsal Trail is a multi-user path suitable for walkers, bikes and wheelchairs that runs from Bakewell to Matlock.

Tip by

16.1 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.67 km

6.19 km

1.27 km

983 m

Surfaces

7.29 km

3.69 km

3.67 km

1.40 km

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Thursday 7 May

16°C

7°C

29 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Monsal Trail – Headstone Viaduct loop from Tideswell

View of Cressbrook Mill

View of the Headstone Viaduct from the River Wye

Headstone Tunnel

View of Monsal Viaduct and Waterfall

Monsal Trail

Great Longstone for Ashford Railway Station

Headstone Viaduct

Litton Tunnel

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