Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Monsal Trail – Headstone Tunnel loop from Great Longstone

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Monsal Trail – Headstone Tunnel loop from Great Longstone

Moderate

4.8

(15)

hikers

Monsal Trail – Headstone Tunnel loop from Great Longstone

02:24

8.70km

150m

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

1.06 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

1.37 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

1.90 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

2.43 km

Headstone Tunnel

Highlight • Trail

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

2.56 km

Monsal Trail Information Board, Monsal Dale

Highlight • Rest Area

Great little sign to provide some background and information about the Monsal Trail

Tip by

2.79 km

Wooden Bridge Over River in Peak District National Park

Highlight • River

Such a pleasant walk great for beginners

Tip by

2.81 km

View of Monsal Head and the Headstone Viaduct

Highlight • Viewpoint

Monsal Head is one of the most photographed viewpoints in Derbyshire – and for good reason! Overlooking the impressive Headstone Viaduct crossing the picturesque Monsal Dale, it truly is a wonder to behold. You can stop for food and drink at the Monsal Head Hotel and there is usually an ice cream van parked here.

Tip by

3.40 km

Path Above the River Wye

Highlight • Trail

This is a scenic path that winds above the River Wye in the Peak District. You're only a moment away from Fin Cop here, a big hill that protrudes from the landscape and overlooks some of the key Peak District landmarks such as Monsal Dale.

Tip by

8.70 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

3.80 km

3.61 km

625 m

361 m

310 m

Surfaces

2.48 km

1.93 km

1.72 km

1.03 km

915 m

630 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (260 m)

Lowest point (140 m)

Weather

Saturday 11 July

24°C

13°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 30.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

Want to know more?

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Moderate

4.8

4,957

Kinder Scout Circular Walk

04:24h

14.4km

510m

Moderate

4.8

2,886

Mam Tor and the Great Ridge Circular

03:57h

13.3km

410m

Moderate

4.8

2,759

Mam Tor, Lose Hill & Hope loop from Castleton — Peak District National Park

03:58h

13.3km

410m

Moderate

4.8

2,687

Kinder Reservoir, Kinder Downfall & Kinder Low loop from Bowden Bridge — Peak District National Park

04:09h

13.7km

440m

Moderate

4.8

1,994

Monsal Head & Deep Dale loop from Ashford in the Water

02:43h

9.50km

220m

Moderate

4.8

2,563

Frogatt, Curbar and White Edge Red Deer Circular Walk

02:32h

9.24km

150m

Moderate

4.8

2,856

Ladybower & the Derwent Dam loop — Peak District National Park

03:23h

13.0km

90m

Moderate

4.9

2,143

Mam Tor & Lose Hill loop from Castleton — Peak District National Park

04:00h

13.1km

440m

Moderate

4.9

2,032

Mam Tor, The Great Ridge & Castleton loop — Peak District National Park

03:58h

13.0km

450m

Hard

4.8

2,151

The Roaches to Lud's Church — Peak District National Park

03:24h

11.3km

330m

Moderate

4.7

2,147

The Roaches & Lud's Church loop

03:39h

12.6km

310m

Moderate

4.6

1,144

Dovedale loop to Milldale from Ilam — Peak District National Park

03:41h

12.9km

280m

Monsal Trail – Headstone Tunnel loop from Great Longstone

Great Longstone for Ashford Railway Station

Monsal Trail

View of Monsal Viaduct and Waterfall

Headstone Tunnel

Monsal Trail Information Board, Monsal Dale

Wooden Bridge Over River in Peak District National Park

View of Monsal Head and the Headstone Viaduct

Path Above the River Wye

Nearby routes

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️