The Monsal Trail
For some reason, the last week or so hasn't seen me getting out that much. The days have just flown by and the urge to get out just hasn't been there but, thankfully, today saw its return.
Looking for a fairly simple and straightforward hike, I chose to go along the Monsal Trail, starting at Monsal Head. Parking a little way along from the more official car park, I walked back to viewpoint and began my descent down onto the trail below emerging between the impressive Headstone Viaduct and Tunnel. After a quick peek over the edge of viaduct, I reversed my course and began to walk through the tunnel keeping an eye and ear out for cyclists.
After exiting the tunnel I simply followed the trail further, following it all the way to the old Bakewell Station where my route took my off the trail and down into the town itself. After a quick look about the town centre, to make things more interesting a decision was made to follow the A6 westward for about 0.6 miles (1km) out of Bakewell, before veering right off the road through a squeezer and across a small field. The path then passed through a couple of houses before returning to fields. Eventually it arrived down by the side of the River Wye.
From this point I continued alongside the river until reaching the pretty little village of Ashford-in-the-Water. Here, I followed road signs for Monsal Head, going through the village and out the other side, almost stopping for a drink and snack at the lovely Aisseford Tea Room. After going so far out of the village, I took a right again to go down Longstone Lane, following this all the way up to where it crosses over the Monsal Trail. It was here I rejoined the trail and began my steady way back to the car.
As a relatively easy walk, this made a nice little excursion and had I been with someone I probably would have stopped somewhere for lunch. There are plenty of nice places available. Unfortunately, for some reason I feel weird stopping for lunch-for-one. Altogether, I would thoroughly recommend this walk.
In other news, I also saw Suicide Squad at the weekend and, despite what critics might say, I thought it was pretty good all things considered.
