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Headstone Viaduct – Headstone Viaduct, Monsal Dale loop from Great Longstone

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Hiking trails & Routes

Headstone Viaduct – Headstone Viaduct, Monsal Dale loop from Great Longstone

Moderate

4.8

(59)

293

hikers

Headstone Viaduct – Headstone Viaduct, Monsal Dale loop from Great Longstone

03:35

12.4km

290m

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: May 26, 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

1.74 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

2.09 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

2.59 km

Headstone Viaduct, Monsal Dale

Highlight • Viewpoint

Monsal Dale is a picturesque wooded gorge where natural beauty and industrial heritage combine magnificently. The River Wye meanders steadily along the dale and wildflower displays abound in spring and summer. Perhaps the most famous thing about the dale is Headstone Viaduct; an enormous former railway bridge that crosses the dale. Many people come here to enjoy nature and paddle in the river. It truly is a special spot. However, at popular times it can get busy.

Tip by

2.71 km

Monsal Dale Weir

Highlight • River

Another delightful sight just down from the viaduct. While it may look like a waterfall, it's actually a weir. This is a great spot to have lunch and get a few photos. I hear there's good fishing around the area on the Wye.

Tip by

2.87 km

Monsal Weir

Highlight • Natural Monument

beautiful as nature intende

Tip by

3.65 km

New Plantation

Forest

4.75 km

Deep Dale Nature Reserve

Nature Reserve

5.54 km

Great Shacklow Wood

Forest

9.51 km

Sheepwash Bridge, Ashford in the Water

Highlight • Monument

Ashford in the Water's Medieval Sheepwash Bridge is a wonderfully historic and beautiful structure. It was built on the site of the ford across the river.

In the 17th century, it was crossed each week by hundreds of pack horses. It has been widened at least twice and takes its name from the attached sheep pen. Sheep were driven into it before being thrown into the river and washed prior to shearing. The bridge is no longer open to traffic and is a favourite spot where visitors can either feed the ducks, or gaze down into the clear waters to see if they can spot a rainbow trout.

Tip by

11.2 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

11.5 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

12.4 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.27 km

2.45 km

2.21 km

258 m

236 m

Surfaces

3.55 km

2.58 km

2.00 km

1.86 km

1.57 km

863 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (310 m)

Lowest point (140 m)

Weather

Saturday 4 July

21°C

14°C

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Comments

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Headstone Viaduct – Headstone Viaduct, Monsal Dale loop from Great Longstone

View of Monsal Head and the Headstone Viaduct

Headstone Viaduct

Headstone Viaduct, Monsal Dale

Monsal Dale Weir

Monsal Weir

Sheepwash Bridge, Ashford in the Water

Monsal Trail

Great Longstone for Ashford Railway Station

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