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TIDESWELL DALE – TIDESWELL -LIMESTONE WAY – MILLERS DALE – MONSAL TRAIL – LITTON MILL – TIDESWELL DALE
TIDESWELL DALE – TIDESWELL -LIMESTONE WAY – MILLERS DALE – MONSAL TRAIL – LITTON MILL – TIDESWELL DALE
DISTANCE: Approximately 7 miles
The walk starts at the car park in Tideswell Dale and includes a tour of the village followed by paths and tracks to nearby Millers Dale.
From the entrance to the car park walk on the concessionary path beside the huge beech trees going slightly uphill and continue through fields to the right-hand side of the road heading towards the village.
At the junction with the Litton road you have to carefully cross over to walk up into the village on a pavement on the opposite side. As you enter Tideswell you will pass a small industrial area including the premises of Darkbrook Pianos – an unexpected commercial enterprise, but then Tideswell has always been renowned for its craftsmen.
Pass in front of the Horse & Jockey pub which is one of several in the village, and walk into Cherry Tree Square. Cross over and head in front of the Vanilla Kitchen tearoom, then continue in the direction of the church which dominates the centre of Tideswell and is rightly known as The Cathedral of the Peak.
After a walk around this amazing building which dates back to 1340, look to the rear of the 100-foot high tower and see if you can see the stone carved cat which sits patiently on the corner of a ledge. It is reputed that a dog was also carved in jest on the front of the same ledge by the stonemason.
Behind the church are the buildings of the former Robert Purseglove Grammar School which was founded in 1559 by the distinguished churchman and educationalist who was deprived of office twice because of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The present building which dates from 1742 was finally closed as a school in 1927.
East of the church is the George Inn which was built in 1730 and has the most attractive 18th century Venetian windows.
Return to the front of the church then walk up the ginnel or alleyway to the right of the general stone, noticing the gable end of an early house with block-up mullioned windows. You should emerge at the top end of Purseglove Road and then head straight on to the Market Square. On your right are the Old College and the Drop Inn whilst on your left are Oddfellows Hall and Bagshaw Hall.
Bagshaw Hall was built in 1872 at a cost of £2,000, on a site given by the 8th Duke of Devonshire. The hall was a gift from John Bagshaw of Tideswell to the ‘Humane Friendly Indefatigable Union Society’ established in 1764 of which he was a member, its objective being the relief of sickness and payment of funeral expenses for members.
Continue straight on from the Market Square onto Manchester Road until a junction with two lanes on your left. Opposite is a well-built house with ‘Constabulary’ carved into the stonework. Take the first turning on the left and head up Sherwood Road where there are some attractive and exclusive residences.
At a junction with Summer Cross continue ahead until you meet a lane on your left signposted Sunny Bank.
Go over a stile on your right and cross two fields, then go over a further stile which brings you onto the narrow walled Slancote Lane. Turn left and follow this away from the village.
Follow the track for about 150 yards until you see stiles on either side of you. Go over the stile on your right and cross a series of fields in almost a straight line until you emerge onto another track which forms part of the Limestone Way. In front of you is the deep chasm of Monks Dale which stretches up from Millers Dale.
Turn left and follow the grassy track on the top of the dale and then descend on the well marked route for the Limestone Way towards Millers Dale. At one point you will pass through a gate into a farmyard then continue downhill.
On reaching the main rain down in the bottom of the valley, cross over and go down some steps onto the lower road which leads to Litton Mill then turn left for only a few yards. Just before the pub turn right by the side of the old mill and cross a long wooden bridge over the river Wye. The path now heads steeply uphill and leads you onto the Monsal Trail.
Turn left and follow the Trail which in spring is edged with wonderful wild flowers- the disused railway lines in the Peak District which have been converted into trails provide a marvellous habitat for flora and fauna.
Follow the trail for approximately a mile, ignoring the first footpath leading down the embankment to the left. However, take the second path which actually informs you that the end of the trail is a few yards further on anyway.
Drop down to a footbridge which takes you back across the river to Litton Mill then turn left and head out of this small little hamlet on the only road out of the valley.
After about 300 yards turn right on a well defined path, and head up Tideswell Dale to return to the car park.
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