Magpie Mine Walk (+ Monsal Dale) From Ashford-in-the-Water | 8-Mile Route

Magpie Mine walk from Ashford-in-the-Water is a lovely 8-mile route up to explore the old lead mine, followed by a beautiful circular route walking along the Derbyshire Dales, Deep Dale and Monsal Dale.

Magpie Mine was used to mine lead for over 250 years and now you can explore the site on your walk, a perfect spot for photographers too!

This walk begins in Ashford-in-the-Water, crossing the River Wye before heading up to explore Magpie Mine. From here, you then descend to the quiet valley of Deep Dale before continuing on to Monsal Dale, walking back alongside the River Wye.

The walk heads towards the Monsal Viaduct, where you walk up to join the Monsal trail, then through the Headstone tunnel. Finally, you’ll leave the Monsal Trail, heading across fields and back to the start at Ashford-in-the-Water.

Here you will find details on how to get to the start of the walk, parking details, route information, map, GPX file, plus a detailed step by step guide of the walk.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve done this Magpie Mine walk and what you think!

Magpie Mine + Monsal Dale from Ashford-in-the-Water

gpx file

Magpie Mine walk map

© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SK 19414 69799

Car parking address: Ashford-in-the-Water car park, 4 Court Lane, Ashford in the Water, Bakewell, DE45 1QG  – Google maps

This is a small car park in the village of Ashford-in-the-Water. These are community toilets and stay open with donations, suggested donation is £2 for parking. Please remember to take change with you to pay in the donation box.

Please note during busy periods and weekends the car park, can fill up quickly, so it’s best to arrive early to get a space or visit mid-week. There’s a small amount of street parking but please be aware of the local residents when finding a space.

Alternative car parks (different locations)

If you find it’s too busy here, there’s two other cars parks you could use for this walk. White Lodge car park is directly on the route and you’ll walk past it before you head along Monsal Dale. Costs £1.50 to £4.75.

Or Monsal Head has a huge car park (150 spaces), you’ll need to walk down the path and join this route on the Monsal Trail section. You can find parking details for Monsal Head on my 2-mile walk route.

(Both are paid car parks)

Public transport

There is a TransPeak bus that goes between Buxton and Bakewell and stops in Ashford-in-the-Water to start your walk.

Facilities on the walk

There are public toilets available at the start of the walk at Ashford-in-the-Water, these remain open from walker donations, so please remember to take some change with you.

There are also toilets at White Lodge car park, directly on the route.

The village of Ashford-in-the-Water has plenty of facilities before or after your walk. There are a couple of pubs, The Bulls Head and Ashford Arms, as well a small shop and Aisseford Tearooms, all situated on Church Street, round the corner from the car park.

Other useful information

There are some sections of this route that go via roads, these are mostly quiet roads, however, please take care on these parts.

From the village of Ashford-in-the-Water up to Magpie Mine the temperature can drop, plus it’s quite exposed so on a windy day it can be colder than when you set off. Please take warm clothes with you.

The route has some signposts but we always recommend taking a map and compass on your walks. See details below.

Would you know what to do in an emergency situation?

We have a guide with what to do, who you need to call and also some useful kit that should be in your backpack. Ask us any questions in the comments or via our social media.

Happy hiking + stay safe

read here

Peak District weather

Check the weather for your walk location and hills

The temperature can vary from the village to Magpie Mine, so even if it feels warm, it’s worth taking a jacket to put on at Magpie Mine.

• BBC Weather for Ashford-in-the-Water
• Met Office weather for the Peak District
• Met Office weather for Bakewell and/or MWIS (Mountain Weather Information Service) for the Peak Distric.

Ordnance Survey walk map

The map required for this walk is the Ordnance Survey OL24 – Peak District (White Peak Area). Check prices here with Ordnance Survey or Amazon. If you’re hiking in all weathers the Active OS maps are pretty good to have.

And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.

For online maps, I recommend the OS Online App (I have been using it for many years and it is worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one-month or annual option with the OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App. or Viewranger App. Check prices here for the one month or yearly option with OS Online App.

Magpie Mine walk route

Stage 1 – Ashford-in-the-Water to Magpie Mine

Distance: 2 miles/3.3 km

Grid reference SK 19414 69799

From the car park, walk past the houses and turn left down the road towards the village. Cross the road at the corner and walk over the bridge across the River Wye. Cross the road and take the path heading uphill, signposted footpath, then go through the gate and continue walking uphill.

Follow the path until it reaches a house, and continue walking across the grass, towards the mast. In the corner, you’ll go through a fence in a stone wall. Turn right and walk up the road for about 700m. This brings you out at a junction, cross this road and go over the stone stile (see below) and uphill to the small gate in the wall.

Turn right down the road, for about 200 m, before then turning left down a track signposted ‘Footpath’. Walk down here, you’ll walk next to some gates down a narrow path then over another stone stile. Keep heading across the grass, now Magpie Mine will be in sight, in the corner there’s a gate to walk though.

Magpie Mine is a permissive Open Access area, so you’re able to walk around the old lead mine and explore all the old buildings. 

Stage 2 – Magpie Mine to Deep Dale

Distance: 1.2 mile/2 km

Grid reference SK 17240 68131

Once you’ve finished exploring Magpie Mine you now need to continue your walk heading in a westerly direction and out of the permissive area via a small fence in the stone wall, up a step.

Walk to the far corner of the next field, over a stone stile. Then continue in the same direction, there’s another two stone stiles before you reach the road.

Turn right, walk along the road for about 1 km, past another road junction. Then ignore the first footpath on the right and take the track on the right just after it (there’s a small wooden signpost).

Walk down the track for 200 m, then as the track forks, take the right-hand fork through a gate which is the beginning of Deep Dale.

Stage 3 – Deep Dale to Monsal Dale

Distance: 1.5 miles/2.4 km

Grid reference SK 15825 68839

Walk along Deep Dale, as you reach the gate in the stone wall go through and continue walking down this beautiful Derbyshire Dale on the other side of the wall. Towards the end there’s a fingerpost sign, but keep walking towards ‘Ashford + White Lodge’.

The footpath curves around to the right, then it turns back to the left (this time follow the signpost ‘White Lodge + Monsal Dale’). The footpath heads down along a rocky path with beautiful rocks either side.

You then need to go over the stone stile in the wall and across a small stream. Continuing to follow the signs for ‘White Lodge + Monsal Dale’. Walk down the path, through a kissing gate and it will bring you out at White Lodge car park + toilets (mentioned above as a alternative option for parking).

Stage 4 – Monsal Dale to Monsal Trail

Distance: 1.2 miles/2 km

Grid reference SK 17032 70651

Now cross over the A6 road and go through the small gap in the wall, signposted public footpath and head down across the water using the stones then over the wooden stile. Now follow footpath ‘signposted Monsal Head’. This path takes you into Monsal Dale and runs alongside the River Wye.

Walking alongside the river, you’ll reach a large open grassy area, with Monsal Weir on your right, keep walking towards another grassy area and in front you’ll see Monsal Viaduct. Just before you reach the viaduct, there’s a footpath on your left heading uphill where you can join the Monsal Trail.

Walk up and go through the gate, turn right and you’re on the Monsal Trail.

Stage 5 – Monsal Trail to Ashford-in-the-Water

Distance: 1.8 mile/2.9 km

Grid reference SK 18170 71631

Keep walking over the viaduct on the Monsal Trail then into the Headstone Tunnel. Go though the tunnel and keep walking, under another old railway bridge. Then after another 800 m look for a footpath on your right, go down the steps and across the field to another stone wall and stile.

Keep walking through the field, go through a small gap in the next wall, then up two small steps with a gate at the next. Then another small gate and another gap in the wall to bring you out at a road (Longstone Lane).

Cross the road and continue walking though the next couple of fields, now heading slightly downwards. Walk towards the stone building, there’s a gap in the wall where you follow a narrow footpath up to the next road. 

Cross this road; opposite there are some stone steps and a gate signposted Ashford. Walk on a grassy section, next to a field of geese, through the gap in the wall. 

Turn left and walk down the road until you reach the mini green with small shelter in the village, turn left here and you’re back at the car park!

Ask me questions about Magpie Mine walk in the comments below.

Other walk options

Shorten the walk

If you fancy a shorter route from Ashforrd-in-the-Water, exploring Magpie Mine check out our 5.5 mile route here.

More walks in the Peak District

Love the walks in the Derbyshire Dales? You might like these Peak District circular walks.

• Derbyshire Dales Walk + Anthony Hill From Elton | 6-Mile Route
• Tideswell, Miller’s + Cressbrook Dales Walk From Litton | 8-Mile Route
• Lathkill Dale Walk (+ Waterfall) From Monyash | 4-Mile Route

Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

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