Monk’s Dale is a beautiful walk in the Peak District National Park. It’s a less popular route than nearby Chee Dale or Monsal Trail but it’s just as picturesque.
The Monk’s Dale walk is one of the five Derbyshire Dales, covering 57 hectares. It takes you through the valley of Monk’s Dale Nature Reserve and you’ll be met by an array of greens from different plants, trees and mosses along the walk.
The walk is wonderful to enjoy any time of the year, but particularly in spring/summer months when you can see the Nature Reserve really come to life with birds and wildflowers.
From Millers Dale station car park, you head along the Monsal Trail for a short distance, before descending to the road. Then you follow the stream along Monk’s Dale Nature Reserve until you reach then end and loop back via the Limestone Trail.
Here you will find details on how to get to the start of the walk, parking details, route information, walk map + GPX file, facilities on the walk, plus a detailed step by step guide of the walk.
Important
Update May 2022 – We’ve received a message saying that this walk has trees down on the route, so in order to complete you may need to climb fallen trees or navigate around them (these possibly fell during the storms at the beginning of the year). It is possible to get through but please be aware of the above before planning this walk.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve done this walk and what you think!
Buy a printable/downloadable PDF route guide for the walk here.
Monk’s Dale, Derbyshire from Miller Dale
Walk information + GPX
Walk type: Short circular walk
Distance: 4.5 miles/7 km
Walk time: 2-3 hours
Total ascent: 345 m/1,099 ft
Highest point: 318 m/1,043 ft
Walk highlights: Miller’s Dale Station, Monsal trail and Monk’s Dale Nature Reserve
Trigs: 0
Ethels: 0
Stiles: 0
Monk’s Dale walk map
© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460
Click for OS online mapWalk start point
Start grid reference: SK 138 732
Car parking address: Miller’s Dale Car Park, Wormhill, Buxton, SK17 8SN. Google Map Location
The car park has about 80 spaces, but it’s a very popular place to visit so arrive early to guarantee a space during peak times.
Parking Cost*
- £1.50 up to 1 hour
- £2.50 up to 2 hours
- £4.00 up to 4 hours
- £4.75 all-day
*Correct at time of writing (March 2023)
Public transport
Nearest train station: Buxton train station (6 mile/10 km)
From the train station, it’s about 16 minutes on a bus that drops you close to the car park.
Facilities on the walk
There are public toilets available at the start of the walk at Miller Dale car park. However, there are no other toilets on the rest of the walk.
During weekends and peak times, the old station buidling at Miller Dale has a cafe that serves drinks and snacks.
Water on your walk – I recommend a filter water bottle for your Peak District walks, it saves you from carrying extra weight and you can fill up safely and drink water from the streams on your walk.
Other useful information
The footpath through Monk’s Dale is very uneven with tree roots and is rocky in places, so although this is a short walk in length, this section can take longer than you might expect, but it’s a fun walk for kids to explore.
The route has minimal signposts but you follow the stream that leads into the River Wye at the start and then continue until you come out of the Nature Reserve. I recommend you take a map and compass (see below).
Peak District weather
Check the weather for your walk location and hills. We’d recommend that you check a few resources and for hill walks look at the weather conditions in the valley and on the hilltop as they can greatly vary.
- BBC Weather for Tideswell
- Met Office weather for Tideswell
- Met Office weather and/or MWIS (Mountain weather information service) for the Peak District
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 weather the Active OS maps are good to have as they are laminated so better on rainy days.
View both Peak District map options here.
And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.
For online maps, I recommend 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 OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App.
Want to learn more map skills? Check out our Guided Walks with map reading skills here.
Check prices here for the one month or yearly option with OS Online App.
Want to read later? Save the walk to Pinterest
Monk’s Dale walk route
Stage 1 – Millers Dale to Monk’s Dale
Distance: 0.6 miles/1 km
Grid reference SK 138 732
A wonderful place to start the walk in the Peak District, Millers Dale was an old train station, which used to be the busiest train station between Derby and Manchester. You can see plenty of evidence around the old station building and near the car park.
Turn left from the car park (next to the building) and head along the Monsal Trail for about 500 metres until you see a sign for a footpath on your left. Take the path and follow it steeply downhill and across a bridge over the River Wye.
Once across the bridge, cross over the main road and turn right, continuing on the road uphill bearing right.
After 100 metres, there’s a gate which then doubles back on the route, but continues heading upwards. Follow the path until you reach another single footpath leading down to Monk’s Dale.
It can be muddy around this area, so take your time heading down to the valley. Go across the stepping stones and turn right to follow Monk’s Dale.
Stage 2 – Monk’s Dale to Limestone Way
Distance: 1.5 mile/2.5 km
Grid reference SK 141 734
The footpath weaves through Monk’s Dale on a single track footpath, which appears and disappears as you make your way along the route.
You’ll cross over a wooden bridge onto the other side of the stream before if gradually disappears – and you’re in the heart of Monk’s Dale.
The route isn’t signposted but simply continue following all the way through the Nature Reserve.
Go through a stone gap in a drystone wall exploring deeper into the Monk’s Dale walk.
There are lots of tree roots and rocky ground to navigate, but it’s a real sensation overload so take your time and enjoy seeing how nature has taken over the walk.
Eventually, you’ll come out onto a flatter path and across a field to the road where you join the Limestone Way.
Stage 3 – Limestone Way to Miller Dale
Distance: 2.3 miles/3.8 km
Grid reference SK 130 752
Turn right up the road. Then at the crossroads, turn right again, following the signpost for the Limestone Way.
Continue along the track all the way until you go through a gate. At this point, you’ll reach the path you were on at the beginning of the walk.
Head down the trail, through the gate at the bottom and turn right until you reach the road.
Follow the road, past the church and under the viaduct.
As the road then leads off to the right you’ll see a footpath sign with steps leading back up to the Monsal Trail. Turn right at the top, then you’ll be back at Millers Dale station shortly after.
Do you have any more questions about Monk’s Dale walk, maybe what to wear on your hike or any other questions? Ask me in the comments below.
Additional options
Extend the walk
If you want to do a longer walk, why not add the Chee Dale 5-mile loop onto this route, to make it a 10-mile walk instead.
Stop at Millers Dale car park for lunch and a rest stop, maybe pop in the cafe! Then continue in the opposite direction and explore a different part of the area.
The full walking route here Chee Dale 5-mile loop
More Walks in the Peak District
Love the walks in the White Peak Area of the Peak District? You might like these Peak District circular walks.
Save me to your Hiking boards on Pinterest
*Peak District Walks participates in the Amazon Services Associates Programme, as well as other affiliate programmes. If you purchase through these, Peak District Walks earn from the qualifying links. This is at no extra cost to you. Read more here.
Peak District Walks is a FREE online resource. Are you enjoying the walks? You can say thank you and buy me a coffee here. Thank you very much 🙂
Peak District charity patches
Read about the charity here.
Charity Patches
Charity Patches
Charity Patches
Charity Patches
Charity Patches
Charity Patches
Need more help planning your Peak District trip?
Join our Peak District walks Facebook page, follow us on Instagram and Twitter for inspiration.
More information on the Peak District, including transport options, where to stay, best Peak District pubs + other useful resources.
Check out the 7 YHAs in the Peak District and find the best walks direct from your accommodation.
Find out what maps you will need for your trip here.
Top tips - Read our useful guides on hiking tips here.
Guided Walks with an introduction to map reading (see dates here).
Visit our hiking recommendations page, (footwear, clothes + kit).
Or get in touch and I will help as best I can :).
Please note 'Peak District Walks' accepts no liability for any injuries or accidents resulting from walking our routes. We always recommend you wear appropriate footwear to avoid injuries and to take a paper map and compass on your walks. Read more here.
Pingback: Alstonefield Walk (Via Milldale + Dovedale) | 7-Mile Route - Peak District Walks
Pingback: Chee Dale Walk From Miller Dale (Stepping Stones Walk) | 5-Mile Route - Peak District Walks
Pingback: Dovedale Walk (Bunster Hill + Thorpe Cloud) | 7-Mile Route - Peak District Walks
Pingback: Shutlingsloe Walk from Wildboarclough (via Macclesfield Forest) | 7-Mile Route - Peak District Walks
Pingback: Wolfscote Dale + Biggin Dale Walk From Hartington | 5-Mile Route - Peak District Walks
Pingback: Derbyshire Dales Walk + Anthony Hill From Elton | 6-Mile Route - Peak District Walks
Pingback: Bradford Dale Short Walk Near Youlgreave | 5-Mile Route – Peak District Walks