The Monsal Trail, an 8.5-mile traffic-free route running from Bakewell to Blackwell Mill, offers an ideal summer day out for families in the Peak District. Open to walkers, cyclists, horse riders, and wheelchair users, the trail follows a former railway line and is completely free to use.
Flat and Family-Friendly Route
The trail is flat and easy to follow, making it suitable for young children and less confident cyclists. It passes through limestone dales with varied scenery, including tree-covered sections, open fields, and landmarks such as the Headstone Viaduct, which provides panoramic valley views. Along the way, visitors can spot remains of old lime kilns, limestone cliffs, and historic mills.
Bike Hire and Facilities
For those without bikes, hire is available at Hassop Station, where adult bikes cost from £18 for two hours and children's bikes from £12 for two hours, with full-day options. Baby seats and trailers are also available. Hassop Station, located in a former railway building, offers food throughout the day with indoor and outdoor seating, and hosts pizza nights on Saturdays and Sundays during summer.
Cafés and Tunnel Highlights
Near the Blackwell Mill end, The Refreshment Room, housed in a former railway waiting room, serves homemade cakes, jacket potatoes, sandwiches, and more, with seating on the old platform. The trail features six lit tunnels, each around 400m long, which reopened in 2011. The Monsal Trail originally opened to the public in 1981.
