Monyash - Conksbury - Bradford - Youlgrave - Monyash

Barry Smith

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Monyash - Lathkill Dale - Conksbury - Bradford - Youlgreave - Limestone Way - Monyash

Monyash lies at the very head of Lathkill Dale and is, in my opinion, the best place to start this walk. Unfortunately, this means that any climbing you have to do comes late in the walk, but the first few miles are downhill to make up for this. The first kilometre is in a dry valley. The river sometimes begins at Lathkill House Cave, where the water which has flowed underground from the Flagg area, gushes from the cave - or at least it does when the weather is wet; in dry times there may be no water for another kilometre.

Below Lathkill House Cave the valley widens out into a grand, deep valley with steep, rocky sides. This becomes even grander, when it is joined from the south by Cales Dale, where a footbridge spans the stream and there are the remains of an old sheep-wash which was used until the 1940s. Below Cales Dale the sides of the Lathkill are partly wooded, an area known as Low Wood.

At Alport, there is ample car parking if you wish to start the walk from here. You can go either way, up Lathkill Dale and return via Monyash, Cales Dale and by the River Bradford, or by River Bradford, Cales Dale and Monyash to finish with Lathkill Dale. Whichever way you choose, you will not regret it!

England - Central England - Derbyshire - Peak District

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Food Shop, Good for Kids, Pub, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

1/4/2017 - Di Farrell

Be aware if you have dogs that as from a year ago Natural England have put Argyle cattle into the entrance of the dale (just as you enter the 1st really rocky section) if you are nervous of them or have been trampled like me -and they are a little too interested for my liking , then you can divert on the upper r path through One Ash Grange Farm and turn L to cross the the bridge to enter Lathkill dale thus avoiding the blighters!

2/27/2013 - Barry Smith

Thanks for the kind words Di! Glad you enjoyed the walk as much as I have, (several times!) I hope to get back there soon, as I am recovering from a badly broken leg and not quite back to normal yet!

2/25/2013 - Di Farrell

A brilliant hike I have done several times but only when the cows are in the sheds! So it is dog friendly from December-end to March. This time did it with 2 granddaughters of 9 and 10yrs in very cold conditions and they loved it, as did two dobies. Slippery when wet and intensely boggy in parts but a dream hike especially when the land is frozen

8/1/2011 - Walkingworld Administrator

Barry Smith reports that he has revisited this walk and all is OK. July 2011. Adrian (Admin)

9/4/2010 - Barry Smith

After Stewart's (Duncan) comments about the distance and height gain, and having more sophisticated gps and mapping software, I re-plotted the walk very carefully! The revised measurements are- 16.7k (10.4 miles) length and 1,360 ft (414 mtrs) gain. A little more strenuous than originaly stated! However, please do not let this put you off the walk as it still is one of the best walks I have ever done, and I am sure you will ever do! Thanks you for all the comments, they really do make a difference!

8/31/2010 - Stewart Duncan

Great walk with a nice variety of terrain. Busy during the summer though Lathkill. Dont believe that we went wrong but I made it 12.6 miles and 270 Mtrs of climb.

7/7/2009 - Gareth Williams

By starting the walk at waypoint 26 and adding the pub at Monyash using the Limestone Trail between waypoints 35 and 36, you arrive at the pub for an early lunch - and it is an excellent pub! I love the valley - a change of scenery every couple of miles.

3/15/2006 - Debby Nicholls-Marcy

15.03.06 Did this walk last week just as snow was thawing. Be prepared to get wet feet if there is any rain about - it is likely that you will end up walking in the river bed itself because this cannot be avoided. Fantastic wildlife - saw boxing hares close up for the first time ever. We left the car at Monyash in the pub car park so that we could have lunch but it was closed when we arrived at 3.20pm. If the weather is bad the walk is fairly hard work, particularly at the end of the Dale where the limestone is slippy and the ground rocky which can be dangerous if snow has fallen, obscuring your path. Excellent scenery and so quiet in March (saw 3 other people in 4 hours). Back to the George at Youlgrave - again!!!