Ashford / Bakewell / Monsal Head U3A 24/04/2018, 10:07:14

About trip

TOTAL CLIMB = 330.3m, 1083.8ft

WALK LEADER: Eugene

WALK: Ashford / Bakewell / Monsal Head - approx 7.5 miles

MEET AT: Astbury Mere at 8.50 as usual.

PARKING: Public car park Court Lane, Ashford DE45 1QG (Grid Ref SK195698)

GETTING TO THE START: From Congleton take the A54, Buxton Road. As you approach Buxton take the A53, Leek Road towards ‘Town Centre’. At the traffic lights take the right fork onto the B5059 towards Ashbourne. Stay on the B5059 until you meet the A6 at Morrison’s roundabout. Turn right at the roundabout onto the A6 towards Matlock, Derby, Bakewell. As you approach Ashford from Buxton on the A6, take the left turn signposted ‘Ashford Village’ onto Buxton Road. At the cross roads at the end of Buxton Road, go straight across into Court Lane and the village car park is straight ahead; there is a £1 charge via an ‘honesty box’.

WALK DETAILS: Exit the car park at the gateway to the car park and immediately turn left down Court Lane.

At the junction with Church Street turn left.

Continue along Church Street as it changes into the B6465, then Betty Lane up to the junction with the A6020 (cricket ground opposite).

Cross the A6020 and take the gated lane slightly to the right of the junction, which is the continuation of the B6465.

At the end of the lane it meets Buxton Road where you turn left.

Walk approx. 100m along Buxton Road and go through the signposted gate on your left.

Walk along the signposted river-side path through a few small gates .

At the end of the path it approaches some houses. Walk down the narrow passageway between some houses. At the end of the passageway cross the street (Lakeside) and continue down another narrow passageway onto a path. At the end of the path turn left onto Buxton Road.

Walk along the road for approx. 100m, then cross over the road onto the signposted path on the opposite side.

This path climbs up the hillside through woodlands. At the top of the path turn right and walk along a fenced boundary of a school (St. Anselm’s).

At the end of the path is a stile, turn left on to Stanedge Road, walking past St Anselm’s school on your left.

Continue until the junction with Fly Hill (the main road continues as Church Lane).

Walk down Fly Hill and stop at the dead-end where there is a house with a garage on your left (Fly Hill changes into Bagshaw Hill here).

Immediately take the path BETWEEN the garage and the house and continue along Undercliffe until it meets the A6, Buxton Road, opposite the Fire and Rescue station.

Cross the A6 and turn left, (walking away from Bakewell).

Walk approx. 100m along Buxton Road and turn right into a lane, walking across the bridge over the river (Lumford Cottages are on your left).

Continue forward along the lane as it crosses a road and continues as Holme Lane.

The lane starts to rise here passing Holme Hall on your right.

The tarmacked lane eventually turns into a grassy path rising up the hillside.

Continue up for approx. 1.25miles, passing through a few gates, until the path meets the Monsal Trail.

Turn left onto the Monsal Trail and continue for approx. 1.25miles.

Take the path off to the right signposted for Little Longstone and walk across the fields until you meet the road.

Turn left and walk along Butts Road for 0.5mile, crossing the B6465, to Monsal Head.

Take the signposted path (just beyond the car park, behind the cafe) for Ashford.

Follow the signs down grassy paths between boundary walls, passing through a few gates; the lower part of the path is named Pennyunk Lane on OS maps.

The end of the path arrives in Ashford at the top of Vicarage Lane.

Turn right onto Vicarage Lane and continue down the lane until the crossroads junction with Buxton Rd./Fennel St./Court Lane.

Turn left into Court Lane and the car park is straight ahead.