Monsal Trail - Peak District UK walk steeped in railway history!

[@fatwalletboy2]

Great content. Ive done the whole route by bike. Love it up there.....hard to imagine blue pullmsns and peaks hauling express passenger at speed in some sreas of the line

[@GreenSignals]

Thanks! It’s wonderful I agree I also agree it’s hard to imagine Peaks and Blue Pullman’s at speed today, but what a sight it must have been!

[@parsifalBN]

Thank You for the walk along Monsal Trail - we made the trip two times - we took our Bromptons with us on a West Coast service to Manchester from London, changed trains at Stafford to Buxton and after a bit of cycling on busy roads we made one of our greatest cycling tours ever in UK (from Matlock we took a Bus to Chesterfield and from there the train on our way back up) -it will not the last time we will make this trip, hopefully. Thanks again for this wonderful Video, showing the Peak District in winter was a special treat!

[@GreenSignals]

What a wonderful trip! And you're most welcome. It was one of those when I woke up and thought "it's freezing today but I know exactly what I want to do!"

[@Steven_Rowe]

I did this walk in 2015, went to the viaduct then saw the pub at the hill so had a pint. Always a twinge of sadness to ee railways closed.

[@GreenSignals]

What a splendid story - found a wonderful view to enjoy, saw a pub and bought a pint. Like it!

[@hkmikey377]

Hi Richard, Mike Yeoman here from NZ, nice to see your smiling face again! Have watched a number of episodes, most enjoyable and informative. Glad to hear you mentioned our mutual friend Colin Walton, a great guy who gave me a lot of assistance when I was with Bombardier. Next time I'm in the UK must walk the Monsal Trail, just my sort of tramp.

[@davidahugill99]

I remember visiting Buxton , Rowsley , Middleton Top etc. with the Lancaster Railway Circle on 10th March 1963 , we carried on to Leicestershire and Notts and Staffordshire on a superb shed bashing trip . I’ll never forget those days ! Cheers, Dave H Carnforth.

[@GreenSignals]

What wonderful memories David. Thanks for sharing!

[@HenryBooth-zs8ig]

The Beeching Report said this route should not be closed, but developed as a through freight route. Good video.

[@GreenSignals]

Thanks Henry. Yes, someone else pointed that out which I confess i did not know. Isn't interesting then that Beeching did not propose it for closure but nonetheless, a subsequent Labour government rather quickly thereafter did close it. Curious.

[@allanmorton6022]

Very enjoyable short walk in the frosty air, love the tunnel and of course the viaduct is picture postcard perfect. Look forward to more varied walks.

[@GreenSignals]

Thanks Allan, we've plenty more ideas where this came from. It really is a gorgeous view, isn't it?

[@malcolmbrooks9527]

I walked from Bakewell to Millers Dale and back in 2009 - a trip for my 60th. I'm impressed you walked up to Monsal Head, that was steep. i was there too soon for the tunnels, so quite a few diversions, hence Monsal Head!

[@GreenSignals]

It is a bit of climb Malcolm, but well worth it for the views! Richard

[@briannewton9283]

An excellent video and a most enjoyable watch, Richard. Although it was obviously freezing, you picked a cracking day for viewing the magnificent scenery!

[@GreenSignals]

It was certainly cold! But glorious too.

[@marilynbalderstone696]

I did so enjoy your walk especially through the tunnel and then across the wonderful Headstone viaduct. I have only seen it from the top. It’s one of my favourite views and a local artist has painted the view for me and included a little train. What a terrible shame it was closed. Hassop station is my other favourite place to go. Thankyou.

[@GreenSignals]

Thanks Marilyn. It’s so lovely. We lived very close to it for a number of years and spent many happy times walking / running the entire length!

[@steveadcock5855]

Thanks, lovely video of a superb and very evocative section of former main line. During the summer I cycled the entire open section of the route from south of Bakewell to north of Millers Dale, and back - thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.

[@GreenSignals]

It is indeed beautiful. The section through Chee Dale is also quite dramatic and lovely. Cheers. Richard

[@robertwilson738]

I enjoyed this very much. It is always very sad to see closed formations like Monsal which still shows off its amazing infrastructure. What a brilliant experience to transcend from tunnel straight onto a viaduct. Your insertion of a video of an express on the viaduct from when it was still open onto the view we were looking at was brilliant.

[@GreenSignals]

Thanks Robert. Its a beautiful part of the world and although I am loving Wiltshire, I do miss walks along the Monsal Trail, the Tissington Trail and the trackbed of the former Leek & Manifold Light Railway to name but three! Cheers. Richard

[@northernblue1093]

Excellent production, very well edited (just the right length to retain interest).

[@GreenSignals]

Thank you! that's very kind of you to say.

[@andyrodgers914]

Enjoyed your video. We walked from Bakewell station to Monsal Dale station and back, this time last year in similar temperatures but without the lovely sunshine you had. Walked on Sunday from Millers dale to Monsal viaduct then back as far as Rusher cutting tunnel yesterday. Lots of contrasting scenery. Also rode the Monsal hill climb in 1987. Looking forward to next video 👍

[@GreenSignals]

If you have ridden the Monsal hill climb, then chapeau to you. Looks brutal! Cheers Richard

[@trevormstone]

What a great idea to do this, and a great video to kick off. My local disused railway walk is the Cuckoo Trail, heading north from Polegate through Hailsham, Hellingly and Horam to Heathfield. It isn't so scenic as The Monsal Trail, but does have a few interesting features along the way. For the past couple of years, work colleagues have organised an annual walk along old railway lines. This year we walked along the Stratford Greenway from Stratford-upon-Avon to Long Marston, of course involving a very nice pub meal at lunchtime before the walk back to Stratford!

[@GreenSignals]

I love the Cuckoo line - what a great idea for a future video! Cheers. Richard

[@trevormstone]

⁠@@GreenSignals- If you want me to give you a (very detailed) tour of the various old alignments around Polegate I would be happy to show you 😂 Also worth mentioning the Hellingly Hospital Railway: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellingly_Hospital_Railway Arguably the first LBSCR metals to be electrified, if you count transfer sidings?

[@cookers207]

Great video Richard. Such a shame the line wasn’t kept as a diversionary route or for freight.

[@GreenSignals]

I suspect had it survived, it would have been useful now. But I really don't see it reopening, largely thanks to cost. Thanks for your kind words! Richard

[@cookers207]

@@GreenSignals yes totally agree Richard with regards to cost. Also think the cycling walking fraternity would have something to say about it as well. Have a great Christmas and good luck with the move. David

[@ianpow4563]

Whilst on your walk perhaps you could have mentioned the late E R Morten, steam era photographer who made this line his speciality. His photos date from LMS days in the 1930's right through the BR era, until I think almost up to closure in 1968.

[@GreenSignals]

A really good point. I've learned so much just from comments like these! Will certainly be having a look at E R Morten's work. Cheers. Richard

[@hughrainbird8190]

Just discovered Green Signals during a hospital stay and have subscribed and am binge catching up. I know this part of the Trail well from the spectacular viaduct on up to Cresswell from visits to my cousin, who lives with her family near Eyam. She told us that her grandson, now a budding young triathlete, learn to ride his bike along the safe environs of the Trail while staying with them. Long may your signals remain green!

[@chairmakerPete]

Lovely video - thank you! Makes one wonder what could have happened had the decision to close so many lines been coupled with another to preserve the rights of way?

[@GreenSignals]

Indeed. It's an interesting thought - I suspect it would have proven quite helpful today. Cheers. RIchard

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

WONDERFULL

[@GreenSignals]

Thank you. It is such a beautiful trail. I have since moved to Wiltshire but do so miss the Monsal Trail and the Peak District.

[@katiefenn1049]

One of the best bits about living in Sheffield is that I can take my bike to the Monsal Trail after work and have it practically all to myself. I'm often there twice a week in the summer. It's my happy place, and it's gotten me through some of the toughest times.

[@GreenSignals]

It is a glorious part of the world and deserving of being anyone's 'happy place' for sure.

[@steffanmaximum]

Beautiful scenery. A pity about the geo engineering streaks in the sky.

[@GreenSignals]

A fair point indeed!

[@levelcrossing150]

I spotted them straight away too.

[@steffanmaximum]

@@levelcrossing150 More and more people are noticing them now. It's worldwide, and part responsible for the bad weather we are having now.

[@levelcrossing150]

@@steffanmaximum Yes, I've noticed that it's being talked about much more, recently. I believe the metrological office have even confirmed that it is going on. The weather has been so cold and it's the longest day soon. It's the first time I've had my heating on during the summer months.

[@steffanmaximum]

@@levelcrossing150 The Met also claim that we have had the warmest April on record, ha, ha.

[@ipcress1066]

Cycled most of the disused railways around the Peak District and have to say they are some of the finest trails to cycle in the country

[@GreenSignals]

Agreed. The Tissington Trail (scene of my best ever half marathon time - principally because it's mainly downhill!!!), the High Peak Trail (former C&HP) and the sublime Leek and Manifold Light Railway (which is actually in Staffordshire but now far away).

[@ipcress1066]

@@GreenSignals Yes done all those and they were excellent. Also the Woodhead is the most fascinating from the railway history perspective for me, the cycle from Hadfield to Woodhead is superb. A crying shame the route is cut in two by the lack of access through the Woodhead Tunnel, having to take your life in your hands on the crazy A Road between the two ends

[@craiglogistics2092]

Another good disused railway walk is the Longdendale Trail from Hadfield to Woodhead and then the TransPennine Trail from Dunford Bridge to Penistone and on to Deepcar where hopefully one day a train will whisk you to Sheffield and on to Chesterfield

[@GreenSignals]

It is indeed a lovely railway walk.