Litton, Tansley Dale, Cressbrook Dale, Miller's Dale, Tideswell Dale

2 hr 21 mins

5.46 miles (8.73 Km)

Considerately in the village of Litton. Important note: The bridge behind Cressbrook Mill is currently closed. Either follow the path upstream to Litton Mill, or head downstream to the bridge by Upperdale Farm (approx 1 km)

SK166751

From centre of Litton head east, passing right turn signposted Cressbrook and Monsal Dale; then 100 mtrs past this junction, take the stile on right immediately past Litton View Farm signposted Cressbrook Dale and Wardlow.
Head diagonally across field to stile, and farm track.
Turn left onto farm track for 30 mtrs and take stile on right.
Head down field trending slightly leftwards to stile.
Over stile and follow path downhill into Tansley Dale and continue downhill to a gate.
Through gate, over small bridge and turn right onto the obvious path down Cressbrook Dale.
Keep towards the bottom of the valley avoiding the path leftwards uphill that would take you to Wardlow.
After the small bridge turn left, keeping to the valley floor.
Pass Ravensdale cottages on your left and continue up to the road.
At the road turn left, heading downhill until you reach the turning on the right into the car park of Cressbrook Mill apartments.
Follow the footpath signs around the right-hand side of the car park passing the mill race on your right.
At the junction of paths take the left fork over the bridge (the path to the right takes you along the valley floor through the nature reserve which is also very worthwhile but the path can get very muddy/wet after rain).
Once over the bridge, take the stone steps to the top then turn right onto a faint path.
When path forks, take either option as they meet up again above the entrance to the Cressbrook Tunnel on the Monsal Trail.
From the point where the paths meet up again, continue along the path with the Monsal Trail down to your right.
Continue over a stile above the entrance to the Litton Tunnel and on to some caves on your left.
At this point take the path downhill to a stile and onto the Monsal Trail.
Continue for a short distance on the Trail and 50 mtrs before the bridge above the Trail take the path on your right signposted to Litton Mill.
The path heads back on yourself initially but then drops downhill to a bridge.
Over the bridge and turn left on the quiet road passing a row of cottages on your right.
Shortly after the Field Study Centre take the wide track on your right signposted to Tideswell.
Continue on this path (where path forks, both paths head in same direction) to car park.
Head through car park and continue on path beyond its northern end until you reach the final gate onto the road which is just before the right turn to Litton.
Turn right towards Litton keeping to the path on the right until your reach a path on the right just before the 1st cottage of the village.
Through gate and turn right uphill to stile & road.
Cross road directly and follow path keeping fence on your right to gate.
Through gate and continue over 4 stiles to road.
Turn left onto road and follow this back into Litton.