Chee Dale Stepping Stones Walk – Peak District
Chee Dale Stepping Stones Walk is one of many stepping stones walks in the Peak District, with Dovedale perhaps being the most well known of them all and therefore being quite busy, Chee Dale offers a really great alternative with fewer people!
The walk starts and ends in Miller’s Dale where you can find a small car park at SK17 8SN (parking charges apply), toilets and cafe are also available here too. Due to the nature of this walk, it isn’t suitable for wheelchair users or those that struggle with large steps, however Miller’s Dale is perfectly situated on the Monsal Trail which is a lovely flat walk and well worth a visit.
Route Details:
Length – 9km
Approx time – 2hrs 30m
Parking – Millers Dale Car Park – SK17 8SN
This route was done anti-clockwise but can easily be reversed. Starting on the Monsal Trail, walk right along the trail following the signpost to Wye Dale until you reach the bridge. Along the way you will pass an old Lime Kiln that now act as a wildlife hotel. Take the footpath to the right which takes you down the side of the bridge and down to the River Wye.
Then follow the path to the right and carry along this path keeping the River on your left. Soon you will reach a section where there’s a small bridge on your left and a path to the right, take the right wooden boardwalk path (you’ll come back over the bridge on your way back). Continue along this path as it takes you through the Chee Dale Valley where you’ll reach your first set of Chee Dale Stepping Stones.
Continue along the path which follows the Wye river for around a mile till you reach a footbridge, you’ll also find a small shop here for refreshments though there isn’t a toilet.
Continue over the bridge until you see the Monsal Trail, taking the path to the left to the bridge over the trail.
The path now takes on an incline away from the trail, keep going and you’ll find a small man made pond created for the endangered Great-Crested Newts. Look past the pond and on your left you will see a gate. Go through the gate and continue through two fields until you come to a track, walk along the track and you’ll come to a road. Turn left at the road and past some houses, take the footpath on the left making sure you check out the small bakery treats at Blackwell Farm on the way!
Continue along the path passing through fields till you reach a gate at the bottom of hill then continuing until you reach the Monsal Trail once more. Or you can rejoin the Chee Dale Stepping Stone Walks path and do a bit of wild swimming 🙂
