December 23, 2023
9:00 am
Millers Dale Car Park
Beginners/Light Christmas Cheer, Chee Dale Hike – Peak District
Price: £15
Concessionary: £4
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Route Statistics
Length: 4.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 225m
Time: 3.5 hrs
Technical Difficulty: Easy
Start / Finish Point: Millers Dale Car Park
Route Type: Footpaths
Parking Costs: £4.75
Directions
Millers Dale Car Park – Peak District NP – Google Maps
Route Description
This ease of the Chee Dale circular route is great for beginners yet offers so much variety. You walk through a beautiful gorge, take in two sets of stepping stones which see far fewer crowds than the ones at Dovedale as well several fun abandoned tunnels.
From the parking area the walk heads onto the Monsal Trail and right, heading west in the direction of Wye Dale. The first 750m are all completely flat, heading along the wonderfully maintained, wide path which is shared with cyclists and horse riders.
We will reach an old railway viaduct, which is now a popular abseiling spot. Just before this bridge on the right, we will see a path downhill towards the river, which is signposted. After taking the stairs down to the waters edge, we will follow the narrow dirt path along the river. After a walk along the river, we will reach a junction, and head straight, onto the wooden boardwalk. The boardwalks are very pretty, often lined on both sides with giant plants.
The next part of the walk is the most atmospheric, and my favourite section of the whole track. We will be wandering along a dirt path alongside the river and tall silvery gorge walls. It’s so picturesque and on a still day you’ll see a perfect mirror image of the limestone cliffs in the water. The path is again often lined with the plants that give it that childrens storybook feel.
Beyond the gorge we will come to the first set of Chee Dales stepping stones. These stepping stones are nice and even, both in terms of terrain and spacing, so they’re easy to cross.
The next 1.8km are all flat and back on the well manicured Monsal Trail. You walk through three tunnels in total, with the most impressive being the Chee Tor Tunnel, which is so long it is actually lit, unlike the others. It goes for over 100m and was good fun to walk through.
Just beyond the final tunnel we will come back to the abseilers favourite bridge and retrace our steps to the car park.
What do I need to bring with me?
Walking boots: waterproof and breathable hiking boots with good ankle support
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and prevent blisters
Water: Bring at least 1 litre of water
Medication: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor aliments etc
Day Rucksack: something comfortable to wear, 20 litres+
Waterproof bags: keep spare clothing, electronics and anything else dry even when your rucksack leaks by using ziploc type food bags or outdoor activity waterproof bags.
Comfortable clothing: bring layers to let you adapt quickly to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (t-shirt) and a mid layer (micro fleece) and outer layer (jacket)
Trousers: no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry. On a warm day shorts are ok.
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry.
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example. Put them in an easy reach area.
Packed lunch: bring a pack lunch unless otherwise stated
Hat or cap: stay warm in the winter and shaded in the summer
Gloves: weather dependant
Sunscreen: can be useful even on cloudy days
Dogs
Well behaved dogs are more than welcome, there may be livestock around so they may need to stay on the leads for parts of it.
Terms & Conditions
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