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Monsal Head panorama

We are looking down into the Monsal Dale valley in the Derbyshire Peak District onto the impressive Headstone Viaduct. In the valley bottom runs the very nice River Wye and to the right is the village of Cressbrook with Water-Cum-Jolly Dale just a little further.
Its-time for us to stride down the narrow path and steps to the wooden footbridge across the river near the buildings on our right before taking the opposite bank of the river, back under the viaduct, along the grassy bank past an impressive weir and second footbridge before traversing uphill back to here and a little further to our car. Phew!
The Grade II listed viaduct built in 1863 is 91m long, 21m high with five 15m span arches and was built by the Midland Railway. It is now home to the Monsal Trail for walking and bicycles. There is also quite an impressive tunnel just out of sight: the Headstone tunnel is 487m long through which the trail runs. ~ Another phone panorama!

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Enjoy the day.
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11 comments

Jaap van 't Veen said:

Wonderful vista Herb.
8 months ago ( translate )

Malik Raoulda said:

Une belle et superbe capture bien documentée.
Bonne et heureuse journée paisible.
8 months ago ( translate )

TOZ said:

Looks a super place to walk Herb you got me again never been to Monsal Dale valley I will have to start going south.
Have a great day.
Gordon
8 months ago

Herb Riddle replied to TOZ:

Thanks Gordon. You are missing a great deal not having the Peak District near Buxton in your sights. The area round the River Wye is particularly attractive. Personally I like Chee Dale the best with its stepping stones. As you have seen, the Mam Tor area is also good and I think you already know the area around Ladybower & Derwent Res.

Best Wishes. Herb
8 months ago

Günter Klaus said:

Da Oben bekommt man ja einen wunderschönen Ausblick lieber Herbert,schön hast du das festgehalten :))

Wünsche noch einen schönen Nachmittag,liebe Grüße Güni :))
8 months ago ( translate )

Herb Riddle replied to Günter Klaus:

Its quite amazing what phones can do nowadays. Thank goodness it still needs the human brain to point them. Glad you liked this

Best Wishes. Herbert
8 months ago

Loose_Grip/Pete said:

A splendid view Herb.
All it needs is the railway to be restored and a steam train to cross the viaduct!
8 months ago

Herb Riddle replied to Loose_Grip/Pete:

Glad you liked it.
There would be a lot of upset hikers and cyclist if that happened Pete. In 2021 the trail was attracting 300,000 visitors a year. When the Railway was first brought here and the viaduct built the painter John Ruskin hated it with a vengeance. He wrote at the time ""The valley is gone, and the Gods with it; and now, every fool in Buxton can be in Bakewell in half an hour, and every fool in Bakewell at Buxton; which you think a lucrative process of exchange - you Fools everywhere."

The railway line was one of those which were the subject of Dr Beeching's cuts in the 1950's. The long tunnels which cut through the rock at Monsal Head, Cressbrook and Litton were boarded up and closed for many years. It wasn't until 2011 that the tunnels were re-opened to the public and the Monsal Trail became a family friendly cycle way.

Cheers. Herb
8 months ago

Keith Burton said:

A cracking panoramic shot Herb. The landscape is beautiful despite the grey skies and the Viaduct very impressive!

Deserves to be viewed large to see the excellent detail.
8 months ago

Ulrich John said:

Feines Panorama, Herb !
8 months ago ( translate )

tiabunna said:

A very impressive landscape and it sounds a great walk, Herb.
8 months ago