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Headstone Viaduct – Monsal Trail loop from Great Longstone

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Running trails & routes

Headstone Viaduct – Monsal Trail loop from Great Longstone

Moderate

runners

Headstone Viaduct – Monsal Trail loop from Great Longstone

00:58

8.83km

130m

Running

Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 17, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Peak District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.06 km

Great Longstone for Ashford Railway Station

Highlight • Cycleway

Great Longstone for Ashford railway station was a station which served Great and Little Longstone in the Peak District of Derbyshire. It was opened in 1863 by the Midland Railway on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway from Rowsley.

It closed in 1962, except that one train a day in each direction continued to stop to allow a local resident, Mrs A Boardman, to travel to work, an episode immortalised by the British Movietone film It Only Stops For Her..[4] Trains continued to pass through the station until 1968 when the line was closed.

The trackbed through the station is part of the 8.5-mile (13.7 km) Monsal Trail, a walk and cycleway. Access to the Monsal Trail can be made at Great Longstone for Ashford railway station, via the ramp off Longstone Lane.

Tip by

2.43 km

Headstone Tunnel

Highlight • Trail

Stretching for 1,598 feet (487 m), Headstone Tunnel is the longest of all the tunnels on the Monsal Trail. Despite being well lit, it’s still a dark and cool place to explore. The tunnel was built in the 1860s by the Midland Railways to link Manchester with London. Headstone Tunnel was reopened in 2011, meaning the Monsal Trail could be fully linked.

Tip by

2.65 km

Headstone Viaduct

Highlight • Monument

Headstone Viaduct is a breathtaking structure that crosses Monsal Dale. The five-arch bridge, which is 70 feet (21 m) tall at its highest point, affords fine views over the River Wye. Built in 1863 by the Midland Railway, many believed the structure blighted the view upon its completion. These days, however, it is iconic and has Grade II-listed status. The viaduct now carries the Monsal Trail, a traffic-free route for hikers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users.

Tip by

3.41 km

Bridge over the River Wye at Upperdale

Highlight • Viewpoint

A lovely little bridge with a nice view in both directions, one direction has a Lily pad and you can see fin cop in the distance.

Tip by

4.95 km

View of Cressbrook Mill and Tunnel Entrance

Highlight • Structure

Great views of Cressbrook Mill from the Monsal Trail and one of the many tunnels reopened for cycling on the Trail. Tunnels are all lit although you may want to take lights to avoid people crashing into you. Lovely scenery.
Mill is now private apartments.

Tip by

5.01 km

Monsal Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Monsal Trail is a traffic-free route that runs for 8.5 miles (13.7 km) between Blackwell Mill and Bakewell. The compacted gravel trail winds through picturesque limestone dales and long tunnels. A particular highlight is the Headstone Tunnel leading to Headstone Viaduct, where breathtaking views await.

The trail follows a section of the former Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, which was built in 1863 to link Manchester with London. The line was closed in 1968 and remained unused for 12 years before being taken over by the Peak District National Park and transformed into a recreational route.

Tip by

8.83 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.30 km

2.23 km

980 m

742 m

585 m

Surfaces

4.25 km

1.82 km

1.32 km

856 m

585 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Saturday 18 July

20°C

9°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

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Comments

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Headstone Viaduct – Monsal Trail loop from Great Longstone

Great Longstone for Ashford Railway Station

Headstone Tunnel

Headstone Viaduct

Bridge over the River Wye at Upperdale

View of Cressbrook Mill and Tunnel Entrance

Monsal Trail

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