Walk 1650 - printer friendly version

Miller's Dale & Cressbrook Dale from Tideswell Dale Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.5 miles / 8.9 km

Ascent - 950 feet / 288 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference SK154742
Lat 53.2645760 + Long -1.7705795
Postcode SK17 8QH (approx. location only)

This short Peak District walk in the Derbyshire dale is one of the first I recorded in my walking diary. I wrote "Full of variety and interest. Tideswell dale, Litton Mill with its deadly regime, the waterfront of Millers Dale, Ravensdale and the dry valleys of Cressbrook and Tansley Dale meant there was never a dull moment."

The start is the car park in Tideswell Dale alongside the B6049 (grid ref. SK154742). There are public toilets here too. Exit the car park to the south and walk down Tideswell Dale following the route of the stream. This path leads down to a tarmac lane (grid ref. SK156731). You are now in Miller's Dale. Bear left along this lane with the River Wye to your right. You soon arrive at Litton Mill, once infamous for its harsh treatment of child labour. Continue through the Mill following the signed concessionary path. This leads you down to the banks of the River.

Continue through this delightful steep-sided Dale to reach Cressbrook. Do not cross the river here instead walking left up to the tarmac road. Turn left and where the road forks, keep right continuing up the lane into Cressbrook Dale. At grid ref. SK171733 bear right down a track to Ravensdale Cottages. Continue past the cottages joining a path up the Dale through woodland to reach a footbridge (grid ref. SK171741). Cross the bridge and start a steady climb up the side of the Dale. Once at the top of the slope and having enjoyed the view, bear left and descend into Cressbrook Dale again. (You can omit this climb by staying on the valley floor using a concessionary path.)

Reaching the valley floor continue for a short distance up the dale to reach a signed footpath on your left to Litton (grid ref.SK173748). Follow this path up Tansley Dale to reach a walled lane. Cross the lane and follow the continuing path across the field to reach the main road through Litton. There is a pub in Litton. Bear left along the main road through the village. Initially keep to the left where the road splits and ignoring the left turn into Bottomhill Road, continue to the B6049. Turn left here and the starting point is a short distance down this road.

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