Chee Dale and its stepping stones from Miller's Dale

The walk starts from the car park at the old Miller's Dale station. It follows the Monsal Trail west through the Chee Tor tunnels to the cottages at Blackwell Mill, where it leaves the old railway for the riverside path. The path comes back down Chee Dale beside the Wye, squeezed between the water and overhanging limestone walls, and twice takes to stepping stones laid along the river under the cliffs. It rounds the buttress of Chee Tor, passes Wormhill Springs and climbs back to the trail a short way from the station.

It is 6.6 km with 106 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy by time, but the riverside half is slow going.

The dale path is rocky, uneven and muddy, with boardwalks and steps, and the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust warns that it is very likely to be wet or flooded, especially from September to March. When the river is high the stepping stones are under water and the dale cannot be walked: turn back and return along the trail. Dogs must be on a lead in the reserve and on the trail. The gorge is about 60 metres deep.

The National Park car park charges and has toilets. There is no station nearby.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.