Monsal Trail and Tunnels
The Monsal Trail tunnels offer one of the most spectacular leisure routes in Britain for cycling, walking and horse riding.
It is the first time the public have been able to go through the tunnels since the former Midland Railway Line closed in 1968.
Following work by the Peak District National Park Authority – using £2.25 million funding from the Department of Transport – the tunnels have been repaired, resurfaced and lit to form an extension to the existing Monsal Trail.
Interpretation explaining the former history of the route has also been installed.
Lighting the way
Four of the longer tunnels are lit during daylight hours, dawn to dusk, to make them safe to use. They are operated by a light sensor, so in winter when the hours of daylight are less, the lights in the tunnels will switch off earlier in the day - around 4.30pm. If you are using the trail in the afternoon you are advised to take a torch or have bike lights in case you get caught out. If the lights go off because of a power failure there is a two hour emergency back up in place.
Maps and more information
How to get to the Monsal Trail by bus or train from Manchester, Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Chesterfield
Map of Monsal Trail (203KB) 
(or see larger image below)
Monsal Trail leaflet (586KB) 
(includes map)
How to find and use the Monsal Trail
Find out more about the work to re-open the tunnels
What is there to see and do on the Monsal Trail?
What effect does the new route have on hopes to re-open the railway line in the future?
Code of conduct
The Monsal Trail has quickly become one of the most popular off-road routes in the Peak District attracting a wide range of visitors and users.
To ensure the Trail remains enjoyable for everyone please respect other users by following the code of conduct below:
- Keep to the left
- Respect other users of the trail
- "Take only pictures, leave only footprints"
- Don’t climb on railings
- Use public transport to get here if you can
- Wear appropriate clothing
- Enjoy the trail!
Also see specific advice for walkers, cyclists and horse riders
It is illegal for motor vehicles and motorcycles to use the route.
Monsal Memories
Monsal Memories is a series of six 10-minute podcasts about people who worked on, lived by or travelled on the former Midland Railway which ran through the heart of the Peak District national park from 1863 to 1968. Left click to hear in your web browser, or right click and choose Save Link As to save to your computer or MP3 player.
Episode 1 - The Line (10 mins 4.2MB) memories of the line and what the railway line was built for.
Episode 2 - The Stations (10.50 mins 3.8MB) memories of the railway stations along the line including Rowsley, Bakewell and Hassop.
Episode 3 - The Trains (9.00 mins 3.2MB) voices of the people who travelled the line and remember the trains, mostly from the age of steam.
Episode 4 - The Journeys -part 1 (9.10 mins 3.3MB) memories of the people who travelled the line and remembered the journeys they made
Episode 5 - The Journeys - part 2 (11.26 mins 4MB) more memories of the people who travelled the line and remembered the journeys they made
Episode 6 - The Railway Workers (14.07 mins 5MB) voices of the railway workers who worked on the stations and trains, mostly from the age of steam.
Map of the Monsal Trail
