How to find the Chee Dale Stepping Stones on the Chee Dale Walk
In the White Peaks, east of Buxton and tucked below the famous Monsal Trail, is the exciting Chee Dale walk and the sensational Chee Dale Stepping Stones .
The Chee Dale stepping stones walk in the Peak District National Park starts from Miller’s Dale Car Park, next to an old railway junction, then goes down the Monsal Trail, curves around the River Wye towards the two sets of fairytale-like stepping stones through a limestone gorge. Finally, the walk goes up in the open for beautiful views of the Chee Dale Valley before looping back down towards the Monsal Trail once again.
The walk has a little bit of everything – beautiful viaducts, cafes ( yes- plural), toilet facilities at the car park and regular information points so you can learn about the wildlife and history of the area.
Chee Dale Walk Distance: 9.2km/ 5.7 miles
Chee Dale Walk Time: 3- 4 hours
Elevation Gain: 326m
Route type: circular
Parking at the Chee Dale Walk
Chee Dale Walk Car Park: Miller’s Dale car park, Wormhill, Buxton
Chee Dale Walk Postcode: SK17 8SN
Click here for Google Maps directions.
This car park can get extremely busy, and although there are 80 spaces, when we recently went on the Chee Dale walk, there was not one space available.
You can pay at the machine with both coins and card, and the prices are as follows from 9 am – 6 pm:
- Up to 1 hour – £1.50
- Up to 2 hours – £2.50
- Up to 4 hours – £4.00
- All-day – £4.75
Disabled Badge Holders = Free
All proceeds from the car park go towards looking after the National Park. Alternatively, you can buy a National Park annual or weekly permit – if you plan to visit a lot of Peak District walks. You can find the permit details here.
If you want to park for free, you can do this walk in a different order and park at the Chee Dale Layby. You can find directions here: Chee Dale Layby, Buxton SK17 9TF
For public transport, the closest train station is Buxton, from here you can get a bus that takes you close to the start of the walk.
Best Time to go to the Chee Dale Walk
If there has been heavy rain, it is not good to do the Chee Dale walk. There have been times where you cannot cross the Chee Dale stepping stones as they are submerged underwater.
Please check flood levels for the River Wye before you set off.
Chee Dale Walk Facilities
- There are toilets (including disabled) at Miller Dale car park but nowhere else on the route.
- The café is open from 9:30-5:30 in peak times, and the last food is served at 5 pm, and you can sit inside and outside.
- The café sells hot and cold food, coffee, ice-creams, and they offer free water refills.
- There are picnic benches and limited benches.
Other Useful Tips for the Chee Dale Walk
- The car park gets full at peak times and weekends, so arrive early to get your parking spot.
- The walk is dog friendly, with only three styles. The trail goes mainly through gates. The dogs we saw were loving sprinting over the Chee Dale Stepping Stones. Remember to keep dogs on leads in the Chee Dale nature reserve.
- The walk is MUDDY, especially after heavy rain, and the River Wye is prone to flooding. Wear appropriate footwear and bring a raincoat.
- Remember to take a map and compass with you. Unfortunately, paths get overgrown, and signposts can fall, so do not rely on these instructions without having a backup plan – they should be used as a guide only. For the Chee Dale walk, you will need the Ordnance Survey OL24- Peak District (White Peak Area). They sell some in The Refreshment Room café at the car park.
- Take all the litter home with you.
- Remember to take snacks and water with you. There is a ‘tuck shop’ roughly halfway round.
- This walk also has slippery rocks, tree roots, and large stones, so please take care of your footing and keep this in mind if you plan to complete the Chee Dale walk with children.
Chee Dale Walk Directions – In 3 Sections
Section 1 – Miller Dale Car Park to Chee Dale
Walk to the back of Miller’s Dale Car Park (far left) and go through the wooden gate. Take the first right, to go onto the Monsal Trail, and begin walking through the shaded trees (watch out for the bikes). After roughly 500m, you will pass the East Buxton Lime Kiln. From 1880 until 1944, this was a Lime Kiln that produced quicklime. You can go inside and discover what the conditions would have been like inslide the kiln.
Soon after, you will see a bridge in front of you. But don’t cross it and instead take the right path down the steps following the arrow for Chee Dale to reach the River Wye. There are some benches here to rest with excellent views of the viaduct.
When you reach the river, turn right and go in the opposite direction of the viaduct. Follow the single lane path and watch your footing for the numerous tree roots.
Follow the path until you see a bridge on your left. Do not cross the bridge but instead follow the path straight over the boardwalk. There is a sign warning you about floods here, and the trail can be very muddy, especially if it has been raining. Keep following the path next to the river. It is good to know that the boardwalk only covers part of the walk, and the rest of the track is quite muddy.
Section 2 – Over the Chee Dale Stepping Stones towards the Monsal Trail
The path is straightforward, but it’s good to know that it does go slightly away from the river at times, and there are some giant slippery steps, so take your time as you go.
Cross over a small wooden plank, turn right, and go right through a stone wall with two trees. Cross over the broken wooden bridge.
Climb slightly uphill and follow the path as it curves around the Chee Dale Valley, and then it descends back towards the river. The stones down can be slippery here. Continue straight, keeping the river on your left, walking over the boardwalk sections. After that, you will walk under the large rocks, where you might be lucky enough to see some climbers enjoying themselves. Finally, it will bring you out to the excellent Chee Dale stepping stones.
Carefully, cross over the stepping stones and turn left immediately after, and cross over the wooden bridge and turn right to go under the viaduct arch. Continue walking down the path next to the River Wye. Follow the sign for Blackwell Mill and continue down the steps and cross the river again over a wooden footbridge and continue down the path where you will see the second set of stepping stones.
After, continue on the trail next to the river for roughly 300m and then go under the viaduct, over the style to continue on the path through the wooden gate under the viaduct’s arch. There is a footbridge under the viaduct, but it is currently closed for repair (August 2021). So keep walking straight next to the river instead, where you will arrive at a footbridge. There are houses to the right, and signs ask people to respect the residents’ privacy.
Turn left and cross over the footbridge, where you will find the Blackwell Mill cycle hire and a tuck shop. There are picnic benches, friendly staff and coffee! Unfortunately, there are no toilets here.
Section 3 – Monsal Trail Bridge back to the Car Park
Continue straight up the hill following the direction of the Monsal Trail but just before you reach the path, turn left and go over the bridge of the Monsal Trail and wave to the cyclists below.
There is the option to walk straight back along the Monsal Trail to make the walk shorter here. If you want to walk a bit longer, go over the bridge and park, walk through the wooden gate and follow the stony path uphill. Do not go off the trail due to erosion.
Go all the way to the top of the hill until you are almost at the road, and then go through the wooden gate where you will see the artificial pond on your left. Keep walking and head straight, following the apparent track in front of you.
Go through the metal gate as the track curves right. You will find the Pennines Brindle Way National Trail, keep straight on the track as it curves around right and keeps going through the metal gates until you reach a road.
At the road, turn left, walk downhill, and you will go past Beech Croft Farm ( you can get coffee and ice cream here) and keep going down the tarmac road and just after you pass Beech Tree Barn, there will be a public footpath on your left.
Follow this path through the wooden gates and the fields, through a small scale in a stone wall. Continue past the farm and head downhill, following the public footpath arrows. The path curves slightly right, and signs ask you to keep to the wall side as you go downhill.
Keep the wall on your left and follow the track downhill through the wooden gate and some other fields, there are some yellow markers on signposts to help guide you down and arrows to follow. Go through this gate and head straight down. You will see another yellow marker again. This part downhill is quite steep, so take your time! Once you are near the bottom head right and go through a wooden gate.
Continue straight along the track and then turn left to go over the bridge to rejoin the Monsal Trail, following the direction of Bakewell.
You are almost back to where you started, so if you want to see the tunnel take a right and make a quick detour. Then, from the bridge, continue straight back to Miller Dale car park.
Chee Dale walk completed. Happy hiking.
We hope you enjoyed the Chee Dale walk. Let us know in the comments if you are going, plan to go or have any questions. In the meantime, read our other guides for Peak District walks inspiration:
The Best Walks in the Peak District
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Beautiful walk. Did the walk today and although very muddy in parts was passable with good footwear. Highly recommend. Children will love the stepping stones.