Chee Dale Stepping Stones Walk
This steep sided gorge near Buxton is a lovely place for a peaceful walk. There's splendid cliffs of carboniferous limestone, the River Wye and some unusual riverside stepping stones. The area is also a nature reserve so there's lots of interesting flora and fauna to see. Look out for wildflowers including cowslips, early purple orchids, rock rose and the rare Jacob's ladder. Birds darting around the river and woods include dippers and wagtails.
This circular walk takes you through the dale along the River Wye before exploring the area to the north of the river. On the route you'll pass along the popular stepping stones which run along the side of the river. It's a splendid spot with the wonderful limestone cliffs just above your head as you make your way along the stones. Please do take care along the stones particularly if the river is at a high level. You may need to find an alternative route if this is the case.
Start the walk from the parking spaces on the Chee Dale Layby just off the A6. Just north of here you can pick up the Monsal Trail and follow it east through the dale to Wormhill Springs and the stepping stones.
The route then leaves the river to head north to Hartsop Farm before heading west to pick up the Pennine Bridleway. You can follow the waymarked trail south past Flag Dale to Chee Dale and the car park.
Postcode
SK17 9TF - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsChee Dale Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Chee Dale Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Chee Dale OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Chee Dale Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
Head to the Millers Dale Station Cafe for some refreshments. The cafe is located in the old rail station and serves a good range of meals and snacks. There's seating indoors and outside if the weather is good. The cafe is located just to the east of Chee Dale next to the Millers Dale car park at a postcode of SK17 8SN for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The area is ideal for dog walking with river paths and woodland trails to enjoy. It's best to keep them on leads in the dale itself which is also a nature reserve. Also take care on the stepping stones with your dog. The station cafe mentioned above is dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Part of this route uses a section of the Monsal Trail. You could continue east along the shared cycling and walking trail to Miller's Dale and Monsal Head.
Heading west will take you through Wye Dale to Buxton.
The circular Chelmorton Walk visits the dale from the village to the south. The village includes an ancient 11th century church and a fine 18th century pub.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Buxton Walks and Peak District Walks pages.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Stepping stone footpath under cliffs in Chee Dale
These "weirs" in the dale are marked on the OS map; taken just upstream of the footbridge.
A dog saunters along one of the wider sections of the path through the Dale
On the Monsal Trail in Chee Dale
Course of Midland Railway through Chee Dale
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Cottages in Chee Dale (3) This view shows the River Wye passing the terraced cottage, which will have been built for workers on the branch line.The railway comes round from the right, from Tunstead Quarry, to join the main line (now Monsal Trail).
Cyclists on the Pennine Bridleway in the Dale. This is a steep 1:5 descent through the Nature Reserve on the southern side of Chee Dale. It is the first real taste of a Derbyshire dale since leaving the start of the Pennine Bridleway at Middleton Top.
Chee Dale with Monsal Trail Viaduct .The Monsal Trail was originally a Manchester to London main-line passenger route operated by Midland Railway. Behind are the perpendicular limestone cliffs of the dale