The 3 Dales Walk via the Red Lion at Litton

An easy 8 mile walk through 3 Limestone Dales in the Peak District with a lunch stop at the famous CAMRA pub, the Red Lion at Litton.

We start at the Monsal Head Inn and head down into Monsal Dale on on to the viaduct, which used to take the old railway line from Manchester to London, and along the Monsall Trail. We have the option of walking through the tunnels or taking a high path over the top of the cliffs which gives an exciting, if somewhat exposed path, with a big drop into the gorge below.

A desecent into the Dale and a footbridge brings us to Litton Mill, where we cross the river and a gentle walk up the wooded Tydeswell Dale follows. There is a picnic site and WC where we will probably eat packed lunches before, climbing up the dale to the village of Litton and the Red Lion for refreshments.

After lunch we descend into through Tansley Dale, which is an area of special scientific interest, having a number of very rare orchids and birds, to meet with Cressbrooke Dale and the deep gorge of Ravensdale and past the soaring limestone cliffs, popular with rock climbers.

We then cross back over the river and climb back up to the Monal Trail to return to the Monsal Inn.