Section 2 of 4
Monyash to Bonsall
Lead villages, a river dale and a gritstone tor with a legend.
Route map
Example stay Fountain Tea Rooms (opens in a new tab)
Cross-check: Visit Peak District route description . Opened 13 November 2026. The council publishes no sections; these four follow the days of our recommended 4-day plan. Distances are measured along the trail.
The walk
Lead-mining country from end to end, this stretch of the Limestone Way starts in Monyash, a village that grew rich on lead from the 14th century. Steep steps drop into a side dale at One Ash Grange, a farm the monks of Roche Abbey founded in 1147. Youlgreave and the river path through Bradford Dale follow, then the path crosses Harthill Moor between Robin Hood's Stride and Cratcliffe Rocks, and a run of small walled fields and stone stiles leads past Winster into Bonsall.
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Start of section
Monyash
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Lunch
Youlgreave and Bradford Dale
The village with the most beds on the trail, with pubs, a bakery and Peak Feast café. Leave it by the old stone slab bridge for a gentle riverside path.
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Legend
Robin Hood's Stride
Two gritstone towers, also called Mock Beggar's Mansion. Legend says Robin Hood jumped between them. Beside them, the Hermit's Cave at Cratcliffe Tor holds a crucifix carved in the 13th or 14th century.
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Lead village
Winster
Once a centre of lead mining. Its Market House was the National Trust's purchase of 1906, and the path leaves by the walled track opposite the Ore House.
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End of section
Bonsall
Overview
The ground
- Steps
- Riverside
- Squeeze stiles
Farm tracks and fields, one steep set of steps, a riverside mile and a moorland rise. Shorter than the first section, with more villages and food. The steps at One Ash are the steepest few minutes of it.
Stops
Refreshments
- Monyash
- Youlgreave (pubs and a bakery)
- Winster (café and pubs)
- Bonsall (two pubs)
Toilets
- Monyash (Bakewell side of the village)
Before you go
Opposite direction
Bonsall to Monyash
Walked from Bonsall, the narrow fields and squeeze stiles come first, then the climb past Robin Hood's Stride. Bradford Dale is a gentle river mile into Youlgreave for lunch. The One Ash steps wait two miles short of Monyash, but the last track is easy.
End of section
Monyash
Monyash to Bonsall FAQ
Can I stop at Youlgreave?
Yes. Youlgreave has the most beds on the trail, including a youth hostel and pubs with rooms, and our 5-day plan sleeps there.
How steep are the steps at One Ash?
Short but steep: a path drops into the side dale and steps climb straight out again. They take a few minutes, and the walking either side is easy.
Can I download a GPX for Monyash to Bonsall?
Yes. Use the GPX button at the top of this page. It is this section's line, for Garmin, Komoot, or your phone. Open the planner if you want a file built around your overnight stops.
Walk this as a day
Used as Day 2 on the 4-day. Open the planner on that preset, then export a full-trip or per-day GPX.
Open in planner Read the 4-day itinerary
Full-trip and per-day GPX files. Free, no account.
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