The following is intended as additional information and not a substitute for correct footpath navigation using the OS map (Outdoor Leisure 1:25000 Sheet No.24).
From start go W along Monsal Trail 400yds. L at f/p post down shallow dale 0.5 mile to lane. Turn R 450yds to junction with Ashford Lane - cross with care turn R 300yds then bear L up track, becomes grassy (& damp!). s/o through gate & farm buildings and continue to follow track uphill, becomes wider track, s/o through barns & bungalow then sharp L up lovely walled path to T junction. Turn R (great views) 100yds then through stile/gate and L up field (wall to L) to small gate to first Control Point and punch card in box 1 - on 5 bar gates identifiable by red/white "barrier" tape GR180706 (1.75 mls). R (contouring now) onto track, gates, past bench and f/p sign "Monsal Head". s/o over wooden stile, follow narrow f/p slightly rising to viewpoint and sign "Access to Viaduct". Down f/p 60yds (steps) then L "Viaduct & Monsal Trail".
Over viaduct to Control Point 2 - fence corner before bridlegate GR182716 (2.5 mls) then L at bridlegate (old tele. pole) and steep up stony bridleway. Continue uphill on main track at junction 1.25 miles to Brushfield (good views to Fin Cop and Deep Dale). After barn conversions at Brushfield turn R up track (low s/p "Priestcliffe"), keep next (corrugated) farm buildings to L, follow track approx 0.5 mile then sharp L at Wildlife Trust sign, 0.5 mile past Bull Tor to New Barn and (marshalled) Control Point 3 - track junction GR145725 (5 mls) (cold drinks available here). NOTE - checkpoint closes at 11.15am.
Turn R up track and past f/p sign. At building L over stile, swing R around building then steep down valley slope (stakes), views to Ravenstor, continue down through low trees and onto The Monsal Trail. L for 1.25 miles past Millers Dale station, lime kilns. Just before bridge turn R f/p "Chee Dale". Steep steps down to river, turn R up narrow (picturesque) riverside path. At f/b bear R up hill "Wormhill" and follow f/p as it swings to R up into woodland. After cottage keep L up to "Wormhill" road sign and turn L onto f/p to farmyard of Hassop Farm. Keep older line of barns to R and go onto wide track (conveyor belt!), becomes a narrower stone-walled track.
At gate s/o into field, descend a little to gap in wall, aim for pylons. s/o stone stile, s/o wooden stile, up field to stile and lane. R up lane 0.5 mile past phone box and low stone memorial to James Brindley. Turn R f/p sign ("STW WM") and Control Point 4 - small tree in "pinfold" GR109751 (9 mls). Head E along f/p across dale (barn to R) to stile above spring. Past "Wind Low" mound on field summit to stile. s/o road onto lane, downhill 300yds to Hayward Farm. L through farmyard and along concreted track, onto limestone track. Views N to Rushup Edge. Keep s/o downhill through gatepost at 10' pole. At stile bear N to pick up path by wall and descend steadily to Dale Head and Control Point 5 - small tree on path 50yds before lane GR122764 (10.5 mls).
Turn R at lane 50yds turn R over stile to enter Peter Dale (crags to L). Follow this delightful dale approx 1 mile to lane. L up steep lane 800yds to (marshalled) Control Point 6 - laneside just W of cross junction GR137753 (11.75 mls) (cold drinks, biscuits). NOTE - checkpoint closes at 2.30pm.
R along track 600yds to s/p "public footpath to Tideswell" (no. 217!). L over stile up grassy field to gate/stile/s/p. s/o across track onto f/p, 8 stone stiles to track, follow this in same direction down to lane, R 10yds to T junction. L 20yds. R past school, church to main street, Tideswell. L past Co-op, Cathedral, immediately opposite George PH R up steep ginnel to emerge on lane and follow for 0.75 mile to Litton. Win Hill and Hucklow Edge visible to N, Longstone Moor ahead.
Shortly after village shop in Litton turn R along lane ("Cressbrook") for 300yds, at bend turn L along track. R over stile by facing gates, past f/p s/p no. 264 "Tansley Dale". s/o wooden stile, follow yellow arrow down into "v" shaped Tansley Dale and into mysterious Upper Cressbrook Dale. Turn R after gate & step-stones then take L fork at fenced shaft to ascend diagonally towards the col, keep on steep l/h path above outcrops to stile by hummock on skyline and Control Point 7 - fence post against wall near NNR sign GR177745 (14.5 mls). Follow wide grassy f/p to stile, s/o narrow f/p to road (Wardlow) and cross with utmost care!!
Go R on pavement for 400yds to f/p on L just before "Hey Farm" sign. Contour towards broken wall and tree to awkward stile (beware of barbed wire!). s/o for 2 more fields to road (marshalled - 15.75 mls - cold drinks & biscuits) NOTE - check point closes at 4.30pm. s/o over stile follow f/p uphill, wall to L, widescreen crag to R 400yds to Control Point 8 - fence post by stile GR193741 (16 miles). Take path S and uphill through low heather and to skyline. 20yds after post take small path/trod to R towards wide grassy swathe and swing R onto feint track to 2 obvious copses on the skyline to cairn 100yds to W of RH copse Control Point 9 - on northernmost fence post 10yds from cairn GR189733 (16.75 mls). This is the summit of Longstone Moor, the high point of the challenge at 1297'. From here you can see Baslow Edge (4.5 mls), Riber Castle (11.5 mls), Crich Stand (15 mls), Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station (33 mls), Minninglow (10 mls) and Axe Edge (10 mils).
Follow track/slope to W, at broken wall/gate/blue pipe turn L then 150yds L over stile onto track S side of line of trees and descend to sheepfold and final Control Point 10 - fence post against wall GR189728 (17.25 mls). Great views to south! Turn R along track for 600yds. Then L over double stile into field "Little Longstone ¾ mile" aim 20yds to L of tree, s/o at stile at wall corner, down fields, wall to L, then to side of shallow dale. Go over stile, past dewpond, s/o stile at wall corner, past damaged tree to wooden "Z" stile. After 100yds go R over stile then to gate/stile by 2 large trees, small path to L of barn, through cottage yard to road. Turn L past Packhorse Inn and "The Hollow" B&B, then R through gate at "Ashford & Monsal Trail" s/p along dale bottom, 2 gates, R over stile onto Monsal Trail, head E 400yds and to Thornbridge and the finish.
Well done and we hope you enjoyed the route!!