Chee Dale Path - Help Needed 29/30 March

© Alan James

The path down Chee Dale is one of the most impressive walks in the Peak District, and is popular with both walkers and climbers.

Most who have been down there though will be well aware of the dreaded Chee Dale mud bath that often develops on the section near the Cornice, opposite Chee Tor. In all but the driest of summers this section is a complete quagmire and it appears to be getting wider each year as climbers and walkers skirt round it in an attempt to keep their boots clean.

The muddy section below the Cornice  © Alan James
The muddy section below the Cornice

So the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (DWT), in conjunction with the BMC's Access and Conservation Trust, are going to do something about it, but they need help. The plan is to lay 50m of boardwalk across the worst section of the path and help is needed humping the materials from the railway bridge past the stepping stones, 300m or so down the dale to the site. An experienced DWT team will do most of the on site work.

How can you help?

Meet Julia Gow of DWT at Millers Dale Station Car Park at 9.30 am on 29 and/or 30 March, or, if you can only come later in the day, make your way to below the Cornice.

If you want more details contact Julia Gow on 07761 103 034 or BMC's Henry Folkard on 01298 871 849. Or come on the day and find out for yourself.

Boardwalk sections further down Chee Dale  © Alan James
Boardwalk sections further down Chee Dale

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18 Mar, 2011
Great news, the route to the Cornice/Chee Tor has become extremely unpleasant requiring a full wet suit and dual walking poles (clip sticks) just to avoid sinking into the swamp up to your waist (ok so I exaggerate - but not much). Chee Tor has some of the best trad limestone in the country and the Cornice has a couple of worthwhile clip ups ;-) So I would urge my fellow climbers to get down there and lend a hand ! Unfortunately I will be in spain ;-)
18 Mar, 2011
The Monsal Trail re-development work should also be finished soon. I am not sure what impact this will have on the number of walkers in the Dale, probably not much, but for climbers it will almost certainly mean that the new quickest approach is up the trail from Millers Dale Car Park, and through the tunnels. This will mean that you can get quickly to the Cornice without going over that boggy bit, and avoid the parking problems at Wormhill. Unfortunately the Peak Park have decided to cover long sections of the trail with tarmac, including wall-to-wall tarmac on the bridges and a tarmac strip through the tunnels. Good for bike tyres and reducing erosion but dreadfully ugly, especially on the bridges. The tunnels are also going to be lit. Alan
18 Mar, 2011
I believe they have adopted this approach to facilitate wheel chair users - this was their reasoning for tarmacing the Trans Penine trail near me. Which is fair enough i guess, although after a couple of years it beds in ok and looks more natural. cheers mark
18 Mar, 2011
According to the signs I saw when I was down there photoing last week it isn't tarmac but some recyclable material (possibly based on old tyres?). Chris
18 Mar, 2011
Looks like tarmac, smells like tarmac. The section below Plum buttress is a smooth much more appropriate substance which would be fine for wheel chairs. I think the tunnels have tarmac (or whatever) because of the drips from the bridges which would create pools but I can't think of any good reason for the vast carpark areas of tarmac on the bridges. Just really ugly. Alan
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