Evergreen

64 EVERGREEN Autumn
Evergreen’s Favourite Places
KEITH AUGUR
You have been busy sending in
your recommendations for
exceptional places of interest
and visitor attractions right across
the British Isles. We will be including
as many of them as possible in
forthcoming issues, so do look out
for yours!
Our second nomination is from
Mary Handley, who lives in Skelton,
Yorkshire. She wanted to highlight
some of the many attractions in
Derbyshire. This is a place which
The Headstone Viaduct, Monsal Dale,
Derbyshire.
DOROTHY BURROWS
holds cherished memories for Mary
as it was where she, her late husband
and her son, Andrew, spent many
happy family holidays over the
years. The family would usually stay
at Monsal Head, one of the jewels
in the Peak District, which offers
glorious views of Monsal Dale. Mary
tells us of the “...lovely scenery, which
was breathtaking,” and describes the
location as “such a peaceful place”.
The River Wye flows through
the spectacularly steep Dale and the
scenic landscape is crossed by the
imposing Headstone Viaduct, built
in the 1860s as part of the Midland
Railway.
Mary mentions how her family
enjoyed many walks in the area and
today’s visitors can do the same on
such routes as the Monsal Trail (see
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/
trails/monsaltrail), which follows
the original railway route along
8 1 ⁄2 miles from Blackwell Mill to
Bakewell. The trail is accessible for
walkers, wheelchair users, cyclists,
horse riders and enables them to go
across the viaduct, and the tunnels
are open — and lit — during the day.
The views along the route, through
this stunning stretch of Britain are
marvellous and memorable.