Peak district bus query (for accessing Monsal Trail)

[yorkie]

Firstly, can anyone confirm the closest point it is possible to get a bus to the start of the Monsal Trail at the Buxton End (Chee Dale / Blackwell Mill)?

Google Maps suggests walking from Blackwell Turn bus stop; do buses stop any closer than this? Is it relatively straightforward to get onto the path from here?

Secondly, are any of the buses double deckers, for a journey on a Saturday later this month?

Thirdly, is there a suitable bus from Sheffield? When I planned the journey a while back I thought I found a number 65 bus from Sheffield Interchange, departing 1135, arriving Blackwell Turn at 1250 but I can now find no record of this.

Many thanks in advance

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Assuming it's still running, Stagecoach bus 65 from Buxton to Tideswell (two hourly?) travels down the A6 and so passes by the car park at the start of the vehicle track alongside the River Wye which in due course straightforwardly leads to Blackwell Mill. Alternatively, one or more of the various TP (Trans Peak) buses running hourly between Buxton and Bakewell join the A6 at the junction with the A5270 (near Calton Farm) which looks to be not much further.

 

[philthetube]

Stagecoach 65 4 journeys midweek, 5 Saturday and 3 Sunday.

There is a bus stop just past the car park, so very handy.

No idea on buses used though.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

An online journey planner such as the one available at https://tfgm.com/plan-a-journey using 'Blackwell Mill tuck shop' as the destination should help @yorkie get there.

 

[Dai Corner]

Here's the timetable for the 65 next Saturday on bustimes.org

65 - Tideswell - Meadowhall

Stagecoach Yorkshire

bustimes.org

The service appears to be split at Tideswell. There is an 1135 ex Sheffield that arrives opposite Blackwell Turn at 12.50. I doubt you have to change buses.

Last Saturday bustimes.org shows both vehicles on the route were Enviro 200's (which are single deck).

I have no knowledge of the area so somebody else might be able to suggest the best stop to use.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I have no knowledge of the area so somebody else might be able to suggest the best stop to use.

If using the 65 service, I would say that the Topley Pike / Wye Dale Car Park bus stop would be the most straightforward way of accessing Blackwell Mill / start of the Monsal Trail. Not used the bus, but have walked this section, it's flat and reasonably level! See link/pic below.

(Map of Blackwell Mill area and facilities alongside the Monsal Trail).

 

[RELL6L]

The 65 definitely runs through at Tideswell. No chance of a double decker. Some 218s to Bakewell and 272s to Castleton are double deckers, also most X17s to Matlock and occasional Hulley X70 Chesterfield to Bakewell but nothing else for miles around.

 

[185]

We use the 65 from outside Buxton station... it's roughly 9am, 11am, 1pm and 5.30pm. Its the bus stop opposite the station front. Only the 11am runs on a Sunday.

It also picks up at the Bridge St turnaround stop, if you're getting food in 'Spoons or The Railway beforehand.

As mentioned above, use the Topley Pike bus stop (it's by Wye Dale car park) for the start of the walk - 3rd stop after the big Morrisons.

 

[Bletchleyite]

bustimes.org seems to keep a record of vehicles used on some routes, worth a check there.

 

[Djb1]

I’ve done this journey a few times.

Assuming you’re walking the full trail, and you want to walk it in one direction only, as other posters have stated the best option is the 65 to topley pike car park. (And to walk west to east)

Returning from bakewell you’ve got the 218 or 257 (218 generally has at least one decker on a Saturday diagram), and more importantly cafes to wait if there’s one coming, and a higher frequency bus home.

If you can’t / don’t want the full length, the 65 also intersects at millers dale, and the 173 at Monsall head.

 

[yorkie]

I’ve done this journey a few times.

Assuming you’re walking the full trail, and you want to walk it in one direction only, as other posters have stated the best option is the 65 to topley pike car park. (And to walk west to east)

Returning from bakewell you’ve got the 218 or 257 (218 generally has at least one decker on a Saturday diagram), and more importantly cafes to wait if there’s one coming, and a higher frequency bus home.

If you can’t / don’t want the full length, the 65 also intersects at millers dale, and the 173 at Monsall head.

Thanks, yes that is the plan

I've walked it at least once before in full (as part of a forum walk) and I've also cycled it a couple of times too.