St Paul's Rambling Group Heaton Moor

Ten members of our Group assembled at Millers Dale Station car park on a warm mild March Saturday to tackle the Monsal Trail - or part of it, around seven miles there and back. The first part of the walk is along the old Midland Rail line from Manchester to London via Derby and is very easy walking along the old tracks. This year it is even less strenuous as the tunnels which in the past had to be detoured,  have been repaired, lighting installed and opened to the public. We set off across the Millers Dale viaduct and along this part of the walk you are able to enjoy fine views across Millers Dale. The first tunnel we came to was the Litton Tunnel which is 515 yards (431m) long and cut through limestone. It was a little eerie at the entrance but the tunnels are well lit and once inside you are able to see and admire the victorian engineering which went into the construction. You emerge from the tunnel above the village of Cressbrook built around one of the first cotton mills, still