Do you want to explore the great outdoors? At Quingo Scooters we’re constantly bringing you our top picks of the most breath-taking accessible routes the UK has to offer.
In today’s article we head to Derbyshire, one of England’s most scenic counties. Here you’ll find the Monsal Trail in the picturesque Peak District – one of the nation’s most mobility scooter-friendly routes.
Monsal Trail
The Monsal Trail is a former railway line that was transformed into a track and opened up for the public to enjoy in 1981. This route begins just north of the small Derbyshire market town of Bakewell. Although 8.5 miles in total, you can pick and choose parts of the route you wish to see, and there are many amenities along the way, such as cafes, pubs and shops. Your Quingo is well within range of this, however we do recommend you charge it up fully before venturing out.
The route, which is free to travel, will take you all the way to the head of Chee Dale, allowing you a glimpse of the region’s glorious limestone valleys as you pass. The Trail is great for nature spotters. You’ll get the chance to see lots of birds, trees, cows, sheep and more as you travel. Monsal Trail includes six tunnels for you to journey through as well, giving you the chance to really experience what this railway line used to be like. There are two short tunnels, Chee Tor No.2 and Rusher Cutting and four longer tunnels – Headstone, Cressbrook, Litton and Chee Tor No1. The bigger tunnels are fully lit in daylight hours, so you’ll have no problem finding your way.
You can also make several stops as you go along the Monsal Trail, giving you a unique glimpse into local Derbyshire life. Not far from Bakewell, you’ll encounter Hassop Train Station, which opens daily from 9am to 5pm and is definitely worth a visit. It has a café, which serves a great selection of tasty, home-made snacks and is known for its delicious breakfasts, which they begin serving from 9am. The station also has a book store where you can pick up some great literature before going on further.
Traveling the trail
If the Monsal Trail sounds like your cup of tea, you can get there easily enough. Visit the ‘how to find’ page on the Monsal Trail section of the Peak District’s website to find information on your travel options, so you can plan your journey. The Trail is easily reachable by car and there are a number of pay and display car parks along the way. If you want to do the whole route, it’s a good idea to use the car park at Bakewell Station, which is right next to the Trail’s starting point.
The Monsal Trail itself is perfect for mobility scooter users, as it’s fully accessible. You’ll find several access points along the way, where you can join the Trail via ramps. These points are at Bakewell Station, Hassop Station, Great Longstone Station and Millers Dale Station. The route itself is mostly flat and very well-maintained, so you’ll have no trouble getting around.
There are also various facilities throughout the Monsal Trail. You can find accessible parking spaces at Bakewell Station. Meanwhile, Hassop Station has an accessible toilet, while its book shop and café are also fully accessible. The café also has free Wi-Fi, so you can get online and find out more about the Monsal Trail before you carry on!
About Quingo
The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.
