Miller's Dale Quarry

UK Wildlife Trusts

Red tailed bumblebee, Jon Hawkins, Surrey Hills Photography The quarry edge can be hazardous. To avoid danger please keep to the paths Access is just off the Monsal Trail. Whilst the trail is accessible, the reserve is not easy to negotiate in a wheelchair or with a pushchair. Until 1930 Miller's Dale was a bustling limestone quarry, with smoke billowing from the kilns and quarrymen hauling limestone to be burnt. Things have certainly changed since those days. With the departure of the quarrymen, nature has taken hold and the quarry is now inhabited by many unusual plants and animals. The quarry floor is a special place, and the best time to enjoy it is on a hot July day when the scent of fragrant orchids fills the air. Walk carefully here to avoid treading on these delicate plants. Many other wild flowers flourish on the poor soil, where they do not have to compete with other plants and grasses.

Managed by

UK Wildlife Trusts