Little Longstone
If you find yourself in Little Longstone, you would be forgiven for thinking there is little to see – after all, it is only a hamlet – a satellite of its slightly larger neighbour, Great Longstone. However, as in most Peak District villages there is always something to discover. It may not take you long to do this, based on the size of the place, but you may find it interesting nevertheless. While the attractive stone cottages fuel dreams of a rural idyll, look out for the well preserved village stocks – a reminder that life wasn’t always so perfect for some. Other buildings of note are the 17th Century Longstone Manor, which has been in the Longsdon family for twenty-eight generations, and just out of the village, in a field to the west, stands a Congregational Chapel dating from the 1870’s. The heart of the hamlet, however, has to be the Pack Horse pub, originally two miners’ cottages, which has been serving ale since 1787. As Little Longstone is on numerous walking routes, it is an ideal place to quench your thirst – don’t be tempted by the water flowing into the stone troughs opposite the pub, it is not a spring! The water is cleverly recycled by hidden pump. The pub is by far your best option; you will find a selection of local ales and meals made with locally sourced food.
Just to the side of The Pack Horse is the path to Longstone Edge, Longstone Moor and the nearby village of Wardlow, a couple of miles away. A little beyond, in Wardlow Mires, is another pub of note, especially for real-ale fans – The Three Stags Head.
Approaching Little Longstone from the west, you can’t fail to notice the Monsal Head Hotel as you turn down the minor road to the village. The view from here looks down into the beautiful Monsal Dale, replete with the impressive 1863 viaduct which formed that part of the Midland railway once linking Manchester to London. The line is long gone and today’s visitors passing through the dale can enjoy the stunning scenery at a much gentler pace on what is now the Monsal Trail – an 8.5 mile route for walkers and cyclists. If the formality of the Hotel is not for you, there is “The Stables Bar” behind it, a charmingly atmospheric place which serves a good selection of real ales and various meals and snacks.
So, whether you are passing through on foot or by car, pause for a while and enjoy the delights to be found in and around Little Longstone
