Once-busy Millers Dale Station is now a tranquil place to relax

There was something surreal about sitting down to eat lunch on a picnic bench located slap-bang in the middle of a trackbed where London-Manchester express trains hauled by powerful steam locomotives once ran.

Emersed in the tranquility of this Peak District gem, I tried hard to imagine the hussle and bustle of Millers Dale more than half a century ago. A guard's whistle here, the clank of a loco there - it seemed a world away.

There's still a station cafe, in-tact platforms, an iconic double viaduct and a goods shed - but gone are the trains and the trappings of heavy industry.

Today, it's a destination for walkers, cyclists and those seeking to get away from the big city. With Easter approaching, Bradfordians seeking a day trip could do worse than consider the 53-mile journey to this Derbyshire beauty spot.

On arrival, I made my way to the cafe in the old station building and was greeted by a counter full of tasty home-made treats, including rocky road cakes, scotch eggs, quiche, butchers sausage rolls and vegan rolls.

I opted for a tuna salad sandwich accompanied by strawberry milkshake, which fell into the not cheap, not a rip-off category.

Taking a seat outside to soak up some early March sunshine, I watched a steady trickle of people making their way along the fully-accessible Monsal Trail.

After lunch, I set out to walk a short section of the traffic-free trail, which runs for over eight miles through old railway tunnels and over impressive viaducts on the disused railway, which closed in the 1960s.

And you don't have to go far from the station to encounter one of the trail's finest features - an elegant viaduct that crosses the Wye.

Comprising two parts, you can't help but marvel at the sheer audacity and skill of the structure as you walk across it. Peering directly down at the road and river some 80ft below, you'll either feel inspired or sick, depending on your head for heights.

Plenty of wildlife has set up home between the sides of the trail and the riverbank.

Depending on the time of year when you visit, keep an eye out for House Martins, Willow Warblers, Jays, Speckled Wood Butterfly, Water Vole and Rainbow Trout.

After briefly toying with the idea of a lengthy and energetic walk along the trail, I instead opted for a trip to the nearby Anglers Rest public house.

The 18th century pub sits by the riverside - and there were plenty of people sat outside enjoying a pint in pleasant surroundings.

I entered and was immediately struck by the wholesome smell of homecooked food. At around 1pm on a Tuesday, virtually every table was full of diners, many of whom walked up to the bar on departure to say how much they'd enjoyed their meals.

I opted for a pint of Sir Philip premium bitter from the Macclesfield-based Wincle Beer Company. A darker ale, it had a fantastic malty flavour but lost its head more quickly than you'd hope as I got towards the half pint mark.

Returning to Millers Dale Station, I noticed two recently-installed electric chargers, brought about by a partnership between BMW and the Peak District National Park Authority.

It seemed somehow appropriate that a station built in 1863 as part of a previous transport revolution was now playing a small part in the current transport revolution.

The chargers are available for use by all EV drivers, but weren't being used by any of the 12 vehicles in the car park when I visited.

I was about to leave when my attention was drawn to the building at the end of the platform, which turned out to be a superbly-restored goods shed.

The building has been brought back into use as another attraction for visitors and opens whenever the Refreshment Rooms cafe on the station platform is open.

Inside, a series of interpretation boards inform visitors that the building was once a hive of activity as railways goods wagons entered through the main doors to be loaded or unloaded.

Everything from local milk, limestone, wartime munitions and livestock passed through the shed.

The original roof fell into disrepair years ago, but the new one helps to harness renewable energy thanks to solar panels.

One of the more amusing anecdotes on the information boards states that the Tottenham Hotspur football team came into Millers Dale Station by train in the early 1960s as they were playing Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. 'Sadly, they didn't hang around to sign any autographs," the info panel added.

Millers Dale probably won't provide you with a full day of entertainment, so you may wish to combine it with a trip to nearby Buxton or Bakewell, which both have their points of interest.