Parking can be found in front of the Monsal Head Hotel but this car park can only be used for one hour. If you drive past the hotel, a public car park can be found behind it. There is plenty of pay and display parking here and you can park for as long as you want. Alternatively there is a layby that will accommodate three or four cars about 150m in front of the hotel. This is free.

If you have parked in the layby, it is worth having a look for fossils in the stone walls as you head towards the hotel. Obviously these should not be collected, but they are interesting none-the-less.

The Monsal Head Hotel marks the start of the walk into Monsal Dale. There is an information board here about the Wye Valley. When you have had a look at this, head to your left and take the footpath sign-posted ‘Ashford’ and ‘Monsal Dale’. Follow the Monsal Dale route.

As you descend this path, look to your left and you will see many loose limestone and chert rocks. Fossils can be found within some of these but as this area is an SSSI they should be left for future visitors to enjoy.

When you reach the dale, continue along the edge of the river until you come to a bridge. Cross the bridge and walk back the way you came, but on the other side of the river. Walk about 100m past the waterfall and then look upwards on your left side. If you look hard enough you may be able to see a rock outcrop behind the foliage.

If you are feeling adventurous you can reach this small cliff by working your way upwards through the bushes and vegetation. Investigating this part of the location is for the more adventurous fossil hunter, as the plants are densely packed and the gradient is steep.

The cliff is packed full of crinoid stem parts. There are also some very pretty areas of black chert containing these fossils in abundance.
From the cliff, carry on to the viaduct, cross it to the other side of the river and then follow the path back up to the car park.