Hassop Station on the Monsal Trail. Photo: Graham Hogg CC-BY-SA-2.0

National park bosses are warning walkers and cyclists that a popular trail will close on two days as a major show takes place nearby.

The Monsal Trail in the Peak District will close on Wednesday and Thursday next week to allow a park and ride service to operate for Bakewell Show.

Peak District National Park Authority said: “The closure affects a one-mile section of the Monsal Trail and will help reduce traffic jams on the roads caused by visitors going to Bakewell Show.

“The section will close from 8am to 7pm on Wednesday 5 August and Thursday 6August. Warning signs will be put up.”

On both days the section of trail between Hassop Station and Bakewell Station will form part of the temporary park and ride route with buses taking visitors from car parks on the outskirts of Bakewell into the town.

The authority, which owns and manages the Monsal Trail, said it supports the park and ride scheme as it helps reduce traffic queues and pollution levels on routes into Bakewell during the annual show.

Tim Nicholson, the authority’s transport policy officer, said: “Bakewell Show is one of the biggest and most popular events to take place in the national park each year. It attracts thousands of visitors who help boost the local economy.

“The park and ride scheme is set up every year to cover the two days of the show to help reduce the impact of all these extra people using local roads.

“To make this work buses need to run along the trail all day, ferrying people between the car parks at Hassop Station and Bakewell town centre. This means we need to close that section of the trail to walkers, cyclists and horse riders for safety reasons.”

The rest of the Monsal Trail beyond Hassop Station through the tunnels to Millers Dale and Blackwell Mill will remain open as usual.

More details of the trail are on the authority’s website.