The route leads back to the original path again. z-index: 999; If you make a purchase through these, I earn from the qualifying links. There are hills and ascent on the route, including Thorpe Cloud but it depends on your level of experience whether youd find it a steep hill or not. TOG VERDICT: Dovedale is perfect for walkers of all ages to explore, with its beautiful river, ancient woodlands, great wildlife and spectacular rock formations. Dovedale, Milldale and Alstonfield Lovely walk through one the Peak District's most famous dales, the beautiful village of Alstonfield, finishing with a traverse around Bunster Hill. Technical sheet No. The Dovedale Stepping Stones are a popular destination for walkers, but further up the valley lies the sleepier hamlet of Milldale. There is an optional shortcut marked on the map where you can scramble over the top of this hill, but this isn't for the faint hearted! TOTAL ASCENT: 147 metres (its an additional 138 metres if you climb the detour up Thorpe Cloud)FACILITIES: There are public toilets (20p coins) and a little ice-cream hut (card only) at the main Dovedale car park. 8. I took my 6 and 7 year old and it wasnt too challenging for them just perfect! Stay safe this winter and read our Winter Walking Tips. } If you are unable to cross (or youve caught them at a busy time and dont want to wait), you can follow the footpath to the left of the River Dove (with the river on your right). Dovedale, Milldale and Alstonfield . From here, turn left, walk up the short road and youll be back at the car park! No signal at all to load the map. Carpark:Dovedale Car Park, Dovedale, Ilam, Ashbourne DE6 2AY, Nearest Train (or tube) Station(s): Continue on the footpath straight ahead. Youll go up some steps, past Lovers Leap and the Tissington Spires, huge rock formations on your left. Weather: Sunshine and blue skies. For an alternative circular walk through the dale see the Ilam Dovedale Circular Walk which starts from the car park at the National Trust's Ilam Park. Looking back to Dove Holes from a bend in the river, We follow the path through Upper Taylor's Wood, Ilam Rock, where we'd emerged huffing and puffing on our recent Dovedale walk. This is a paid car park. There are two footpaths here. Extremely busy at the beginning especially around the stepping stones, however get a mile down the track and it does quieten down. font-size: 14px !important; Some of the stepping stones at the beginning were submerged. Watch. This trail is great for birding, hiking, and mountain biking. If you dont fancy a longer walk then you can read my shorter walkhere. border: 1px solid #ffffff; This Peak District walk around Milldale takes in access land high above Dovedale. Fees apply, and this car park does get very busy so try to get here early! It's a popular and picturesque place with pretty little cottages and a village pond. background: #85bc4f!important; Click here for Google Map point, postcode is DE6 2AT.WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Dovedale Stepping Stones, Thorpe Cloud, paddling in the River Dove. Continue for 400m down the road, along the pavement, past the sign for Thorpe. The path was also flooded in some areas but still passable. Next the walk crosses The Nabs before descending steeply down to Nabs Dale and onto Dove Holes and the Bat Cave as local rock climbers know it. Keep up with Think Adventure on Instagram. This area is pretty muddy! Take this sharp left through the woods, eventually leading you back out onto another road. Handpicked boutique luxury to family & pet friendly hotels. Turn left again when the road splits and turn left opposite Schoolrooms Cafe and shop. Cross over Dovedale Stepping Stones. There are refreshments and toilets available in Milldale. Follow the footpath signs, keeping to the left of the boundary wall and going through several gates and stone stiles. This is a steep 20 minute climb (1.4km detour up and down) with superb views. We parked in the free car park just outside Milldale village and strolled into the village (where there are public toilets and an information centre), We crossed over the ancient packhorse bridge which is known as Viators Bridge, and was made famous in the English classic The Compleat Angler by Izaak Walton. The footpath then leads you out to a lane, through a metal gate, to the left of the farm building. height: 27px; Turn left and follow the River Dove passing Dove Holes to the footbridge beneath Ilam Rock. line-height: 20px; It is a tough walk to Baley Hill and why the walk is considered easy/moderate. You can read more about it and download GPS files on my blog here: Dovedale to Milldale Circular walk. PARKING: FREE parking at Narlow Lane Car Park. Please be very careful on all aspects of this route as there are dangerous drops, and make sure you have the appropriate clothing and good weather conditions when you go up. The angular summit of Thorpe Cloud will soon come in to view. width: 27px; Top of Baley Hill. } Map: OL24 Peak District White Peak Area, Narlows Car Park: Spend Lane, Thorpe, Ashbourne, DE6 2AT. Should you click to purchase, it is at no additional cost to you, but I receive a small commission. Do not descend down into Milldale. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thinkadventure_co_uk-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_8',124,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thinkadventure_co_uk-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Cross the stepping stones and follow the path back to the Dovedale Car Park. The route also visits the 17th-century Jacobean mansion house at Tissington Hall. If you head clockwise, the walk heads along the main River Dove initially, where you can enjoy the river and then cross the picturesque stepping stones. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. This popular circular walk takes you from Dovedale to Milldale using sections of the Tissington Trail and Limestone Way to take you on a tour of this popular area of the Peak District. Wear sturdy footwear for the technical trail sections. 'Peak District Kids' is the go-to website for parents both visiting and living in the Peak District, run by Bakewell-based mum-of-two, Jenny Lynn. The charming old pub does good food and has a nice courtyard to sit out on warmer days. The path climbs some steps at SK 146518 before descending again. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thinkadventure_co_uk-box-4','ezslot_2',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thinkadventure_co_uk-box-4-0');The car park costs 3 to park for the day and is cash only. No phone signal for much of the walk. If you look further you can see an archway, and before that is Reynards Cave. Very easy walk but lovely scenery. Here you turn east away from the river, towards Alsop en le Dale, where you pick up the Tissington Trail. 1. Took hiker child seat bags for them but the toddler walked majority of this walk there and back. Dovedale and Lover's Leap Circular (Via Milldale), Dovedale NNR and Fields Extended Circular, Ivory Spires and Wooded Splendour Circular, Dove Valley Tissington and Dovedale Circular, Thorpe Cloud, Mapleton and Tissington Circular. Then, instead of heading deeeper into the Dove Dale, it continues around the base of the majestic Thorpe Cloud hill and then through countryside onto the village of Thorpe. From here the descent is very steep and quite tricky with no definite path. Dovedale Walking Routes 1. Alstonefield - Alstonefield Youth Hostel - Overdale - Gipsy Bank - Wolfescote Dale - Coldeaton Bridge - Mill Dale - Milldale - Dove Dale - Achas Bank - Ilam Rock - Dovedale - Hall Dale - Stanshope - Dale Bottome - Alstonefield. We crossed the wooden footbridge here and, after walking along the other riverbank for a short distance, started the climb out of the valley via Hall Dale at a sign indicating Stanshope. Walking boots required! 3. Do check out our top tips for hiking with young kids, as well as our essential items to take on a family hike in the Peak District. Map: Wikiloc; For a direct walk to Mam Tor across the sublime Great Ridge, then the Hope to Mam Tor out and back trail is a fantastic option. } around on the River Dove side keeping the wall on your left. Also, please use these walks as a guide; access and stiles may change. Be sure to look out for different wildflowers and mushrooms, depending on the season. Take the one on the right that leads right up the hill to this gate (see photo below). 4. Its easily one of our favourite Peak District family walks. opacity: 1; The hike is fantastic, and the side detours exploring the caves make it even better. From the cave keep walking along the path. Enjoy the views from Thorpe Cloud, at the far end you can see all the way down to the River Dove. It's not a long walk but it can be quite strenuous so not good for little legs that get tired easily, unless you are willing to carry them part of the way. It starts from the National Trust's Ilam Park car park and visits the Manifold Valley and the River Hamps. But, you can find a couple of them with a visit to Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill, AKA the Dragon's Back Peak District.The walk to Chrome Hill in the Peak District National Park is short and steep, offering exciting hiking and exceptional views as you climb over the spiny . Grid reference SK 26224 92022. Good luck on the challenge. Very easy and beautiful trail to go on, but you can make it more challenging if you wish to by exploring some of the amazing landmarks such as Reynard's Cave. Copyright Peter Cox. In stark contrast to the first casual route option, this second short Dovedale walk is for the adventurous amongst you! Loved this trail but would absolutely reccomend doing the stepping stones first, and then crossing the bridge, you turn right and youll see a pathway to turn left. 9. However, this Dovedale circular walk starts from the much quieter village of Thorpe, and leads you around Thorpe Cloud, across Dovedale Stepping Stones. The circular Fenny Bentley Walk visits Thorpe Cloud and Dovedale from the pretty village to the east. /*Logo Border Display */ Or perhaps just leave that to another day; its up to you. 5. Download the Staffordshire Walks app to see your position on the map as you walk. /*Top Middle */ #lcsp_wrapper_1509246754 h2.lcsp_logo_carousel_slider_title { -webkit-transition: all 0.3s linear; This is at no extra cost to you. START: Narlow Lane Car ParkClick here for Google Map pointGrid reference: SK 1636 5046Post code: DE6 2ATwhat3words: ///cookies.purified.surpassesRoute follows an anticlockwise direction. Also went with my sister and her two young children ages 3 and 8 months. The autumnal day I did the walk, there had been heavy rain and the River Dove was flowing strongly, hiding the stepping stones under a torrent of water. All rights reserved. 2. A circular walk to a huge trig and views of Ullswater, Kinder Scout and Jacob's Ladder Go over the stile heading in the same direction to meet the wall coming down from the summit of Baley Hill. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. The walk was voted in at 26th place in the 100 most popular wal. /*style for nav updated version*/ Once you reach the road, take a left to the T-junction and then a right. Person I was with managed to get a picture of his map before losing signal which took us over Ilam Bridge but shortly after the bridge, the path stopped in the direction we needed to get to Milldale. From Narlows car park turn right out of the car park, heading towards The Old Dog Pub along the road. If the river is low enough you can cross Dovedales picturesque stepping stones and climb the limestone reef knoll of Thorpe Cloud, a perfect small hill for families to explore with great views from its pointy 287m summit. Not my usual kind of walk, this is a very well maintained path between points . x.type = 'text'; The river is one side and woods the other (but the path is popular so you cant really hide!). Have you found my guides useful for planning a trip or adventure? This linear Milldale walk starts from the peaceful and pretty Milldale and follows the River Dove closely along the Dovedale Valley. Pitstops This walk through the Dovedale National Nature Reserve is popular, but Dovedale is a beautiful place to visit. #lcsp_wrapper_1509246754 .lcsp_logo_container a:hover img { Stepping stones exposed so could cross the river. -o-transform: scale(1.05,1.05); The countryside is not fixed. /*Bottom Left*/ Following the stone wall will lead you for the majority of the way. From The Sands car park, walk out the main entrance and turn left down the road. A popular walk around the famous York Walls. . 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