Dove Dale - Peak District Walk
Monday 31st March 2008
At last a day when it wasn't raining and I was free to go walking. When I left home the sky was clear but as I drove towards Milldale I found myself driving through a thick mist and began to wonder if I shouldn't have headed to another part of the Peak District. As it turned out my timing was spot on, as the mist lifted just as I reached the top of Bunster Hill to give me ever improving views. In fact it warmed up so much that lunch was a leisurely affair in the sun and the second part of the walk was done in short sleeves - a first for this year. Dare we hope that Spring has finally arrived.
Start: Milldale car park (SK 1362 5478)
Route: Milldale car park - Dove Dale - Ilam Rock - Dovedale Wood - Bunster Hill - Thorpe Cloud - Dove Dale - Milldale car park
Distance: 6.75 miles Ascent: 567 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 mins
Terrain: Good paths although they are rocky and narrow in places.
Weather: Misty to start then clearing to blue sky.
Pub Visited: None Ale Drunk: None
Viators Bridge in Milldale.
Ravens Tor.
Dove Holes with the mist clinging to Baley Hill behind.
Pickering Tor as the sun starts to break through the cloud.
Opposite Pickering Tor is Ilam Rock
As I reached the top of Bunster Hill Thorpe Cloud was still lost in the mist, but things were happening.
By the time I got to Bunster Hills other summit blue sky had appeared to give this view of Dove Dale.
Thorpe Cloud from Bunster Hill. I was about to head down to the valley floor.
I then climbed up Thorpe Cloud. So now, Bunster Hill from Thorpe Cloud's summit.
Looking down on the stepping stones in Dove Dale, from the descent of Thorpe Cloud.
Bunster Hill from my lunch spot half-way down Thorpe Cloud.
The stepping stones in Dove Dale, just before the crowds arrived.
Dove Dale.
A few of the Twelve Apostles from Lover's Leap.
Tissington Spires.
Tissington Spires again, but this time looking back from further along the path.
The natural arch which can be found just along the path from Tissington Spires.
The River Dove.
All pictures copyright © Peak Walker 2006-2023