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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 Viators Bridge](2008-03-31/viators%20bridge.jpg)
Viators Bridge in Milldale.
![Ravens Tor Ravens Tor](2008-03-31/ravens%20tor.jpg)
Ravens Tor.
![Dove Holes Dove Holes](2008-03-31/dove%20holes.jpg)
Dove Holes with the mist clinging to Baley Hill behind.
![Pickering Tor Pickering Tor](2008-03-31/pickering.jpg)
Pickering Tor as the sun starts to break through the cloud.
![Ilam Rock Ilam Rock](2008-03-31/ilam%20rock.jpg)
Opposite Pickering Tor is Ilam Rock
![Bunster Hill Bunster Hill](2008-03-31/bunster%20hill1.jpg)
As I reached the top of Bunster Hill Thorpe Cloud was still lost in the mist, but things were happening.
![Dove Dale Dove Dale](2008-03-31/dove%20dale1.jpg)
By the time I got to Bunster Hills other summit blue sky had appeared to give this view of Dove Dale.
![Thorpe Cloud Thorpe Cloud](2008-03-31/thorpe%20cloud.jpg)
Thorpe Cloud from Bunster Hill. I was about to head down to the valley floor.
![Bunster Hill Bunster Hill](2008-03-31/bunster%20hill2.jpg)
I then climbed up Thorpe Cloud. So now, Bunster Hill from Thorpe Cloud's summit.
![Dove Dale Dove Dale](2008-03-31/stepping%20stones1.jpg)
Looking down on the stepping stones in Dove Dale, from the descent of Thorpe Cloud.
![Bunster Hill Bunster Hill](2008-03-31/bunster%20hill.jpg)
Bunster Hill from my lunch spot half-way down Thorpe Cloud.
![Stepping Stones Stepping Stones](2008-03-31/steping%20stones.jpg)
The stepping stones in Dove Dale, just before the crowds arrived.
![Dove Dale Dove Dale](2008-03-31/dovedale.jpg)
Dove Dale.
![Twelve Apostles Twelve Apostles](2008-03-31/12%20apostles.jpg)
A few of the Twelve Apostles from Lover's Leap.
![Tissington Spires Tissington Spires](2008-03-31/tiss%20spires.jpg)
Tissington Spires.
![Tissington Spires Tissington Spires](2008-03-31/tiss%20spires1.jpg)
Tissington Spires again, but this time looking back from further along the path.
![Natural Arch Natural Arch](2008-03-31/arch.jpg)
The natural arch which can be found just along the path from Tissington Spires.
![River Dove River Dove](2008-03-31/river%20dove.jpg)
The River Dove.
All pictures copyright © Peak Walker 2006-2023