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Dove Dale - Peak District Walk
Friday 24th April 2009
The forecast was for blue sky and sunshine in the morning with strong winds and possible rain in the afternoon. I made a reasonably early start in the hope of catching the blue sky but it didn't put in an appearance until I had just about finished the walk.
Start: Milldale car park (SK 1361 5477)
Route: Milldale car park - Dove Holes - Upper Taylor's Wood - Lover's Leap - Thorpe Cloud - Bunster Hill - Dovedale Wood - Ilam Rock - Milldale car park
Distance: 7.25 miles Ascent: 707 metres Time Taken: 5 hours
Terrain: Generally good paths some next to steep drops.
Weather: Warm but with an increasingly strong wind.
Pub Visited: None Ale Drunk: None
![Milldale Milldale](2009-04-24/milldale.jpg)
Milldale and the River Dove from Viators Bridge
![Viators Bridge Viators Bridge](2009-04-24/viators.jpg)
Viators Bridge.
![Dove Dale Dove Dale](2009-04-24/herons.jpg)
An early start meant Dove Dale was very quiet, which enabled me to get a few shots of these herons.
![Dove Dale Dove Dale](2009-04-24/dove%20dale.jpg)
Having climbed above the dale I was rewarded with this view down into Dove Dale.
![Baley Hill Baley Hill](2009-04-24/gates.jpg)
Looking back towards Baley Hill and Shining Tor.
![Lover's Leap Lover's Leap](2009-04-24/lovers%20leap.jpg)
By the time I dropped back down into the dale, at Lover's Leap, the crowds were already starting to build up.
![River Dove River Dove](2009-04-24/stepping%20stones.jpg)
The stepping stones at the foot of Thorpe Cloud.
![Bunster Hill Bunster Hill](2009-04-24/dove%20dale1.jpg)
Looking across to Bunster Hill from the climb up Thorpe Cloud.
![Thorpe Cloud Thorpe Cloud](2009-04-24/thorpe%20cloud.jpg)
Looking back down Thorpe Cloud from the summit.
![Bunster Hill Bunster Hill](2009-04-24/bunster.jpg)
Bunster Hill from Thorpe Cloud.
![Thorpe Cloud Thorpe Cloud](2009-04-24/sheep.jpg)
Plenty of young lambs as I walked across the fields to the foot of Bunster Hill.
![Ilam Ilam](2009-04-24/ilam.jpg)
Ilam from Bunster Hill.
![Bunster Hill Bunster Hill](2009-04-24/bunster1.jpg)
The plan had been to walk across to Bunster Hill's second summit, but the wind had started to pick up and I was struggling to stand still, so I gave it a miss.
![Tissington Spires Tissington Spires](2009-04-24/tiss.jpg)
Tissington Spires.
![](2009-04-24/wheels.jpg)
Whenever I walk on this path these always make me smile.
![Pickering Tor Pickering Tor](2009-04-24/pickering.jpg)
Pickering Tor.
![Dove Holes Dove Holes](2009-04-24/dove%20holes.jpg)
Heading back to the car park and about to pass Dove Holes for the second time.
All pictures copyright © Peak Walker 2006-2023