Heading out of Hartington to Beresford Dale I spot two very familiar sights for this time of year. Cows on the path and a group doing their Duke of Edinburgh expedition. As the group doing their D of E pass the cows without incidence I hope I will be able to do the same.

Having passed the cows safely, they were more interested in eating grass than in me, I'm soon at Morson Wood.

Not surprisingly at this time of year the path through Beresford Dale is very overgrown, so it is some time before the river is visible.

I'm at the bridge by Pike Pool before I see the River Dove.

Once across the bridge the path is much wider and there is no more trying to avoid getting stung by nettles.

Crossing the second bridge of the day takes me back over the Dove.

Having crossed back over the river the slopes of Wolfscote Dale come into view.

Entering Wolfscote Dale I don't even consider heading up to visit the caves, but why not take another photo of them.

As it is still fairly early Wolfscote Dale is quiet. I met more people in Biggin Dale today than I did in Wolfscote Dale.

No sign of the sunny spells that the weather forecast had mentioned.

Not only is it quiet in Wolfscote Dale it is also nice and dry.

Head down I make rapid progress through Wolfscote Dale.

Before I know it I'm looking at Peaseland Rocks.

Looking back to Drabber Tor as I approach Biggin Dale.

Looking down Wolfscote Dale to Iron Tors, which I won't be visiting today.

This is the point at which I will leave Wolfscote Dale and head up Biggin Dale, which judging by the lack of water coming out of it is nice and dry.

Heading along Biggin Dale and there is no sign of the stream.

At times I have to remind myself to stick to the path as the section where the stream runs contains more than a few hidden rocks.

As I'm walking along Biggin Dale the cloud seems to be breaking up.

With excellent timing just as I leave the wooded section of the dale behind me blue sky appears above me.

More blue sky as I reach the head of the dale.

Seeing as the sun is actually out I sit at the top of the dale and enjoy it whilst it is there.

Just as fast as it arrived the blue sky is soon gone and so I get moving again and head out of the dale.

Normally I take the lower path to leave the dale but today I take the path climbing up on the left, towards Reynards Lane.

Looking back down the dale from the path I can see where that patch of blue sky has disappeared to.

The path takes me to an unnamed walled lane.

From the lane I can look back across the upper slopes of Biggin Dale.

It is very pleasant walking along here, especially with all the wildflowers that are in bloom. I'm also very grateful it is a walled lane as the cows in the field next to me all have young calves.

As I approach the end of the lane I look back across the lower slopes of Wolfscote Hill to Biggin Dale.

When I reach Reynards Lane I decide against heading down the lane and instead turn right to take another walled lane to Highfield Lane.

Looking back from the second unnamed lane to what I think is Dalehead.

As I approach Highfield Lane Chapel Farm and Heathcote come into view.

Looking back to Wolfscote Hill from Highfield Lane. As far as I'm aware there is still no permitted access to Wolfscote Hill, hopefully that will change soon.

Looking across the lower slopes of Wolfscote Hill to the two summits of Wetton Hill. The third hill is Narrowdale Hill.

Sweeping round towards Hartington and Ecton Hill is also in view.

Heading down Highfield Lane and looking across towards Axe Edge. Above me the sky is looking rather strange as the bank of cloud rolls away to be replaced with the blue sky that is above it.

I'm glad I decided to abandon my planned route as it wouldn't have given me these views.

Sheen Hill dominates the view as I approach the barn on Highfield Lane.

It is so nice when I get into the square in Hartington to see the cafes and pubs are open. The last time I was here we were just starting to come out of Lockdown 3 and none of them were allowed to open.

 

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