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Wolfscote Dale - Peak District Walk
Tuesday 2nd July 2024
Seeing as I've signed myself up for the Nine Edges Challenge in September to raise funds for Edale Mountain Rescue I thought I'd better get out and do some walking. How this walk appears on the website so often I'm not sure, as Wolfscote Dale is easily my least favourite of all the dales, but there again it makes it a good route for trying to walk at a reasonable pace, rather than stopping to take photos all the time.
Start: Hartington car park (SK 1269 6026)
Route: Hartington car park - Morson Wood - Beresford Dale - Wolfscote Dale - Biggin Dale - Highfield Lane - Hartington car park
Distance: 6.25 miles Ascent: 255 metres Time Taken: 2 hrs 48 mins
Terrain: Clear paths
Weather: Dry, cool with some blue sky
Pub Visited: None Ale Drunk: None
![Gratton Hill Gratton Hill](2024-07-02/pennilow.jpg)
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.
![Morson Wood Morson Wood](2024-07-02/morson.jpg)
Having passed the cows safely, they were more interested in eating grass than in me, I'm soon at Morson Wood.
![Beresford Dale Beresford Dale](2024-07-02/beresford.jpg)
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.
![Beresford Dale Beresford Dale](2024-07-02/beresford1.jpg)
I'm at the bridge by Pike Pool before I see the River Dove.
![River Dove River Dove](2024-07-02/beresford2.jpg)
Once across the bridge the path is much wider and there is no more trying to avoid getting stung by nettles.
![River Dove River Dove](2024-07-02/beresford3.jpg)
Crossing the second bridge of the day takes me back over the Dove.
![Beresford Dale Beresford Dale](2024-07-02/beresford4.jpg)
Having crossed back over the river the slopes of Wolfscote Dale come into view.
![Wolfscote Caves Wolfscote Caves](2024-07-02/caves.jpg)
Entering Wolfscote Dale I don't even consider heading up to visit the caves, but why not take another photo of them.
![Wolfscote Dale Wolfscote Dale](2024-07-02/wolfscote.jpg)
As it is still fairly early Wolfscote Dale is quiet. I met more people in Biggin Dale today than I did in Wolfscote Dale.
![Wolfscote Dale Wolfscote Dale](2024-07-02/wolfscote1.jpg)
No sign of the sunny spells that the weather forecast had mentioned.
![Wolfscote Dale Wolfscote Dale](2024-07-02/wolfscote2.jpg)
Not only is it quiet in Wolfscote Dale it is also nice and dry.
![Wolfscote Dale Wolfscote Dale](2024-07-02/wolfscote3.jpg)
Head down I make rapid progress through Wolfscote Dale.
![Peaseland Rocks Peaseland Rocks](2024-07-02/wolfscote4.jpg)
Before I know it I'm looking at Peaseland Rocks.
![Drabber Tor Drabber Tor](2024-07-02/wolfscote5.jpg)
Looking back to Drabber Tor as I approach Biggin Dale.
![Wolfscote Dale Wolfscote Dale](2024-07-02/wolfscote6.jpg)
Looking down Wolfscote Dale to Iron Tors, which I won't be visiting today.
![Biggin Dale Biggin Dale](2024-07-02/biggin.jpg)
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.
![Biggin Dale Biggin Dale](2024-07-02/biggin1.jpg)
Heading along Biggin Dale and there is no sign of the stream.
![Biggin Dale Biggin Dale](2024-07-02/biggin2.jpg)
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.
![Biggn Dale Biggn Dale](2024-07-02/biggin3.jpg)
As I'm walking along Biggin Dale the cloud seems to be breaking up.
![Biggin Dale Biggin Dale](2024-07-02/biggin4.jpg)
With excellent timing just as I leave the wooded section of the dale behind me blue sky appears above me.
![Biggin Dale Biggin Dale](2024-07-02/biggin5.jpg)
More blue sky as I reach the head of the dale.
![Biggin Dale Biggin Dale](2024-07-02/biggin6.jpg)
Seeing as the sun is actually out I sit at the top of the dale and enjoy it whilst it is there.
![Biggin Dale Biggin Dale](2024-07-02/biggin7.jpg)
Just as fast as it arrived the blue sky is soon gone and so I get moving again and head out of the dale.
![Biggin Dale Biggin Dale](2024-07-02/biggin8.jpg)
Normally I take the lower path to leave the dale but today I take the path climbing up on the left, towards Reynards Lane.
![Biggin Dale Biggin Dale](2024-07-02/biggin9.jpg)
Looking back down the dale from the path I can see where that patch of blue sky has disappeared to.
![](2024-07-02/lane.jpg)
The path takes me to an unnamed walled lane.
![Biggin Dale Biggin Dale](2024-07-02/lane1.jpg)
From the lane I can look back across the upper slopes of Biggin Dale.
![](2024-07-02/lane2.jpg)
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.
![Biggin Dale Biggin Dale](2024-07-02/lane3.jpg)
As I approach the end of the lane I look back across the lower slopes of Wolfscote Hill to Biggin Dale.
![Reynards Lane Reynards Lane](2024-07-02/reynards.jpg)
When I reach Reynards Lane I decide against heading down the lane and instead turn right to take another walled lane to Highfield Lane.
![Dalehead Dalehead](2024-07-02/biggin10.jpg)
Looking back from the second unnamed lane to what I think is Dalehead.
![Heathcote Heathcote](2024-07-02/lane5.jpg)
As I approach Highfield Lane Chapel Farm and Heathcote come into view.
![Wolfscote Hill Wolfscote Hill](2024-07-02/wolfscote9.jpg)
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.
![Wetton Hill Wetton Hill](2024-07-02/wetton.jpg)
Looking across the lower slopes of Wolfscote Hill to the two summits of Wetton Hill. The third hill is Narrowdale Hill.
![Ecton Hill Ecton Hill](2024-07-02/ecton.jpg)
Sweeping round towards Hartington and Ecton Hill is also in view.
![Middle Hills Middle Hills](2024-07-02/middle hills.jpg)
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.
![Axe Edge Axe Edge](2024-07-02/axe edge.jpg)
I'm glad I decided to abandon my planned route as it wouldn't have given me these views.
![Sheen Hill Sheen Hill](2024-07-02/sheen hill.jpg)
Sheen Hill dominates the view as I approach the barn on Highfield Lane.
![Hartington Hartington](2024-07-02/hartington.jpg)
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.
All pictures copyright © Peak Walker 2006-2024