Beresford Dale, Alstonefield & Wolfescote Dale from Hartington

This walk explores Beresford Dale, through which the River Dove flows, before climbing up to the village of Alstonefield from where the route descends back into Dovedale for a return along the river to the start.

Technical sheet

n°293131

Creation:
4 Jul 2016

Last update:
8 Feb 2023

Last review:
8 Feb 2023

Activity: Walking
Distance: 11.43 km
Calculated time: 3h 45
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 179 m
Vertical drop: - 177 m
Highest point: 320 m
Lowest point: 202 m

Country: United Kingdom
Area: Peak District
District: Hartington Town Quarter CP
Start/End: N 53.140787° / W 1.809523°
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Description der Wandertour

Start : Junction between B5054 and Market Place in Hartington (nearby postcode SK17 0AL)

(S/E) To start the walk, follow the B5054 South from the village centre.

(1) Close to the public toilets on the left hand side you will locate the signed path into Wolfescote Dale. The path is well used and easy to follow South and initially crosses open pastures before entering woodland after around 1 Km or so. You are now in Beresford Dale.

(2) The path soon reaches the River Dove and you follow this well-known river South for around 400 m to reach a footbridge (grid ref. SK128588).

(3) Cross this to the other side of the river and continue South to a second concrete footbridge at the end of Beresford Lane (grid ref. SK128586). Do not be tempted to take the first wooden bridge.

(4)Turn right (West) down Beresford Lane and after a short distance take the signed footpath on the left (South). Continue until where the track bends left towards the buildings at Narrowdale (grid ref. SK126576).

(5) Here bear right onto a bridleway and keep your eyes open for the next turn.

(6) At the end of the wall on your left, bear left uphill towards the flank of Narrowdale Hill. Go through the wall and walk left and continue on this footpath/track.

(7) Where the track bends left, continue straight ahead across fields and a track to reach a road (grid ref. SK126563).

(8)Turn left (South) along the road for about 700 metres and at grid reference SK129558 bear left onto a track.

(9) Keep left walking North-East until you reach a footpath sign on the right hand side (grid ref. SK130558).

(10) Turn right here and almost immediately left to follow a well walked path across a number of fields. The path leads into a walled track and continues North-East towards Gypsy Bank and Dovedale for around 1.4 Km.

(11) Continue steeply down into Dovedale.

(12) Cross the river using footbridge and turn left (North-West) along the opposite river bank. Continue through Wolfescote Dale along the riverside for around 2.5 Km to reach the bridge at Beresford Lane (Waypoint (4)). Cross the bridge and turn right (North) to return along the path used for the outward part of the walk back into Hartington. (S/E)

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 231 m - Start: Hartington village centre
1 : km 0.14 - alt. 236 m - Public toilets
2 : km 1.39 - alt. 229 m - River Dove
3 : km 1.76 - alt. 236 m - Footbridge
4 : km 1.96 - alt. 218 m - Beresford Lane
5 : km 3.18 - alt. 253 m - Left bend - Bridleway
6 : km 3.38 - alt. 291 m - End of the wall
7 : km 4.07 - alt. 313 m - Left bend
8 : km 4.36 - alt. 300 m - Road
9 : km 5.07 - alt. 280 m - Track junction
10 : km 5.15 - alt. 283 m - Footpath sign
11 : km 6.57 - alt. 274 m - Steeply down into Dovedale
12 : km 6.93 - alt. 202 m - River - Footbridge
S/E : km 11.43 - alt. 231 m - Finish: Hartington village centre

Practical information

Start : Junction between B5054 and Market Place in Hartington (nearby postcode SK17 0AL)

Parking : Harington village usually has ample parking. On busy days you may have to use the pay and display car park on the B5054, a short way from the centre in the direction of Hulme End.

Terrain : There are no defined footpaths crossing the farmers fields so try and look out for the stile on the other side. Gypsy Bank is very steep and slippery in the wet.

Facilities : Harington village, with its green and duck pond, has a range of places to eat. Toilets at waypoint (1)
If you walk a little further into Alstonefield there is a lovely gastro pub for food/drinks.

In the nearby area

The start is the pretty village of Hartington which is an excellent centre for walking.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5

Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.7 / 5

Clarity of route map
4 / 5

Route interest
4.3 / 5

Delphinium

Feb 08, 2023 at 09:49 EST

Hi VeePee,

Thank you for taking the time to write this feedback! 🙌🏼 I am sorry to read you encountered such issues ... I am going to see with the author how to adjust the description. If you have any further idea on how to improve the description please do let us know.

Enjoy your walks 🥾

VeePee

Feb 08, 2023 at 04:07 EST

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 05/02/23
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did this beautiful walk with its stunning scenery on a cold but sunny winter's morning. Being novices to following route instructions it took us a while to follow some of the directions: the start point - Hall Bank is off the B5054 on the Matlock side of town (nearly opposite the Village Stores) and there was one point in Biggin Dale where the path seemed to walk us into private land (despite seeing a sign on the gate saying so!) and we had to retrace our steps. We were grateful for the comments in other reviews that you do not take the first wooden footbridge at the point that you feel like you might be 'at the end of Beresford Lane' but keep going across the open land until you reach a concrete one.

jostafford0

Jan 15, 2019 at 07:35 EST

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : 14/01/19
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We enjoyed this walk and the scenery is spectacular. We just have a few constructive comments below:

We got a little lost in some parts and thought the description could have been worded a little better. It also gave out a grid reference for one of the instructions but we didn't have a map with us so had to figure it out ourselves. If you walk a little further into Alstonefield there is a lovely gastro pub for food/drinks. There are no defined footpaths crossing the farmers fields so try and look out for the stile on the other side. Gypsy Bank is very steep and slippery in the wet.

KennethB

Sep 18, 2018 at 11:55 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 11/09/18
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Another good walk from Hikideas.
Easy to go astray on Narrowdale Hill if you don't keep your eye on the ball..... It would be easy to miss the footpath here.

Also don't be put off by the stepping stones shown on the map and noted in the text, as there is now an adjacent footbridge for the feint hearted.(prudent)

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Author

Walking Britain
365 walks

Walker

Website: http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk

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