Dovedale

Start: Tissington Camping & Caravan Site, The Stable, Town Head Fm, Tissington, Ashbourne (DE6 1RA)

(S/E) From The Tissington Campsite entrance, turn left and walk down Sawpit Hill to the Hands Well. Turn right and follow the road past Town Head Farm and out of the village. Follow the road round to the
left and uphill to the main road.

(1) Turn right along the main road for a short distance then cross over and walk down the track to Sharplow Farm. Beyond the farmhouse, turn right and follow the track.

(2) When the track bends left, follow a footpath to a gate on the right. Cross the next field to a projecting wall corner then a further gate, then pass to the left of the wooded Sharp Low barrow at the top of the hill. Beyond another gate, descend the field diagonally to meet the road opposite a barn conversion.

(3) Turn right and follow the road for ¼ mile, past Standlow Farm on the right, then turn left into the track diagonally across the field. Follow the track until it meets a wall, then follow the wall to a stile and gate. Continue to another gate level with a wood on the left, then follow a track beyond.

(4) Pass to the right of a farm, crossing the entrance track and following the track opposite. Keep to the left of a series of descending fields, then drop steeply to Viator's Bridge.

(5) Turn left to follow the riverside path downstream. Walk down Dovedale, keeping to the left bank and passing the large round openings of Dove Holes, the pinnacles of Ilam Rock and Pickering Tor and the natural
arch of Reynard’s Cave.

(6) After approximately 2 miles, when the path divides, take the left-hand fork and climb to Lover’s Leap, before descending again.

(7) At the stepping stones turn left through a gate, away from the river and to the left of the wall (or for the Isaak Walton Hotel (A), cross the stepping stones and follow the road; see map). Climb Lin Dale; keep straight on at the top.

(8) Pass to the right of an old quarry then bear left above a wall (ignoring the obvious track ahead).

(9) Pass behind a hotel and bear left when you meet the Limestone Way (turn right here to visit the Old Dog (B); see map). Pass the bottom of the rifle range, then pass through two hand gates either side of a sheepfold. Follow the field edge beyond to a squeeze stile, then continue to a narrow lane.

(10) Turn left for 100 yards, then turn right through a wooden gate next to a field gate. Cross a series of fields and then a gravelled track to emerge into a road. Take the footpath opposite and bear half-left to rejoin the road in the far corner by a stream.

(11) Turn right and walk up to the main road. Cross straight over and pass through the gates, following the avenue beyond as it curves back to Tissington. Beyond the Yew Tree Well, turn left at the triangle, then immediately turn right through the gates into the churchyard.

(12) Pass to the right of the church building to a gate in the far right-hand corner of the churchyard. Cross the field diagonally to a step stile in the left-hand wall, next to a farm gate. Follow the left-hand field edge beyond to a gate and stile into Chapel Lane, and turn left to return to the The Tissington Campsite. (S/E)

Start: Tissington Camping & Caravan Site, The Stable, Town Head Fm, Tissington, Ashbourne (DE6 1RA)
Tel 07967 814844 Email edwardcarr@w3z.co.uk
Camping and Caravan Club Big Sites Book Reference 119/032

Notes: Muddy spots and wet grass in places after rain; one steep descent, and some rocky sections in Dovedale.

Refreshments available just off-route at Polly’s (Milldale), the Izaak Walton Hotel, Ilam (A) and the Old Dog, Thorpe (B).

Find more information on Walks From the Door.