Lathkill Dale & Bradford Dale

A varied walk through a beautiful range of landscapes. Some steep descents down limestone steps that could be slippery at times.

Car park is a bonus, good place to start. Easy going across the fields and some interest in the views. Careful on going down into the Dale as the steps are steep, sticks recommended and steady as you go. A little disappointed into the dale as it is narrow and steep sided, meaning no views at all. Care needed till past halfway as shingle and rock surfaces may unbalance you. Pleasant enough but no water as river bed dried up. Opens out more after Haddon and the sun came out. Better still into Bradford Dale as this is more open and easier to walk on. You can look around instead of down. Getting out at the far end is a steady climb but then, in our opinion, the best views of the walk in the last quarter. Getting back to the car park was easy and welcome after quite a tiring walk, due to the rock and shingle earlier. A good 4 hr walk but needed more views, nothing spectacular just an interesting walk out. Would not like to walk down the steps on a wet day.

We walked this route in an anti-clockwise direction, starting from Youlgreave (so we could start with coffee at the bakery and finish with lunch at the Farmyard Inn). I had walked this loop about 10 years ago with friends and wanted to return to show my wife, as it's so beautiful. On a sunny day, the streams and rivers glisten and the views are spectacular. I prefer the anti-clockwise direction, so that the section of steps is taken uphill (rather than a knee-jarring downhill section). A gem

I walked from Youlgreave YHA with a lunch from Peak Feast (which was extremely tasty) and mostly just used the map rather than the description. Very straight forward to follow. A couple of times it was a struggle to find the next segment of path but always on my way again after a few seconds searching. Very busy with people next to Over Haddon and Youlgreave, but only a handful of walkers beyond that. The western end of lathkill dale was almost deserted and absolutely stunning.

Such varied scenery and not a difficult walk. We go as a group of males, of differing ages, interests and abilities. Some just like to walk, some take photo's but we all enjoy the scenery and the open air. So we always try and find a walk that we are all capable of completing. This walk ticked all the boxes for us. Slightly underestimated the amount of interest and photographic opportunities, so due to stopping so many tines, we cut the walk short at 6.5miles, but we are going back to do the complete walk in the near future🙂👍
Thank you

Such varied scenery and not a difficult walk. We go as a group of males, of differing ages, interests and abilities. Some just like to walk, some take photo's but we all enjoy the scenery and the open air. So we always try and find a walk that we are all capable of completing. This walk ticked all the boxes for us.
Thank you

We did the walk back to front as I'd read a comment about all the steps and we'd rather walk up steps than down (dodgy knees). A beautiful area to walk in and the water was so clear, looked really inviting but not quite warm enough so we didn't have a paddle.

It's a great idea to walk this way round, as it avoids climbing hundreds of steps at the top of Cales Dale (you climb down them instead!). Also along Lathkill Dale to add: on the left-hand side look out for the Mandale Mine information board, very interesting ruin of engine house and history of lead mining, just a little way beyond 'Bateman's House' on the right, also worth a visit.

Lovely walk, lathkill Dale is beautiful, with. Good swimming spots in the summer. Crystal clear water.

Very clear instructions and map. Went slightly wrong in a couple of locations, but realised errors almost straightaway. Glad to have stumbled upon this website.