Lathkill Dale & Bradford Dale
A Peak District walk that traverses pretty Lathkill and Bradford Dales. The walk also includes a section of the Limestone Way.
Technical sheet No. 293012
Calculated time: 4h10 ? 
Distance : 12.79 km
Vertical gain : 165 m
Vertical drop : 166 m
Highest point : 317 m
Lowest point : 143 m 
Difficulty : Moderate
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Area :
Peak District
Location : Youlgreave
Starting point : N 53.177162° / W 1.713335° 
Today's forecast :
Description
(D)Roadside parking is available on Back Lane at grid ref. SK192644 or the small car park a short distance away at SK194644. Having parked follow the well-trodden Limestone Way west towards Monyash. The path is clear and crosses a number of fields to reach Low Moor Plantation. The onward route takes you past Calling Low, where the path deviates to the north of this farm. Shortly afterwards the views open out ahead and you get your first look at Lathkill Dale across to your right.
(1)The path descends to the bottom of Cales Dale (grid ref. SK172653), where you turn right and follow the bottom of the dale north. You soon reach Lathkill Dale, which at this point is open and a typical landscape of the Limestone dales. Reaching the main dale, cross the footbridge (grid ref. SK174655) and turn right on a clear path.
(2)Follow this path down the dale, entering Palmerston Wood. The dale loses its open character and you have a pleasant walk through woodland. Alongside is the River Lathkill, which after very dry weather can dry up. Stay on the main path. There is no need to worry about navigation. It is a simple case of following your nose! You reach a bridge below Over Haddon (grid ref. SK202661) after which the character of the dale starts to change.
(3)Conksbury Bridge (grid ref SK211656) is the next landmark. Here you cross the bridge using the road and walk a short way along the lane before taking the first footpath on your left. This leads you through walled fields down to the main road at Alport (grid ref. SK220645). Cross the road and take the signed footpath opposite. This leads you up Bradford Dale with the River Bradford on your right. Continue alongside the River to reach Mawstone Lane (grid ref SK213639).
(4)Cross the river here and take the path on your left. You are now back on the Limestone Way. The river is now on your left and is followed upstream with the village of Youlgreave high above you on your right. At the next footbridge (grid ref. SK208640) you can reach the village centre by following the lane on your right uphill. To continue, cross the River Bradford here and follow the dale upstream with the river once again on your right.
(5)At grid ref. SK199636, the Limestone Way turns right across the River Bradford. Once across ignore the minor path on your right taking the wider path as it climbs uphill to reach a road (grid ref. SK197637). Turn right along the road and follow the pavement past Lomberdale Hall on your left. Shortly after, there is a signed footpath on the other side of the road on your left. Take this uphill to reach another lane (grid ref. SK198641). Ignore the footpath opposite; instead turn left along the road for a short distance to take the Limestone Way signed on your right. This climbs out of the Dale and you are soon back at either the car park or roadside parking. If you are lucky the ice-cream man may be waiting for you to return!(A)
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 309 m - Back Lane parking area
1 : km 1.59 - alt. 310 m - Follow path down into Cales Dale
2 : km 2.51 - alt. 214 m - Cross footbridge and turn right
3 : km 6.76 - alt. 169 m - Cross Conksbury Bridge
4 : km 9.14 - alt. 146 m - Cross river and take lefthand path
5 : km 10.85 - alt. 187 m - Turn right across River Bradford
D/A : km 12.79 - alt. 308 m - Back Lane parking area
Useful Information
This varied walk traverses a section of the pretty Lathkill Dale, offers the chance to visit the village of Youlgreave and includes a section of Bradford Dale. Walking is generally easy and the route is mostly well signed. Opportunities for refreshment are limited and a visit to Youlgreave is necessary to quench your thirst.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Opinions and comments
Average
Global average : 4.8/5
Number of opinions : 10
Clarity of route description : 4.8/5
Clarity of route map : 4.8/5
Walk interest : 4.8/5
Walker
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 20/11/22
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
A varied walk through a beautiful range of landscapes. Some steep descents down limestone steps that could be slippery at times.
Walker
Global average : 3.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 17/10/22
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest
: ★★★☆☆ Average
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.
Walker
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 22/06/21
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
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
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 24/07/19
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
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.
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 19/07/19
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
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
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 14/07/19
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
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
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 29/03/19
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
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.
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 11/09/18
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
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.
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 07/08/18
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Lovely walk, lathkill Dale is beautiful, with. Good swimming spots in the summer. Crystal clear water.
Walker
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 25/04/18
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
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.
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