Upper Dove Valley from Hollinsclough

(S/E)Start from the telephone box in Hollinsclough Village (grid ref. 066664) and walk up the lane to the left of the Chapel. Take the first footpath on the right dropping down to cross over the River Dove by a footbridge. Take the left path leading to Fough with the river in the valley on the left and Hollins Hill high on the right. Continue north to Booth Farm (grid ref. 068680).

(1)Turn left down the farm road, then over a stile on the right prior to the buildings. The path proceeds behind these buildings then keeps to the right of a wire fence. Do not cross over the river on the left but keep to right of the field (the path is not too clear) and through some gate posts. The path then develops leading you to Thirkelow Farm. Continue up their farm track with Thirkelow Rocks on your right to the road (grid ref. 048694).

(2)Turn left on the road then left again along a farm track passing an open barn on your right. The track leads to Fairthorn Farm but prior to dropping down to the converted farm take the footpath stile on the left leading to a small pond (this is a new right of way to avoid a broken footbridge in Fairthorn Farm garden and is not shown on the maps), follow the edge of the pond turning left on the other side gradually proceeding right down to a bridge over a stream then up the fields ahead over a stile and up some steps to the secluded house in the woods at Brand Side (grid ref. 044689).

(3)Proceed up their drive and just after the first gate branch left following the path that keeps to the left boundary fence of a house. After clearing the house, continue in the same direction to Grid Reference 045684 a derelict farm at the end of a track. There are seven footpaths leading from this farm, to find your path requires you to walk south with the house and building on your left then down the fields to a very small footbridge over the narrow River Dove.

(4)A steep climb takes you up the fields ahead to Nether Colshaw Farm (grid ref. 043681). Turn left up their farm track. On reaching the road, turn right then over the stile on the left. Keep to the right of the first house, then the left of the farm buildings ahead down some steps to a lane. Cross over the stile opposite continuing down the fields to the left hand corner. Go over a stile and up the fields to the road junction ahead (grid ref. 043671).

(5)Turn left down the minor road. At Golling Gate turn right along a bridleway to Moseley Farm. Keep straight on along the farm road to turn left down to Willshaw Farm. After the farmhouse follow the sign on the right to Willshaw Hill. This path skirts the hill to the derelict Hill Top Farm. Proceed through the gate and garden to the exit gate and path across the fields to the road (grid ref 052659).

(6)Cross the road and down the farm track opposite. Do not miss the right turn down the bank and over the stile to the river. Do not take the bridge but turn left over the fence stile then diagonally up fields to the left of the bushes to a bridleway leading to Ball Bank House Farm (grid ref 061653). On reaching the farm turn left and up their farm track to a lane. Left again up this lane, then on reaching the road go over the stile opposite. The path keeps to the left of the fence and wall, then on reaching the lane turn right and proceed straight on. The lane deteriorates underfoot to boulders descending rapidly to Hollinsclough phone box and your transport.

The walk visits a lovely quite dale following the infant River Dove. There is no urgency here as the rest of the world rushes by leaving this dale and village unchanged.